JOSH O'GRADY: A TRICKY CUSTOMER...

Josh O’Grady: A Tricky Customer…

Mittens caress hands,

Offering a little protection

From the cold, perhaps,

Or maybe from the nasty mud,

Which plays havoc with his treated nails…

Galligaskins hang loose,

Wavering over the knee section

Of dirtied, scarred caps;

Bearded, seemingly not alert,

Those shorts billowing like sails…

Boots command balls,

Revealing no sure prediction

Of exploited gaps,

Just confusion and concern

For a defender following his trails…

Body swivels, gyrates,

Bewitching markers’ attention

Into erroneous traps;

Swerves, twists, turns back again,

Until opponent, frustrated, ails…

Defenders, tricked, sag,

Moving in the wrong direction

As the winger adapts

To whence his legs now lead

And the enemy helplessly flails…

Pete Ray

February 2016

Josh ‘Tricky’ O’Grady of Coventry United often lurks on a touchline like he would rather be watching the ‘Bake-Off’ than playing football. Then, when he receives the ball, it’s like he has a tasty muffin to bake and without pace but employing deft feints and changes of direction, very often loses and fools his marker. 

OK, he wins some, he loses some, but when he is in form, he is a joy to watch at Step 6 in the National game. 

Yes, he is often awarded cheap free-kicks, yes he annoys opposition coaches but his skill is to be admired…

And no, we are NOT related…

Cold, hugging the touchline...

Showing his mittens (left)...