Ally Robertson: Pranks will always happen but 'Cab Four' stepped over the line
When I was playing for the Albion, me and Derek Statham used to hide George Reilly’s car around the corner to make him think it had been stolen.
He was so proud of this car, whenever we spotted his keys we’d just nip in and move it.
But then one day he came to up to us and said, ‘come on lads, where did you put it?’
That time me and Derek hadn’t touched it, and it turned out it actually had been stolen!
I remember the same thing happening to me at Wolves – two of the lads put my car around the corner and just as I was about to call the police they let me in on the joke.
Footballers will always act up and play pranks on each other. Back in the 1970s and 80s we strayed near the line on several occasions, but it was never nasty.
We would never have hidden a car from somebody we didn’t know, and especially not abroad.
The four lads who allegedly took that taxi in Spain should be ashamed of what they’ve done. It’s all very well going on holiday and having a laugh, but when the manager gives you a 12am curfew, you have to be home by then.
It raises questions about what they think of Alan Pardew.
When we went abroad with Gilesy (John Giles) and Big Ron (Atkinson), we’d have a drink and a laugh, but we’d be back before curfew because we respected them.
Those four have shown no respect to Pardew, and to compound matters, we had a nightmare against Southampton in the FA Cup.
The fact there was only 17,000 fans at that game when a quarter-final place was at stake speaks volumes.
I’ve seen a lot of people questioning the timing of the trip, but that doesn’t concern me too much.
We used to go away in between games, and the attitude we had when we came back was that we needed to repay the manager and the club for taking us on holiday, we’ve got to show them it was worth the money. Those players need to repay the club and the manager, starting today.
I’ve been caught out on tour before, and many of you will already know the story from the 1978 trip to China when I accidentally poured a bucket of water over the chairman.
I packed my bags immediately because I thought we’d be sent home, and when I was dragged in front of Mr Millichip I apologised over and over again.
Thankfully, he saw the funny side of it, and because he saw my remorse was genuine, he let me stay at the club and on the tour.
It sounds like the four players have convinced Pardew they’re sorry, and hopefully it is genuine, and not just a front.
We need 100 per cent from every player if we’re going to make a fist of this survival fight.
