"I played last year against London Irish Vets for the first time in twelve months and I can tell you the first tackle really hurt, but I try to keep fit with five-a-side football when I can. That's why I was chuffed to be picked for Rubens' side in the Vodafone Charity match against
Michael Schumacher's XI, but I knew it would be a hell of a work out against super fit Schuey in Spain last month.
"I had to mark him in the game and he really stretched me because he is such a dynamo. It was a case of thirty-something against fifty-something, but I really tried hard to shadow him and stop any demon over taking moves. Inevitably he got away from me a few times, once on a long high ball which forced our international Spanish goalkeeper to come out of his area and head it away in a dramatic clearance.
"The trouble was he took Michael out at the same time, clattering him to the ground. As the groggy seven-times World Champion arose looking for someone to blame he focussed on me, but for once in the game I was quicker than him, albeit only verbally, as I pointed at our ‘keeper – 'it was him!' I am still on talking terms with the champion of champions and looking forward to a re-match."
