Not that I didn't try , six months later I was back in London for a game and slipped away to his flat but the neighbours said he had left some months ago.
I graduated from university and got a job at Ferranti's in Edinburgh. I played along in the lower Leagues and then non-league football until I was in my mid-thirties, my highlight being scoring a goal on TV in a Scottish Cup tie v Rangers - we did lose 4-1 but it was a peach. Angela and I got married in 1980, Griff was my best man, and amazingly stuck it together for 3 years before splitting up amicably after we were invited to stay for a week in Den Haag with Brigget and Jan who had also tied the knot. It doesn't take a genius to work out what happened.
The next year Griff introduce me to Fi at a party. In summer 1985 we got hitched and have been ever since and now have 3 daughters aged 20 18 and 15. After ten years I left Ferranti and set up my own electronics business just at the right time to take advantage of the IT boom. By the mid 90's I was relatively well off and employing 65 people.
Oh, as for my brother Ken, well he was an early bloomer . He lost his virginity just after his 13th birthday, I actually heard him in the act, horny or not, and by then he sported a bush as big as I had when I was over a year older. The stupid little shit got a chick pregnant at 16 and married her . Fuck me it lasted and he's now got 6 of them - horny little bastard - and is working for me.
Griff made it kinda big. He got a move to England when he was 25 and played there for 8 years before moving back up to Scotland to end his career in 1990 .I always thought he was a bit unlucky not to play for Scotland but I suppose I am biased.. We remained firm friends talking on the phone regularly at least twice a week and seeing each other often which is hardly surprising when I tell you that in 1981 he became my brother in law . I was his best man . Janie and him now have 4 kids and I really do believe he has been totally faithful to her as I have to Fi.
After retiring he got a job as manager of a second division side , ironically at Arbroath and I joined as a part-time coach. We enjoyed three good years there before the Club's finances meant they could not longer afford a full-time boss. He moved into coaching with a few Clubs and is still involved in the game scouting for a Premier side here in Edinburgh. I'm still involved too as Assistant Manager of a non-League team and as a sponsor. He invested his money well in property at the right time and like me doesn't need to worry about security..
My past life rarely caught up with me . The Sun ran a big story on Griff being a borstal boy at the time he moved to England but it was a storm in a tea cup as come on he had been 14 at the time and who doesn't make some mistake. Many did much the same and never got caught. They tried to resurrect the story when Griff and I took over the management of at all places Arbroath - where the pitch overlooked the bathing pool where we first met , but it was very much a non-story.
One day we did get a letter each addressed to us at Arbroath marked Private and Confidential , this wasn't an unusual occurrence , it enclosed simply a press cutting from the Dundee Telegraph Disgrace of Drunk Prison Officer was the headline and below was a picture of an older but instantly recognisable figure from our past.
Alan Cornfoot (56) a chief officer at Perth prison was jailed for six months
and banned from driving for 5 years at Kirkcaldy Sheriff court today . Cornfoot who had a previously unblemished record was found guilty of driving under the influence of alcohol, speeding and causing several thousand pounds worth of damage to a farm on the exit road from St Andrews in March . It went on to say that he had been found to be three times over the legal limit and it transpired that he had forced three cars of the road in a frenzy of swerving and had caused several thousand pounds worth of damage to a barn he ultimately crashed into..
In sentencing Cornfoo, Sheriff Webster stated that this was a tragedy for a man in his position but society had to be protected and it was only a matter of fortune that there had been no fatalities. The fact that you have not shown any remorse and instead claim that your drinks must have been spiked did not help your case. I hope these months hard as they may be will teach you a lesson and some humility.
"Yes" I exclaimed loudly dancing around the office as Griff came in wondering what the hell was going on. We celebrated long into the night at the news and the prospect of what would be happening to the bastard.
I was sitting in my office toward the end of 2000 not that I had too much to do as the company ran itself by now. I had so many good employees, even Ken and Tommy , and I was pondering over an offer to sell the business, an offer which would make ,me a very rich man indeed.
My private line rang, it was Griff. Nothing unusual in that he often called me up to chat. "Mondo - have you seen the Evening News" his voice was faltering.
"What's wrong" I asked..
"It's Kiwi... he's dead" . he stuttered.
put the phone down without speaking and in a daze asked someone to go and get me the evening paper. I sat down and burst into tears . I hadn't seem Kiwi since that day in 1975 but I was uncontrollable. The paper was brought in and there on Page 4 was a picture of Kiwi still looking ridiculously young with the headline
Local club owner dies in freak accident. I read on Keith Wilson aged 44 the owner of the Hotspur night club in St Andrews died today in a freak electrical accident . Mr Wilson, a highly popular figure in the town had owned the highly successful club for the last 12 years after a career in entertainment business. Unmarried he is survived by his sister Dianne
GRIFF'S STORY - FILLING THE GAPS
Now that I finally got to read Mondo's story I thought I would like to fill in a few of the gaps. As you already know I am Luke Griffiths ( well that's not my real name but the one Mondo gave me to protect my anonymity so he says). I was about nine months older than Mondo and went to a school in the next again district - he would call it a posher one and I can't argue with him . I mean we had a phone and a car not too many people did in Scotland then. My parents worked in a Bank so I always had plenty especially as I was an only child, some would say I was spoilt. Football was my great passion and from the earliest I can remember that's what I wanted to be. I don't think I am big headed but I always was realistic and knew that I was pretty good and in with a chance. I knew Mondo but only in passing as a regular opponent over the years - by the way he was a very good player . Unlike him, I was what would be considered a good kid. Hardly ever in trouble at school - yes I got lashed once or twice but very rarely. I never had any problem attracting girls and other than football that became the big thing in my life from just after my 12th birthday when I hit puberty. I went out with a few enjoying a few fumbles before I met Lorraine just after my 13th birthday.
I don't know what it was but I was hypnotised by her from the first second I met her and while I suppose I would have been thought of as a leader type by my mates she could rap me round her finger. On my 14th birthday I lost my virginity to her , I am pretty sure now that I didn't take hers though. It was quick and messy but I soon got better with the amount of practice I was getting. The problem with Lorraine is she hung around with an older crowd and they were to be my downfall. There were a couple of guys whom lived near me who were in her set and well had pretty bad reputations. I started to hang around with them to impress her . They started me smoking , I did it cause I thought it looked big and I started to stay out late. I had never given my folks any trouble , they trusted me, and just put it down to typical teenage hormones which I suppose it was.
It all blew up one night in February when we were walking back home from Lorraine's , I had licked her out and got a bj from her in return. Jack who was 16 and Pete 17 stopped at a local store and told me to keep a look out while they broke in and got some fags and booze. I mean I was shit scared and just stood there frozen like a statue. All I wanted to do was to get home. They came out laden with goods handed me some and told me to scarper. A police car came round the corner and we were nabbed.. I had never been in a police car before and was so scared. My parents came and I was taken home .
They were disappointed but believed me that really I was landed in it without wanting to take part. The police however were of a different view especially as the other two had caused a bit of trouble when picked up and I found myself in Juvenile Court. Despite being a first offender and getting glowing report from my school and many others the magistrate was unmoved and my legs almost collapsed when he gave me 9 months detention. I don't mind admitting I cried for the first time in years. My time at Arbroath was similar to Mondo's time at Falkirk. Yes I was introduced to communal wanking there and well I'd never done anything like it before but like all teens you don't want to stand out by being different. I mean I was big for my age and had nothing to be ashamed about in that department. My neighbour in the dorm and soon to be my best mate was Kiwi who as Mondo said had this ability to make everyone laugh and forget their worries even though it cost us a few lashes which were given out more liberally than at school.
After the first couple of meetings with Mondo in the pool. (It had been great to see someone I recognised ) we went back to the dorm and GG was handed the post by Freshman. I had two, the usual one from home, they never missed a visit, but the second one was the one which lifted my spirits. It was Lorraine telling me that she was coming up for a week and would come to the pool to meet me. She knew we went there every Tuesday and Friday. I knew it was against the rules and could cause big trouble for me but well the thought of seeing her outweighed commonsense . I talked about it and a few of the guys told me the risks but it was Kiwi who came up with the bright idea to do the swop with Mondo. Kiwi who had already taken to Mondo, who he said was a good laugh and would have the balls for pulling it off. He said he'd keep watch as long as I gave graphic details of what happened that night.
So we pulled off the first switch and to say I enjoyed it is an understatement. I'm not slagging the efforts of Kiwi and the guys in the dorm but for me it was a poor substitute. What Mondo couldn't tell you from his description was that I was fingering her under water and she was giving me a handy at the same time. That night, after taking the lashing from Cornfoot caused by Mondo and Kiwi's big mouth , as promised I told the others about it and then broke the bombshell of the deal I was trying to offer Mondo. The initial reaction was that I was mad and quit when I was winning and just get Mondo to ward her off on Friday. Kiwi , faithful as ever won the day for me persuading them all that's what would they do if they had the chance.
Our spirits rose as we saw it was Freshman and Gray who were taking us that day they hardly knew me. And we almost pulled it off. The switch went perfect and I met Lorraine as planned. We were back at the caravan within ten minutes and the guys didn't do to badly with their description. It had been almost three months and we virtually ripped out clothes off and went at it three times . She scratched my back and gave me a love bite and it was a spectacular one at that - how the fuck would I hide that from the screws in the shower area - they'd probably put it down to Kiwi I laughed. We walked back , she checked her watch we still had thirty minutes before it would be time to leave the pool., far more than I needed to change and do the switch. I had one final snog in the road outside the pool and turned away heading for the entrance right into Cornfoot. I was like a rabbit in headlights. He grabbed me and you know the rest
After a silent trip back I went into the dorm where the others were sitting crestfallen. I apologised to them all. I felt really bad for landing them in it as well. It was quiet though Kiwi , Dave and GG were pretty supportive and tried to lightened the mood by asking for a description of what had happened. Five o'clock came I had heard of a birching but never seen one. Kiwi was first up and got four hard strokes. He never ceased to amaze me, his soft smooth skin must have been hurting like hell but still had the sparkle in his eyes. GG did well too never screaming and I was waiting my turn. When he announced a dozen I felt sick . I steeled myself as I was tied up and no matter what I thought the pain would be like it was twenty times worse. Funny the worst were the middle four probably because the end seemed so far away and they were starting to overlap by the last few I think I was just so determined not to cry that I almost bit into myself. After some treatment we went back. I felt gutted for Kiwi and GG but they said they knew I'd have done the same for them and they were right.
A few weeks later I was released and well I've never been in shit again. I got back playing football . We had moved to a new house just about a mile away from Mondo though I went to a different school. I was absolutely gutted when I heard what had happened to him . I couldn't believe it and felt really guilty. When I met him at Christmas I was worried as to how he would react but he was great a real mate and that implicit trust mates have for each other stays as strong today as ever. Since he came out and we
signed S Form there has hardly been a week we've either not see each other or at worst talked on the phone and until I went down South to play Saturday night's were sacrosanct. The Blackpool holiday was a great time especially when you think how much we had all endured since the last summer. Mondo and I were screwing most every night , I had dumped Lorraine soon after coming back, realising what trouble she was. When we coupled off Kiwi always had a chick with him as well and I'm sure got some action but somehow I always knew that he was different. It was clear to me even then that there was a special bond between him and Mondo and I always suspected what it was on Kiwi's part at least.
Mondo undersold himself as a footballer . He was every bit as good as me and maybe had more skill but for me it was the only thing, for Mondo he wanted to make sure he was secure in life and stuck in more at school. I'm sure had he not concentrated on university he could have made it big. He said he changed inside and maybe lost a bit of the devilment he had before which would have saw him taking the chance on football. He had gained something though a huge presence and determination to succeed and my fuck he has - a multi millionaire no less.
I was always around at Mondo's house and my reasons were not always just to see my mate. One night he finally challenged me "When the Fuck are you going to ask her out She's sick waiting." That was the blessing I wanted and the next summer we got married with Mondo as my best man. I was best man for his wedding to Angela despite trying to talk him out of it. I repeated the job when he married Fi having set them together and they are perfect for each other and got three great daughters.
As he told you I did meet Kiwi twice again just briefly as Mondo will tell you but always felt in his company that we still saw each other every day. I tried everything I could to get him to come and see Mondo especially the second time he turned up when he said he was moving back to Scotland. He said he'd try if he ever came out way but I had a feeling he was lying . .
I said to him "Ain't you ever going to settle down and get a wife and kids like Mondo and me.
He just smiled at me ,offset it with a joke and then added You ain't that stupid Griff even though you're a footballer" . I knew what he meant.
The rest of the story you know I just wish we had Kiwi here to give us his inner chapter because there are things about him that are still a mystery to us all.