As he turned into Benson Street, he saw a battered old van parked beside a telegraph pole and a man up at the top of a ladder hammering a nail into a piece of hardboard on to which was pasted a poster. Robert slid to a halt at the foot of the ladder and stared intently at the man. “Hey, mister,” he shouted at the top of his voice, “what’re you up to?” The man, who hadn’t spotted Robert until then, almost jumped out of his skin and nearly fell off the ladder. “Don’t you know better than to startle somebody when they are up a ladder. I could have got killed!” snapped the man. “If it’s any of your business, I’m putting up this poster about the charity football match next Saturday to raise money for the local hospital.”

Dad stopped the car and they both got out. “Need any help?” shouted Robert to a man who was bent over the engine compartment of the bus but when the man stood up and turned round, Robert almost fainted with surprise. It was Eric Cantona!! For once in his life, Robert was lost for words. And Cantona wasn’t alone. All the other United players were there too. Robert thought he had died and gone to heaven. Meanwhile Robert’s Dad had discovered that the team’s coach had broken down and he offered to take the driver into town to organise a new coach for the team.

All the way home Robert dragged his feet and his head hung down as if he had a heavy weight on his shoulders. His Mum tried to cheer him up and even made him his favourite dinner - burger and chips - but he couldn’t bring himself to eat a bite. As soon as he could, he went up to his room and lay down on the bed, his face buried in his pillow imagining what it would have been like to see his heroes in real life.

Some topics in this essay:
United TV, Benson Street, United Loxford, Manchester United”, Robert’s Dad, Loxford Thrashers, Dad Robert, Robert Dad, Robert Andrews, Manchester United, half past, half past seven, manchester united, united playing, past seven, “i don’t, football match, robert fainted, worst day, loxford thrashers, life robert,