Tony Pulis column: Players ‘on the beach’ a problem for managers

When I turned 18, even though I was about to join the professional ranks, I always went back to Wales and spent time with the boys I grew up with.

At this time, I had just started dating Deb, who is now my wife, so my weekend nights were changing anyway.

My mom and dad were much happier if I spent time with Dev, because it would be better for my career. Although I still managed to go out with the boys from time to time. This was one of those occasions.

One particular Easter, Rovers played a home game on Saturday and I wasn’t involved. I went back to Wales and took Deb out for dinner but, on the way, I met Peel’s gang, in the area where I was born, in Newport.

After a few drinks they convinced me to play with them the next morning, in the semi-final of the Sunday League Cup competition. I was told I wasn’t breaking any rules because I wasn’t completely professional. I was desperate to play whenever I could and as far as I knew it was the only game I would be playing that weekend. I was wrong!

The next day, a very wet Sunday morning, Dev took me to the valley where the game was being played, and we won on a pitch that I will always remember as full of puddles and hillsides.

I went home because I had to catch the train back to Bristol. The distance from Temple Meads to Eastville Stadium was pretty good and on that particular day, myself and the other Welsh lads were back as the first team were going to Wolves for the Easter Monday evening kick-off.

Our usual job was to clean boots and help pack kit, but when I got there the manager pulled me over and told me to go back to my digs to get a suit, as I was going to Molineux with the team.

It wasn’t unusual for a youngster to travel with the senior squad, help with the kit and gain some experience, but when we got to our hotel I was told I would start the game, with the very experienced defender Stuart Taylor in the back four.

Molyneux was packed that night and the atmosphere was incredible. It took an incredible strike from Steve Daly to beat us 1-0.

My preparation for the game was pretty unique with that steep pitch up in the valley the morning before, but I still managed.

It taught me an important lesson about how unpredictable a life in football can be – and how unpredictable life in general is.

Tony Pulis was speaking to BBC Sports’ Chris Bevan.