Ballache

This is the face of what passes for a 'Ball boy' in South Wales ....

Old 'Ball boy' Practising His 'Simulation' Moves ......

Apart from the fact that he's aged 17, around 5'10'' in height, and shaves ....

 

.... Well no problem until he's then accused of trying to time waste in an important cup match, gets involved in a tussle with a member of the opposition football team over possession of the football, then allegedly gets 'kicked' (I say 'allegedly' as I don't think he got touched, but hey what do I know), then rolls around clutching his sides like a Taliban sniper has hit him. He then has a miracle cure and is OK, afterwards  .......

All this led to the opposition player involved being harshly being sent off by the referee, gained the 'Ball boy's' team a decided advantage, and brought the 'boy' much worldwide notoriety.

All this fun and games does however raise some issues that the game is trying to duck:

(a) Should 'ball boys' not have some sort of age limit - over 18 or under16?
(b) Should they be provided from the home teams youth academies, or reserves, or be neutral?
(c) If the 'ball boys' indulge in gamesmanship, time wasting or other underhand tricks, should the referee be able to add time, report the club to the FA for a fine, or even have points docked or even a forced replay of the match?

All the rolling around on the ground like a wounded buffalo that the 'boy' went through, leads me to suspect that the 'ball boy' is in fact a member of the Swansea football youth academy, and he's learnt his lessons on 'simulation' well.

Little good that he apologised afterwards, the opposition player will miss at least 3 matches, a manager could lose his job as a result, and the time wasting worked, as his team got to the final .... who says 'cheaters never prosper'?

 

Update 2013: Swansea actually won the cup competition beating Bradford 5 - 0 in the final in 2013. The first piece of major silverware in their 100-year history. Charlie Morgan, ball boy, became part of the legend.

 

Update 2023: In 2023 it was widely reported that one Charlie Morgan, forever known as that 'Swansea ballboy', and son of one of the clubs directors, is now worth a reported £40million, thanks to his multi-million pound alcohol company – Au Vodka – that he set-up with a friend in 2016. Now at the tender age of 26, he (and friend?) were also included in the Sunday Times Rich List for 2022.

The fruit vodka product has been endorsed by ex-footballer Ronaldinho and boxing legend Floyd Mayweather, while Vlogger/boxer Jake Paul was paid $250,000 to get a branded tattoo of a bottle on his right arm. 

 

All which suggests that the adage 'cheaters never prosper' is complete rubbish.