Three sports enthusiasts lived out every fan’s...

Three sports enthusiasts lived out every fan’s fantasy Saturday when, in an unlikely turn of events, they left the stands to play for a short-handed soccer team.

Illness left Northwich Victoria with only eight players, and chairman Derek Nuttall appealed over the public address system to the 738-strong crowd: “Does anyone want a game?”

Sunday league amateurs Steve Garnett, Rick Parkin and Mike Fogg were put in the lineup and helped Northwich Victoria hold heavily favored Maidstone to a 1-1 tie.