Nicky Shorey's Diary - Thursday

Thursday

Last night was an absolute DISASTER! I met Jon and Nicky at Planet Ice in Peterborough. Jon has just bought a 2004 Skoda Octavia, which I told him looks like a taxi. He didn’t take too kindly to that but I kept going on at him all night about it. I really like Jon – only for the fact that I can take the mick out of him, which makes me feel good for a change. He’s a big lad though – he can take it.

All was fine when we went into Planet Ice. Nicky paid me in because I’d bought his ticket last week when we went to see My Bloody Valentine 3D at the Odeon in Aylesbury. We got our skates sorted and headed for the rink, but then I heard something that made my skin crawl. That laugh. That horrible; ridiculous laugh. It was Ívar Ingimarsson – my nemesis. I was going to leave but Nicky and Jon persuaded me to stay. I’m lucky to have them as friends.

Me and Ívar haven’t seen eye to eye since the end of the 2006/07 season. We had played together all season – quite well in fact. There was always a tension though, which is understandable given that we are both exceptionally talented defenders. The trouble boiled over when he pipped me to win Reading player of the year for that season – as voted for by Reading fans. I was shell-shocked. It was at the end of season dance, held in the bar at the Toby Carvery beside the Travel Inn at Caversham Bridge on the outskirts of Reading. I’d had one too many Carlings and I called him a pretentious Icelandic nonce. He responded and we came to blows. Things were never the same for me at the club.

When I got onto the ice it took him a few minutes to recognise me. I think it was lanky Jon who gave me away, but I can’t hold it against him. “Hey there number two” he shouted. “Top of the league mate” I said to him. He didn’t understand but it was all i could think of. I wasn’t looking for a fight so I didn’t respond again. I couldn’t concentrate on my skating though and I kept falling. I felt like Cristiano Ronaldo. My left bum cheek is sore today which I‘m sure the lads will find funny at training this afternoon. I play in the Premier League now so I can’t be drawn into such petty arguments. I’ll win player of the year at Villa soon; I can feel my time is coming.

All I can focus on is the Wigan game at the weekend. Hopefully I’ll get on again. I played well on Tuesday so if I can keep it up in training today and tomorrow I’ll be a dead cert.