Former Premier League footballer Troy Deeney has revealed how he once received a lift home from his step-father while a small-time drug dealer was locked in the boot of the car.
Making his way in the game at Walsall, Deeney, who departed Watford for Birmingham City this summer, revisited the incident in his Sun column.
Playing in English football's third tier, Deeney recalled being collected by his step-father after playing a game against Northampton.
From the get go, he sensed something was a little off.
"When I came out of the ground he was waiting for me in a blue Mercedes," Deeney wrote, acknowledging in the column that this man was a career criminal. "I knew he didn't have a blue Mercedes.
'He didn't have a car. He didn't even have a licence. He had never passed his test. He had never taken his test. I assumed the Mercedes was "borrowed" but I got in and we set off down the M1."
So far so good, it eventually became apparent to Deeney that it was not just the two of them making the journey.
"He had the music turned up loud and everything was cool," he explained, "and we chatted about the game.
"Then we stopped to get petrol. The music went off and I heard this banging coming from behind."
With remarkable nonchalance, Deeney remembered being told not to worry.
"There's someone in there but I'm going to drop him off in a bit," his stepfather told him. "He owes my pal some money, so I've taken him on a little journey for the day.
"I've fed him and he's fine. We'll drop him off later and I bet he pays."
You can read Troy Deeney's column in its entirety where he outlines his family background and the support and challenges he was faced with here.
Download the brand new OffTheBall App in the Play Store & App Store right now! We've got you covered!
Subscribe to OffTheBall's YouTube channel for more videos, like us on Facebook or follow us on Twitter for the latest sporting news and content.
