Football Fever

At Redrock School, everyone loves football, but not everyone gets to play.
Written especially for this podcast by Alice. 

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In order to allow us to make these stories we offer a premium subscription and run adverts. The adverts are not chosen by us, but played automatically depending on the platform you listen through (Apple Podcasts, Spotify, etc) and the country you live in. The adverts may even be different if you listen to the story twice.

We have had a handful of instances where an advert has played that is not suitable for a family audience, despite the podcast clearly being labelled for children. If you’re concerned about an advert you hear, please contact the platform you are listening to directly. Spotify, in particular, has proven problematic in the past, for both inappropriate adverts and the volume at which the adverts play. If you find this happening, please let Spotify know via their Facebook customer care page. 

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Episode Transcript

Speaker 1 (00:12):
Yo, Hello. My name's Josephine and this is the Animal
Tales podcast, where you suggest the animals featured in our stories.
There are new tales to enjoy every Monday and Wednesday,
with a third premium only story every Friday. If you're
enjoying Animal Tales, please take the time to leave us

(00:34):
a review. We'd be very grateful if you could. Lockie
and Lucy are from Sydney in Australia and they have
asked for a story featuring a dingo, a lynx and
a hippo. You can learn more about these creatures in
the animal facts after the story. Okay, are you ready?

(00:54):
That's good, then I'll begin Football Fever. It was lunch
time at Red Rock School and most of the children
were gathered on the playing field hoping that to day
would be the day they'd be picked. The problem, you see,
was that Red Rock had only one football and one pitch,

(01:16):
so every lunch time it was a mad scramble as
all the animals raced over to see who would get
a chance to play football that day. A group of
the older children ran the games. They had formed a
team called the Champs because they always beat everyone else.
Even so the other animals, including cubs, piglets, calves, and

(01:41):
Joey's would line up, hoping to get the chance to
play against them. Rodney, a young leopard and captain of
the champs, would walk up and down the line, picking
which lucky animals would get to play them. They always
chose eight for a team. Wasn't a big pitch after all,

(02:02):
with the chosen few hooting and hollering as they got
in position to play, while the unlucky ones grumbled at
the pitch side waiting to watch. And it was the
same every lunch time, every day, but not every animal
at the school lined up in the hope to play
a little distance away, sheltering in the shade, there sat

(02:26):
three animals, a dingo, a lynx, and a hippopotamus. They
all knew they wouldn't be chosen, so they didn't try.
They're never going to beat the champs. Lucy the lynx
muttered the game was about to start. I don't know
why they even bother, but they always hoped they might.

(02:50):
Lucky the dingo replied. He was lying flat on the ground,
his eyes fixed on the ball being passed between his
schoolmates beside them. Sydney, the hippo was quietly snoring. The
three animals hadn't even bothered trying to join in the
lunch time football for a while now. Lucy didn't like

(03:12):
how unfair the team picking had become. Lockee felt he
was never picked because the older animals recognized he was
too good. And as for Sydney, well, she wasn't much
of a runner. It wasn't down to her round size.
Hippos can be fast when they need to be, but
her asthma. I can't stare at that ball a moment longer,

(03:37):
said Locke, rolling over. It's not fair those older kids
get to hog the field just because they're bigger. They
should share and let others play too. That would be
the nice thing to do, Lucy replied, But until they
get beaten, the champs will just keep claiming that it's

(03:58):
their right to play. Near By, a couple of younger
kids were ignoring the football too. It was two little
otters who were playing with a frisbee instead. Lucy was
watching them with a smile as they passed it back
and forth. Oh no, cried one of the otters as

(04:19):
he threw it just a little too hard. It got
caught in branches above Lucy and Lockey's heads. We'll never
get it down now, whined the otter. I can't reach
that high, but I can, said Lucy. Getting to her feet.
The lynx bent her legs, shuffled her paws, then launched

(04:43):
herself upwards into an impressive leap. She was easily able
to back the frisbee free from where it had become stuck. Unfortunately,
in her enthusiasm, Lucy hit the frisbee too hard, sending
its sailing through the air. I'll get it, Locky yelled,

(05:04):
giving chase. He snatched it from the air, then sent
it flying back to them. Look Out, yelped a otter.
It's going to hit the sleeping hippo. But instead, Sydney's
arm shot out and grabbed the frisbee before it could
hit her. Is lunch time over already? She yawned. That

(05:28):
was amazing, the Otters cried, taking back their frisbee. Thank
you so much. You guys make a really good team.
The Otters moved off to carry on their game, leaving
Locke to consider their words. We are a good team,
aren't we, he said? And do you know what? I

(05:51):
think we could beat the champs if we played them.
Do you really think so, asked Sydney. I do did lockey.
In fact, I think we should challenge the champs to
a match. You're joking, aren't you, Lucy laughed. There's no

(06:11):
way we could win, isn't there? Locky replied, I've been
watching them all week. Rodney's favorite move is to kick
the ball really high over everyone else's heads, right into
the goal. But you can jump super high. You could
intercept it. And once I have the ball, no one's

(06:34):
going to tackle me. What about me, Sydney asked. You
know I don't like running. You can be goalie. Locke said,
you could catch anything. But if we lose, everyone will laugh,
said Lucy. Doubtfully, perhaps, Locky replied, but if we win,

(06:58):
everyone will cheer. We won't know unless we try. Lucy
took a deep breath, then nodded, okay, she said, I'm
in me too, smiled Sydney. Let's make the challenge. So
the following day, when the lunch bell had rung, Locke

(07:20):
made sure to get to the pitch first. When Rodney
the Leopard came strutting up with his teammates, Locke was ready,
what are you doing here? Dingo boy. Rodney sneered, you're
never going to get picked for a team, but I
already have a team, smiled Locky, calmly, and we want

(07:43):
to challenge you to a match, unless you're scared to
take us on. Rodney hesitated. He didn't want Lockee to
play because he knew he was good, but if he
didn't accept the challenge, all the kids lining up in
the hope to play would think he was frightened. We

(08:03):
could beat you with our eyes closed, said Rodney with
a snarl. I insist you keep them open. Locke replied,
I wouldn't want anyone saying it was unfair when we'd
beat you. Right, you're on, snapped the leopard angrily. We'll
wipe the floor with you. Rodney stomped off, ordering his

(08:28):
team to get into position. All the other children spread
out around the pitch, excited to see the game. Nobody
had ever dared to challenge the champs like this before.
Hold On, hold on, said Rodney as he watched the
Lynx and the Hippo join the Dingo on the pitch.

(08:48):
Where's the rest of your team? Threes all we need,
Locke replied casually. Now are we playing or not. Lucy
couldn't help but feel nervous. It was only her and
Lockee facing seven of the other team, with Sydney and
the Champs goalkeeper protecting their goals. Could they really do this?

(09:13):
But she didn't have time to think. The game had begun.
Rodney took possession of the ball straight away, passing to
a gazelle who ran right past Lucy before she could
stop him. In seconds, the ball was down the far
end of the pitch, leaving Rodney to cackle with laughter.

(09:36):
The gazelle booted the ball as hard as he could,
sending it like a cannon ball toward the goal. The
thing with hippos is that everyone underestimates them, and that
was exactly what was happening here. Sydney did a graceful
side step and deflected the ball with an outstretched hand.

(09:58):
Lucky break, Leopard scowled, We'll soon get one past. Sydney
threw the ball to Lucy, who was immediately blocked by
a giraffe and an ardvark. A swift tackle meant Rodney's
team had the ball again, this time passing to an
alligator who had a clear shot at goal. A mighty

(10:21):
kick sent the ball soaring towards the top left corner
of the net, only to be gracefully caught by the hippo.
Rodney's team was able to snatch the ball away from
Locke or Lucy on three more occasions, leaving them scrambling
across the dirt, and each time Sidney was there to

(10:42):
block it. Locke was pleased to see a wide grin
on the hippo's face. She was clearly having fun playing
in goal. Rodney, however, was having less fun. The other
animals were beginning to giggle at his team. Despite having
eight players, the score was still a nil nil draw.

(11:05):
The champs were losing respect. They had to score soon
and show every one that they weren't to be messed with.
This isn't working, panted Lucy as she jogged up to Lockey.
Lunch time will be over soon. We should have got
more players on our team. There's not enough of us.

(11:27):
We'll be fine, Lockey replied. Rodney's getting frustrated with his team.
He'll try his favorite move any second, and when he does,
we've got him. Sydney had the ball after yet another
marvelous save, and so kicked it far down the pitch.
Rodney though, was impatient, making sure he was there to

(11:50):
take possession of it. He sprinted past Lockeye, but still
had Lucy to beat before he reached the goal. He's
going to do it, Locky, whispered to himself. This is
our chance. Rodney sent the ball rocketing over the player's heads,
aimed perfectly to beat Sydney. There was no stopping him

(12:14):
now until Lucy leapt Rodney's jaw dropped. Nobody had ever
stopped his fly ball before to day. Landing lightly on
her feet, Lucy brought the ball under control, to a
huge cheer from the watching school children. But this was

(12:34):
no time to enjoy the attention. Spotting Locke a little
further down the field, she aimed a perfect cross right
to the dingo's feet. Finally the moment had arrived. Run, Locky, Run,
Lucy cried. As the dingo raced down the field, keeping

(12:55):
the ball close. He dodged the defenders, passing through through
their legs and skipping around them without seeming to break
a sweat. The crowd was loving it, but the thumping
of feet behind him showed he wasn't out of danger yet.
Rodney the leopard was chasing him down The opposing goal

(13:18):
was close, now mostly filled by an Indian elephant. This
was going to be tough. Lockie drew back his foot,
aiming his shot carefully. At the same time Rodney dropped
into a sliding tackle. Desperate to stop him. Lucy gasped,

(13:38):
Sydney covered her eyes, Their classmates held their breaths, and
the leopard was too late. Locke's foot got there first,
smashing the ball towards goal. The elephant seemed surprised that
Rodney had failed, perhaps putting too much trust in the leopard,

(13:58):
which meant she reac did just a little too slowly.
The ball hit the back of the net and the
crowd went wild. Lockey could barely believe it. All around him,
his classmates cheered and screamed. This sort of thing just
never happened, not at this school. Play On. Play On,

(14:23):
screamed Rodney, desperate to get the ball back into play,
but the bell sounded and lunch time was over. The
champs had lost. We did it, Lockeye, we did it,
Lucy cried, racing up behind him and giving him a
big hug, shortly followed by a delighted Sydney, who lifted

(14:45):
them both on to her shoulders. Three cheers for the
football stars, Sydney, cried the crowd, most of which had
ignored the bell in all the excitement, did just that.
An excited kangaroo shouted, I hope I get picked to
play against your team next lunch time. Oh, our team

(15:10):
is breaking up. It was just a one game thing,
said lockeye. Then who do we play once we've picked
a team, asked a frilled lizard. We pick another team,
said Lockee. Every lunch time. Not everyone will get a game,
but this way it's fairer. More of you will get

(15:31):
a chance. No more. Winning team stays on, added Lucy
as they headed into class, and it was this announcement
that received the biggest cheer of all animals. That hippos
can live in groups called pods of up to a

(15:53):
hundred animals. They are territorial, so males will battle with
one another for areas of water. They are not territorial
on land, though, and when they head there to feed,
they tend to do it alone. There are four species
of lynx, the Eurasian lynx, which is the largest, the

(16:14):
Canada lynx, the Iberian lynx, and the bobcat. All link
species are solitary animals, spending most of their time alone.
There is some disagreement among scientists as to how to
classify dingoes. Some think it's a species all on its own,
while some think it's a subspecies of dogs. Others think

(16:39):
it's just another kind of dog. I wonder what you think.
Thank you for your suggestions, Lockie and Lucy. We hope
you enjoyed it, and thank you to all of you
across the world for listening to it. There are over
four hundred animal tails now, and over fifty premium only
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(17:04):
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