More Than A Game

Marcel tells Patrick that Barcelona want him on loan - but Patrick thinks he's lying and exposes him on TV. Meanwhile, Jacqui tells Phil that there is something he needs to know....

Karl Fletcher has told Marcel about Patrick and the whole bet. Marcel doesn't believe anything, the affair, the match fixing, nothing. Fletch explains that he had to tell him because he cannot play and he needs Marcel to do a good job out on the pitch. He knows Marcel isn't in on the bet. Marcel tells Fletch he needs time to think.

Fletch tells this to Abi, but straight away she sends Fletch back upstairs. He runs back upstairs to see Marcel walk into Patrick's room. He decides to small the fire alarm, meaning Marcel cannot ask Patrick about the allegations.

Marcel is brought to the Fletcher's, and they both explain that they had to tell him because he hates to lose. Marcel tells Fletch he should tell the Chairman, but Fletch explains that it is their word against Patrick's. The only other thing to do is for Karl to persuade Jacqui to tell Phil.

Jeff, who is living round at Tash's for awhile is called by the bailiffs. They have come to reclaim his car. He explains to them that he'll have the money soon but they take the car and leave. Tash asks where the car has gone but he doesn't tell her the truth, explaining it was taken in to be fixed.

Jacqui is home alone, as Phil has gone to work and she is already calling Patrick. The doorbell rings and she presumes it's him, but finds out it is actually Fletch. Karl tells her to tell Phil about the bet. She says she cannot tell him. She is told about all the lives she is ruining because of it… Phil ends up walking in, but he doesn't catch any of the conversation.

Marcel and Abi arrive at the club together, and Patrick immediately suspects something. Patrick asks him what he actually wanted to speak to him about last night so he makes up that Barcelona have been in touch and are keen to take him on loan. Patrick explains that the chairman will never let him go, and he tells Marcel that he will speak to the Barca manager. Marcel tells him that it's okay and that his agent has everything under control. Patrick is very suspicious.

While the lads are out training, Fletch, making sure no one is watching, drags an exercise bike into the physio room. He covers himself in bin bags, and begins pedaling. His aim is to sweat out the cocaine.

Jacqui has gone to see Patrick, and tells him that everything has to stop and that she has had enough. She works herself up so much, Patrick turns around and slaps her in the face. She storms off upset.

Marcel and Fletch meet in the showers, and Sabatier tells Karl how he is being forced to play defense against Birmingham. As they are talking, Fletch suddenly see's Patrick so he pretends they are talking about something else. Patrick asks Marcel if he has any problems, Marcel just tells him that he's the boss. Patrick now knows something is going on. He rings up Marcel's agent to find out that Barcelona are showing now interest at all.

At The Grange, Jeff and Tash are having a meal with Clyde and Tommy, trying to get them to sign with them. Jeff is very cautious of the prices for the wine etc, and is worried when the expensive stuff is chosen. He explains to the boys how it's good how he is so close to the manager, immediately, Patrick walks in, furious that he has been making his players drink the day before a game.

Jacqui has been asked to interview a young Harchester fan and his mother. When Jacqui asks the young boy what he likes about how the team play, he explains that he doesn't like it anymore as they just lose all the time. The mother explains that the young fan has not taken the defeats lightly.

Meanwhile, Patrick has asked Marcel if he can do an interview with him for Sky Sports. Marcel agrees. Before the interview, Patrick tells Rodger, the man from Sky Sports, if he cannot ask any questions on Marcel moving to Barcelona.

Clyde and Tommy are getting ready to leave their meal. Jeff asks them if their parents will be at the game as they can then sign the deal. Tash explains that they'll send limos for the parents, all the way from Nottingham and Toxteth. Jeff cannot believe it.

The interview begins and Roger moves on to ask why he is speaking with Barcelona. Marcel cannot believe it and just explains that lots of clubs show interest. Patrick then makes it go away by telling Roger that he doesn't think it should be discussed. Marcel explains that Barcelona are a great club but he is happy at Harchester.

Fletch is furious that he is moving to Barcelona but Marcel tells him he made it up. Marcel tells Fletch and Abi that they must go to the FA. Karl though, tells him that if they do that Harchester will be relegated. Marcel see's this as a good thing, because at least people will no that the players are not failures. Karl explains how he has sweated blood for Harchester and he is not going to see them in the Nationwide.

Jacqui goes round to see Patrick in The Grange and explains how she does not like any of this anymore. Patrick tells Jacqui that he is under pressure as well. If Harchester don't get relegated he doesn't have the slightest clue what these people he has placed the bit with will do to him.

Marcel tells the boys at The Grange that after dinner everyone is to meet in his room for a ‘card game'. The team turn up and Marcel tells them that they are not actually playing cards. He tries to persuade the team to play a different way but some of the players think they should play the managers way, especially Curtis. Marcel decides that the first half they will play the managers way, and by half time, if it's not working they will swap to play his formation. All the players agree.

Phil leaves early to travel down to Birmingham. As he leaves she begins to pack, she is obviously planning to run away.

At the match, Jeff meets Clyde and Tommy's parents and buys them drinks.

Back in Harchester, Abi catches Jacqui packing up the car. Abi calls her a coward but Jacqui still doesn't change her mind about going. She drives off, leaving Abi standing.

The match is underway, and Birmingham score early on. Jacqui is listening to the match via the radio in her car. She decides that it is wrong to run away and drives towards Birmingham.

It's now half time and Jeff, straight away starts talking with the parents. Tash pulls him aside asking him to lay off them as he is rushing the whole thing. Jeff is not happy, explaining how he doesn't need help running his business.

In the dressing room, Patrick tells them that they should carry on playing as they have been. Marcel stands up though and tells them that they now have to play how they know they can. The team are fired up and go out onto the pitch. At the same time, Jacqui Wallis arrives at the ground.

As Jeff is coming out the toilets, he notices that Bobby Bell, a PFA rep is chatting to the parents of Clyde and Tommy. During the match, Jeff asks Bobby for a word. Bobby Bell explains how the PFA had signed the two boys 2 weeks ago. Jeff cannot believe it. He tells Tash that he wasted 2 grand on the two boys and they didn't tell him they were signed. He tells her that he think that he's going bankrupt.

Marcel is furious with some of the players during the match as they are not playing in their correct positions. Minutes later, Birmingham get their second. Marcel Sabatier is sunned and Marcel is once again furious. He takes off his shirt and flings it at Patrick.

Upstairs, Jeff explains to Tash how losing Danny Rawsthorne in the crash was the start, and then losing Robbie and Jamie made everything worse.

Down in the changing room, Fletch lays into Marcel telling him that half the lads were still playing Patrick's way. Marcel tells Fletch that Harchester are finished.

The final whistle goes and Harchester have lost 2-0. Many of the Harchester fans are very sad, crying their eyes out. Jacqui tells Phil that everything will be okay but he explains that it won't. While they are sitting in the car, Jacqui can no longer bear it, she decides to tell Phil everything.

Notes:

Soundtrack: The Tamperer: "Feel It", Oxide & Neutrino: "J99", Gomez: "Shot Shot", Orbital: "Counting On New Friends"

Season 6 Guide