Season 6 Episode 7 Episode 267 Sky One Transmission Date: Sunday 17th November 2002 Directed By Marcus D F White

Fletch’s team: Marcel, Tommo, Curtis, Fletch Nikki, Phil Curtis, Stuart, Ryan

GS: Hope Parker (Olivia Sofie Newman) Patrick has taken himself on sick leave, telling Jeff one more loss will be all it takes to push Phil out. The team are at each other's throats following a poor run, and not much optimism about beating Southampton on Saturday. Fletch and Marcel clash, while Robbie is irritated over losing his place to Ryan, the coach's son. Phil, entrusting Stuart to keep things afloat in Patrick’s absence, is desperate to sort this, and Stuart refers to a paintballing trip when he was with City that brought the lads together. When Tash learns a fed up Robbie is putting in for a transfer, she tells Fletch he has to find a way to make him stay. Fletch organises a card game, but his plan to let Robbie win the pot is thwarted when Robbie sees him fake losing, and is angry. The squad arrives at the paintball course, and are separated into two teams led by Fletch and Stuart. With Tara receiving anonymous texts from Ryan, and under the impression it is Marcel after their date, she sends one about hooking up in the woods, only Ryan has used Curtis's phone when his battery died, and Curtis receives the message. Tash spots Robbie's resignation letter and gets it before Patrick does. When Curtis tries it on with Tara, she is shocked and knees him in the groin. Ryan is furious having witnessed Curtis coming onto Tara, and chases him until he falls down, before pumping him full of lead paint! In the commotion, Robbie shoots at Fletch, who falls backwards and injures his back. On the day of the Southampton game, four players are unavailable injured. After confiding in Fletch that he is seeing a married woman, Robbie is desperate to find his transfer request, which Tash has saved and Fletch tears up. Tash discovers the reason behind the gossip that Jeff has been seen with a young girlfriend, when he introduces her to Hope's new nanny, which she won't stand for! With the team even more at each other's throats following the loss, Stuart gives them a stern, but passionate talking to, with how their squabbling has let down the fans who deserve better, and they must put it all aside to become Harchester United. Overhearing Stuart's speech inspires Phil, who briefs the press with a new confidence, that he will be staying to support the team as they move past this, just as the newly returned Doyle watches on, troubled. Notes: The Best: The team’s day out on the paintballing assault course. Nikki going into the dressing room and finds Phil, resurrecting his plumbing career, and fixed the faulty showers himself. What Was The Score?: Fletcher, Walsh, Andy Grant and Sullivan are all out, while Ryan plays up front in place of Fletch. Marvin Walker and Peter Smith replace Grant and Sullivan, and Danny Mills for Robbie. Marian Pahars scores for Southampton, going 2-0 up with James Beattie. In the second half Chris Marsden takes it to 3, and a second goal from Beattie ends things 4-0. Soundtrack: Sugababes: "Freak Like Me", The Great Escape March: “Main Title”, DJ Tiesto: "Magik Journey" <<SE06 EP06 |  Season 6 Main Page | SE06 EP08>>