When Eli Wade was given a straight red card in Port United’s 3-1 defeat to Macleay Valley on May 10 he wouldn’t have anticipated his return match would be June 7.
But that’s the scenario facing the United defender after the Big Wet extended his mandatory one-game suspension out to four weeks.
The captain admits it would be some sort of a Coastal Premier League Men’s record.
“You’d think it’s a record, surely. It is for me anyway,” he said.
“It’s been frustrating; I’ve been waiting for the boys to play (one game) so I can get back and then the rain just keeps coming.”
He has no qualms about the decision handed down in Kempsey on that fateful Tuesday night when he was given his marching orders for the first time in his career.
“This is the first time I’ve been suspended; I had three yellows a couple of years ago, but this is my first suspension ever,” he said.
“I started back when I was five, so I’ve been playing about 20 years. This one was fair and I can’t complain because I knew it was a straight red.”
Wade admits he enjoyed having a run on Tuesday night when United played a first grade trial against reserve grade.
He’ll miss United’s crucial fixture this weekend against Northern Storm, but has pencilled in the rescheduled catch-up fixture against Southern United next week.
“I’ve definitely been stewing. We trained on the hockey fields (on Tuesday) and that was pretty hectic.”
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