Yeah, it reminds me a lot of people who go in to try and join the army. Not the front lines or anything, just literally any part in the army.I know so many lads who's lives took a turn for the worse after being released! One lad who was released from United cuz school told them he was failing maths. I can't see the link myself but it ruined his prospect in life!
Anyway great story about nearly playing with Phill! Bet he would have run rings around you!
I had a mate at university who was so set on joining the marching bands and them who do Trooping of the Colour, wear the bearskins, etc. that he put all his eggs in that basket. He was a euphonium and tuba player. Anyway, they initially rejected him twice because he had an Asperger's diagnosis from when he was 4 years old.
That would have destroyed him - his only other income at the time was a zero hours shift at the Post Office - but thankfully his GP managed to get the diagnosis off his record and he was accepted when he applied a third time. Now he lives in barracks in Twickenham and has done Trooping of the Colour once and has done more Changings of the Guard than he can count.