Robbie's story of the week... By sea, by air, Bywater

By Robbie Savage

Published 22:51 19/11/09

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I think I'm going to by our goalkeeper Stephen Bywater a magic carpet or a Tardis for Christmas.

Stephen's scared of flying so, while we were all at the airport last week for our friendly in Amsterdam - those of us who'd packed their wife's passport by mistake were there for a bit longer than the rest - he was driving up to Hull to get the ferry to Rotterdam.

Stephen had a good trip over in a comfy cabin and arrived safely on the morning of the match. On the way back, he drove onto the ferry, settled back in his cabin and rang the steward to order breakfast for the morning.

"Oh no, we won't be serving breakfast sir," she says. "It's going to be too rough a crossing for that. There's a Force 10 gale coming."

Now Stephen hates any kind of turbulence - it's why he will only fly in an emergency - so he tells her: "Get me off this boat." "We can't do that, sir," she says. "Get me the captain," demands Stephen.

And eventually, he gets off the boat with his car still inside. The boat's then delayed for an hour while they conduct a search of his motor. Satisfied that he's dodged a bullet, Stephen has a night in the nearest hotel and then drives to the airport in the morning.

And then he flies back home to Midlands Airport... on the windiest day of the year!