Wandsworth Athletic Cult Hero: Pikey Runt

There are typical types of cult hero – prolific goal-scorer, flamboyant playmaker, tireless midfielder, defensive enforcer or even a solid, loyal club man dedicated to his home side.

Sometimes though a cult hero comes along who doesn't fit the above profiles. Sometimes there’s a cult hero made by one incredible act or memorable goal. And it’s into this scarce category that a young man known only as Pikey Runt falls.

Pikey Runt was always a vacant, enigmatic figure down at Rocks Lane in SW13. A journeyman filling in for club’s short on resources. A nomad without permanent attachment. A quiet, scrawny figure that went largely unnoticed. There were claims of a YTS contract at Leyton Orient, but no one really believed it.

Pikey Runt’s association with Wandsworth was very much brief and fleeting – like so much of his career. He made just a single appearance, but it was certainly a notable one. Facing off against reviled opposition, Pikey Runt ran hard and played his heart out. He made a beeline for that wretched farce of a player known as Bandana. He hit him hard. Some even thought they heard him utter the words “that one’s for Andy..."

Whether true or just myth, the point was made. Pikey Runt had embodied the Wandsworth motto of usque ad mortem. He’d taken on board the club’s values and bought into the fierce rivalries and past experiences. Everyone was grateful to Pikey Runt for that whole-hearted, one-off wear of the Wandsworth jersey.

Is this enough to justify cult hero status though? On its own, probably not. But there was to be another infamous Pikey Runt moment in the history of Wandsworth Athletic. On this occasion, the young rascal was lining up against the white jerseys. Filling in for another side in need – Pikey Runt’s modus operandi.

Deep into a tight encounter, a close-range shot was fired at goal. Wandsworth stopper Matt Snelling had bravely raced off his line and flung himself at the attacker. The subsequent effort, hit with real power, arrowed right into the number one’s face. It struck him flush. Snelling was laid out, unable to continue.

In a bizarre twist of fate the ball rebounded straight to the feet of Pikey Runt. “Score!” demanded his temporary teammates.  “Smash it in!” they roared. Under pressure and eager to impress, no one would have blamed the young man for slotting the ball home into the unguarded net.

But instead a moment of genuine, inspirational sportsmanship followed. Pikey Runt stopped. He bent down and picked the ball up. He halted the game.

“Matty’s down,” he sternly proclaimed.

“And I ain’t scoring like that.”