A non league match had to be halted as a sent off player turns off the floodlights, leaving many inside the ground puzzled.
Julius Maruga went viral a while ago after turning out for Kidlington Development in the Hellenic League Division One West game against Cheltenham Saracens.
Only to then be given his marching order in the 73rd minute and was forced to make his way back to the dressing room.
He went for an early bath whilst the match was ongoing, however as he decided to turn the showers on in the changing room, Maruga accidentally turned off the switch to the floodlights and caused the DN Fire Stadium to be in complete darkness for around five minutes with the scoreline at 1-1.
Julius Muraga sent off for Kidlington Development after 73 mins. Still 1-1. @westcountryfb @sportgloslive @FootyGlos @swsportsnews @SevernSport @JonPalmerSport @tonesport @MarkHalliwell1 pic.twitter.com/0BmT9IEMIA
— Jerry Howse (@howsejerry1) April 24, 2019
Muraga spoke with the media about the rather unique but funny situaiton: “After entering the changing rooms, I inadvertently turned off the floodlights thinking I was turning on the showers.”
The lights eventually came back on and Cheltenham Saracens managed to win the fixture 3-1, with goals from Ryan Smith and Sean McKeon coming after the stoppage and confirming the win for the hosts.
The lights are starting to come back on. @westcountryfb @sportgloslive @FootyGlos @swsportsnews @SevernSport @JonPalmerSport @tonesport @MarkHalliwell1 pic.twitter.com/eZWUvqcuUi
— Jerry Howse (@howsejerry1) April 24, 2019
Nick Duval, chairman of the Kidlington club’s trustees, said: “It was a genuine mistake. Julius hasn’t got a malicious bone in his body. He is a smashing lad.
“It’s just bizarre that they put the switch for the floodlights in the opposition changing rooms.”
A spokesman for the club also added: “As far as we can see the player simply ‘switched off’.”
Fans reacted after seeing the non league match was halted as the sent off player turns off the floodlights…
@FCKidlington_: 😂😂😂 we agree, this does sound suspect, but seriously if you knew the lad it would all make sense.
Harry Winter: Hahaha no way, only in non league ay?
@barnard_adam: Brilliant bastard 😂😂
Paddy Bartley: Why is there switches to a floodlight in the bathroom?
@ForeverAYellow Just superb reading this, bet it caused a right laugh from those within the stadium:
@CF3Loyal: English football has pulled one back
Will Baker: Bet the sent off player actually did that in frustration lol
@AlexEgelton: Hate when this happens….
Liam Goddard: Can’t stop laughing! That guy knew what he was doing surely, right?!
@Madtyke74: If I can’t play no one can play #TakingTheBallHome
Another amusing story from the non league world saw a goalkeeper having to stop mid-game after hearing that his car was being towed.
Normally it’s the supporter that falls victim to this when attending a game but is what quite a surprising twist when it happened to a player during a friendly between Dulwich Hamlet and Crystal Palace.
The vehicle ended up belonging to the non league outfit’s goalkeeper, named Preston Edwards, who was left red faced by what played out whilst the game was in play.
A tweet was published onto Twitter, before quickly going viral, which read: “At Dulwich v Palace and the most non-league thing just happened. The guy over the tannoy read the registration of a car that was being towed. The Dulwich keeper suddenly started frantically calling to someone in the crowd. It’s his car?
“I ignored it the first first two times,” the goalkeeper said when talking with SPORTbible.
“The third time he mentioned about it being towed – I wasn’t having any of it! I shouted randomly to a person in the crowd to tell the tannoy man that it is my car.
“I didn’t know what happened until I got back in at half time. Thankfully, someone moved my car for me. Apparently they got an earful from the person who was blocked in!”
‘Preston, move your car! Preston Preston, move your car!’
TFW you’re playing in goal against @CPFC and your car’s about to get towed. @preston_eddy#DHFC💖💙 pic.twitter.com/oI4StRuenW
— Dulwich Hamlet FC (H) (@DulwichHamletFC) October 12, 2018
Edwards admitted he was forced into parking the car in an illegal spot because he was ‘running late and saw no spaces.’
A club statement posted on Twitter by Dulwich Hamlet said: ‘We’ve tracked down the family that were blocked in by @Preston_Eddy. The parents were very understanding and the children are massive football fans….Really pleased to say that they will be guests at our next home game.’
He ended up calling time on his five year stint with Dulwich Hamlet, leaving in April 2020, but he’s certainly left behind some great memories.
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