Luke Farrell, the talented young football star of the Stretford Enders team, starts the new season with high hopes after the disappointment of not being selected to play for Everton (Stretford Enders Away). There are scouts in the crowd for three other big teams and one has a contract in his pocket for Luke to sign after the match. Luke plays a blinder until the moment he is brought down by a wild tackle, breaking his leg. The break takes Luke out of play for several months. The contract stays in the scout's pocket and all Luke can do is sit and contemplate what might have been. Deeply disappointed, Luke sinks rapidly into depression. His best mate, David, commits suicide and his girlfriend, Ella, leaves for London. With his leg in plaster, Luke loses fitness, pays no attention to exercise or diet and puts on weight. He alienates his friends, his coach, his mother - and worst of all, Ella. It's only a chance encounter with the hated Peter, which jolts Luke out of his black mood. Surprisingly, the two former enemies form a strange alliance which starts Luke back on the road to fitness. After all, there's still everything in the world to play for...