A REAL life football tale about a teenager whose mistake cost his team a major trophy is being brought to the stage.

Dave Corner was an 18-year-old defender playing for Sunderland when an error in the 1985 Milk Cup Final against Norwich lead to the only goal in the match.

Blacks Cats fans have trouble forgetting the moment he tried to allow the ball to go out of play, but was beaten by John Deehan who got the ball in to the 18 yard box.

Asa Hartford fired off a shot, which was deflected into Sunderland’s goal off Gordon Chisholm.

BBC Look North presenter Jeff Brown has written the play, called Cornered, which not only tells the story of that day, but also what has happened to him since.

Mr Brown said: “He made one mistake, and it has haunted him ever since. The play is an attempt to put David’s side of the story.”

Mr Corner, now 51, and living in his home city of Sunderland, is a married father-of-two.

After leaving Sunderland he enjoyed spells with Cardiff City, Peterborough United, Leyton Orient, Darlington and Gateshead, and has recently retired after 21 years service as a policeman.

Mr Corner said: “It will be quite surreal watching your life being acted out on stage. The play is about the transition from being footballer to being a policeman.

“Sometimes it helped the situation. I was never known for my pace on the football field, but as an officer, most of the time, when someone knew it was me chasing them they would give up.”

“Twelve years after the cup final I was in a room with a man who had been badly beaten up. He was dying. He was refusing to talk to anyone, or get treatment. Our eyes met, he opened his mouth and said: ‘Davey, why did you not just kick it out?’”

Cornered is being performed alongside another football play, Wise Men Say, by Paul Dunn, celebrating the 20th anniversary of the opening of the Stadium of Light.

The double-bill of plays are on at The Customs House, in South Shields, between September 6 and 8, Durham Gala on September 9, Washington Arts Centre on September 14 and the Peacock, in Sunderland on September 22.

Ticket prices range from £7 to £16, and can be bought from www.crankedanvil.co.uk.