Incident escalated with Tony Pulis following my mistaken jubilation of the loss
Experiencing the banishment of football's infamous 'bomb squad' was a thorn in Jermaine Pennant's side.
Once seen as a lonesome outpost, either due to having no spot on the team or serving a football suspension, the "bomb squad" is considerably unflattering.
For the once triumphant Premier League wide man Jermaine Pennant, it was a case of being on the wrong end of the game.
In the eyes of the former Arsenal and Liverpool titan, it was pure misunderstanding as he endured his penance.
The transgression cast a shadow over Pennant's Stoke City career, transforming it in the blink of an eye.
He could have ventured on a loan, but fate had other plans; Tony Pulis, the Stoke City boss, instead banished him to train with the youth players - the 'bomb squad'.
Reminiscing about the event, Pennant shared his tale on talkSPORT, "When we played Everton at Goodison Park, I thought I was in the squad, but he (Pulis) put me in the stands," Pennant recalled, "He (had previously) stopped me from going out on loan to Leeds. He said 'I want you, you're going to be part of my plans. You're going to be in the squad on Saturday.' But things took a bitter turn."
His absence from the roster was bewildering for Pennant, who had been looking forward to returning to action.
"He (Pulis) did his teamsheet and I'm in the stands," Pennant added, "So I'm thinking, you stopped me going out on loan and playing football and now I'm in the stands?"
But the conflict and jeopardy over his Stoke future escalated due to a momentary moment of euphoria.
After the game, Pennant discovered his horse had won the race, and his initial enthusiasm was misinterpreted by his teammates.
"As the coaching staff came in, I looked at my phone and I started celebrating, believing my horse had finally come in," Pennant explained.
"But they thought I was celebrating because we lost 1-0. The next day we (Pennant and Pulis) nearly came to blows. When I arrived at training, he said, 'We don't want to see your face ever again. Go and train with the kids'", Pennant recalled.
Serving his punishment, Pennant spent three years at Stoke under Pulis, which included a short-term loan at Wolves.
The initial deal came after the successful completion of a four-month loan at the start of 2010/11 season. The transfer was made permanent by Pulis to Pennant's delight, who signed a two-and-a-half-year deal for a fee of £1.725million, rising to £2.8million.
"Everyone knows how I feel about being at this football club," Pennant declared after finalizing his transfer.
"The supporters, players, and management have been absolutely fantastic to me over these past four months, and I desperately wanted to stay here because I love it so much. I know I have only been here a few months, but it really does feel like I have been here for years."
Pennant played 89 times for the Potters, scoring four goals in the process before leaving the club to join Indian club Pune City in 2014.
Pennant's misery with the "bomb squad" made him yearn for a transfer, hoping to find a new lease of life in different football leagues, such as the NFL or the Champions League.
However, his chances of playing in the European-leagues seemed bleak due to his strained relationship with Pulis, with the Premier League seemingly out of reach.
As a professional football manager, Pulis could have chosen to loan him out to another Premier League team, but instead, Pennant remained in the shadows, apart from the elite plays happening in the Premier League.
Despite his passion for the sport, the unfortunate circumstances of his banishment to the "bomb squad" made it difficult for Pennant to seek opportunities in the world of sports and football.
In the end, Pennant's stint at Stoke City would define his professional career, an experience echoing the trials and tribulations a wide-ranging football career can present.
