Just over 11 years ago, Willo Flood was the victim of a burglary which he would later tell a court left him with 'recurring nightmares'.
The former Ireland U21 international was a young player at Man City when a 29-year-old man named Paul Forden, reported to be on drugs at the time, broke into his house and threatened him at knifepoint. Forden stole cash, a stereo, a video game console and a TV from Flood's home, along with his car.
In an interview of BBC Scotland, Flood, who is currently on his fourth spell with Dundee United, recalled the incident.
When he was arrested, Forden was wearing a Man City jersey. His fandom also emerged during the burglary.
Looking back, it’s quite funny now – but it wasn’t at the time. I was 19, got a new contract and had just bought a house.
I was watching telly and the sensor light came on. Two minutes later, the boy walks in with a big knife.
So he goes, ‘Get that telly off the wall’. I was like, ‘Calm down, calm down’.
In the middle of it he goes, ‘Are you Willo Flood?’ and I was like, ‘Yeah, yeah’.
He goes, ‘Don’t take this personally, I’m a big City fan’, and I was like, ‘Cheers’.
Forden was jailed for eight years for the crime. Along with now looking back on it as being quite funny, Flood also believes the incident ultimately made his a stronger person.
He ended up getting a screwdriver out, taking the plasma off the wall. The plasma took two days to get up, and one minute to get off the wall.
I remember carrying it outside and the knife was to the back of me. As soon as I got to the front door I threw it on the floor. There was one house lit up down the end of the road - I've never ran so fast in my life.
Man City found out within two minutes and they were round to my house looking after me. It had a massive impact (on me). At the time it was a traumatic experience but you become stronger after it.
