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Being injured is bad enough for anyone. Being injured and working on a football magazine is twice as painful – trust me.

At FourFourTwo we get a lot of great perks (the pay is not one of them). These bonuses include kit freebies, playing at professional grounds, meeting footballers and even sometimes having a kick around with the players themselves.

It’s been four weeks since I sustained my latest groin injury and I’ve been praying no such opportunities arose.

All was going well until Hugh Sleight, editor-in-chief at FourFourTwo, fired an e-mail around the office. It read as follows:

“FFT vs FHM: next Wednesday afternoon.
Refereed by Martin Peters
Winners lift the World Cup trophy

Who’s up for it?”

I turned round to see a smile crack across his face. He knows I’m injured and being the windup merchant that he is, he’s loving this.

Suppressing an Incredible Hulk rage, I turned to my screen, reading the e-mail again.

I can’t believe it. Not only am I missing out on the chance to play in a game refereed by a 1966 World Cup winner, but I’m missing out on the opportunity to touch the World Cup trophy (if we’d won – which without me they won’t – and right now I hoped they get stuffed).

Most professional players don’t get within breathing distance of the coveted trophy, lifted by footballing gods such as Maradona, Matthaus and Zidane.

I know what you’re thinking: ‘Oh poor you’, ‘Stop whining, you ungrateful bitter git’. Well I have two words for you. But they’re not printable.

This once in a lifetime opportunity is courtesy of Sony Ericsson, official mobile handset of the 2010 FIFA World Cup.

The phone company is bringing the trophy to the UK for a VIP screening of the all important qualifying match between England and the Ukraine at Wembley.

Fans and special guests will be invited to watch the game and get up close to the gold statuette.

Which is closer than I’ll get.