JAMES Lawson has recalled how Freddy Eastwood came close to ruining his car while at Southend United.

The strikers played alongside each other in attack for the Shrimpers.

But they often played pranks on each other off the pitch.

“Freddy and I always used to have a laugh with each other,” said Lawson.

“I was the youngest in the team so I always got a lot of stick from the players.

“Freddy took it a step further and started off by putting shaving foam all over my car but it went from there really.”

And Lawson, who came through the ranks at Roots Hall, was keen to get his own back.

“After training I went to a garden centre and bought loads of plant pots,” said Lawson.

“I put them all over his car so when he came back to his car it looked like a forest.

“He just said he was going to get me back.”

And it did not take Eastwood long to get revenge.

“I had a reserve game at Roots Hall and I knew Freddy was going to get me so I hid my car round the corner in a housing estate and didn’t park in the car park,” said Lawson.

“But for some reason I didn’t hide my keys, I just left them in the coat pocket which was stupid.

“I remember about 15 minutes into the game I heard Freddy shout my name.

“I looked up and he was shaking my keys at me!

“I was trying to get my head into this game and I’m just thinking oh my god what he’s going to do.”

And that led to a memorable half-time break.

“We came back in and I think it was Paul Brush who was shouting at us because we were losing,” said Lawson.

“One of the boys was looking at me smirking and gestured for me to look up.

“I couldn’t believe it when I did because it turned out Freddy had put the spare wheel from my car on my peg!”

But Eastwood’s revenge did not stop there.

“After the game I’ve gone to my car and he’s literally put talcum powder and creams absolutely everywhere,” said Lawson.

“I took it to a car wash and the guy said there was nothing he could do.

“He charged me double which was fine but then it started to stink of fish.

“I couldn’t understand it but it turned out Freddy had gone to a fish mongers and asked for the smelliest fish they had.

“He hid it in my car but in the end he told me where it was.”

And after that the duo were eventually told to bring their pranks to an end.

“After that Steve Tilson brought us in and told us it had to stop because it was getting out of hand,” said Tilson.

“It was all friendly banter and I got on really well with Freddy but we decided to call a truce.

“I’m still not sure I would park near him though!”