“Fuck this,” Shaun said. “I’m not playing for a club that thinks it’s all right to be shagging each other left, right and centre.”
“Is that a transfer request?”
They all whirled round to see Jamie in the doorway.
Shaun glanced from one player to the next. Some of them met his gaze, others dropped their heads to avoid it. Not one person came to his defence.
“Maybe it is.”
“Fine,” Javier said. “You can sit on the bench for the second half and consider it properly. Edi, you’re up.”
Shaun was bright red. He had no choice but to obey. He couldn’t storm out, considering they were the other end of the country to Brockton and he only had his football kit on.
“Now that we’ve cleared that up,” Javier said, gently pushing Steven back to his position by the door. “We have forty-five minutes to turn this game around. Something that I firmly believe you can all do. Two goals and we finish this season winners. Then we’re ready to really show the country what we can do next year. Are you with me?”
They cheered, albeit a little lacklustre.
“Our fans have travelled all this way for a show,” Steven said. “The press are dying for us to fuck this up.”
He stared pointedly at Shaun.
“How about we prove all the wankers wrong?” Steven continued. “We are Brockton FC and no matter what, we are family. Ever since I came here, I’ve felt I belonged. Not to the people in this room but to those outside who turn up every weekend. Let’s give them what they deserve.”
This time the locker room erupted. Udo’s heart was bursting. They would show Bournemouth. In fact, they would show bloody everyone.
TWENTY-SEVEN
STEVEN
The time flew past. Steven kept glancing at his watch whilst keeping an eye on the game. They had about ten minutes left. Colin had equalised early in the second half. Bournemouth were holding them at bay from scoring a winner.
“I suppose it doesn’t really matter,” Javier said. “We’ll still finish in a safe spot.”
“Don’t give up,” Steven replied.
He’d barely left the dugout all match. When he did, the camera shutters set off like a swarm of angry bees. He hated it.
The sun had come out, which meant Brockton were playing into it. Not great conditions for scoring goals. Still, the lads had emerged from the locker room a different team. With Shaun’s ridiculous antics squashed, they were passing brilliantly.
Udo, Adam and Ewen made a great trio as well. Steven made a mental note to ensure they played together wherever possible in the future.
Bournemouth’s striker took the ball past Jerzy and Alain. Their crowd began to shout their encouragement. Steven glanced up thepitch. Goran was ready with Ingvar and Edi in front of him. Ready to face this onslaught.
Then Adam came from nowhere and swept the ball out from in front of his opponent. With grim determination, Brockton’s captain made it to the halfway mark before any of the enemy knew what was going on. Their defence was nowhere near as ready as Brockton’s had been. He cleared the first but the second was blocking his path. Undeterred, Adam kicked the ball to Udo.
Steven had taught them this strategy. Get possession and be aggressive. The defenders will forget about anyone else and focus on the ball. It had worked a treat.
Udo took the ball the rest of the way on the right wing. In that time, most of the Bournemouth defenders were hovering around the goal. The goalie watched Udo’s every move.
“He’s never going to make that shot,” Javier cried out. “Ewen is in position.”
Steven’s heart was in his mouth. Would Udo sacrifice his own glory for the sake of the team?
It was one of those moments where the world stops. The crowd fell silent.
Udo slammed the ball. It sailed over the defenders. Ewen launched himself up and smashed his head on it. Instantly changing the direction. The poor goalie had come too far out to be able to do anything about it. The ball shot straight into the goal.
For a second, Steven couldn’t believe it. Then pandemonium kicked in as their supporters erupted. Tears rolled down Steven’s cheeks as Udo and Ewen ran to the fans.
