Football Academy

by Tom Palmer

‘I wanted to ask you something.’

  Craig looked irritated. Mr Khan could imagine why.

  ‘I wanted to talk to you about your dad.’

  ‘What about him?’

  Mr Khan chose his words carefully. Craig didn’t sound like an eleven-year-old boy. He sounded different. He decided to be upfront.

  ‘I work at the prison. I’m a solicitor. I saw you there. Yesterday.’

  Mr Khan watched Craig’s face cloud over. His face red and puffy. His eyes dropping to the floor. And then he started running. Away from the car park, down the long drive.

  *

  Yunis came out of the dressing rooms with Jake and Tomasz. They were laughing. Messing about. Like they didn’t have anything to worry about, Mr Khan thought as he watched them.

  Except that Yunis’s face changed when he saw Craig running off. Away from his dad.

  In Mr Khan’s silver Mercedes Yunis looked at his dad. His dad had just turned the engine on and was ready to drive off, once his son had put on his seat-belt.

  ‘What just happened with you and Craig?’ Yunis said. ‘Was he giving you grief ? I told you he’s been acting weird.’

  ‘No, Yunis. It was something else.’

  ‘What?’

  ‘I’m not sure I can tell you.’

  ‘Why not?’

  Mr Khan cut the engine and turned to his son. ‘Listen, Yunis…’

  Yunis was surprised. His dad was nervous. His dad was never nervous. His dad was always in control.

  ‘Do you know if there’s anything going on with Craig? Maybe with his family?’

  ‘Not that I’ve heard,’ Yunis answered.

  ‘Right.’ Mr Khan paused. ‘I don’t know if I should talk to Steve.’

  ‘What about?’

  ‘This is between you and me. For now.’

  ‘OK.’

  ‘Craig’s dad,’ Mr Khan said. ‘Well, he’s in prison.’

  Rubbish Parents

  Training on the Wednesday had the same focus as two days before. Steve wanted to build the confidence of the defence and get them used to playing with each other.

  Like on Monday, Steve had the rest of the team testing the new defenders in pairs. Using a six-a-side game on a short pitch.

  Short-passing.

  No time to rest.

  Defence becoming attack. And vice versa.

  And things went better than Monday. Ryan and Tony were working together more effectively. Daniel seemed to be coping with right back, having never played as a defender before. Even Craig was coping – and not shouting at people.

  At the end Steve looked delighted.

  ‘Well done, lads. That was great. Good defending, Tony, Craig, Ryan, Daniel. That sets us up nicely for Sunday’s game.’

  As always, all the boys made sure they were carrying something back from the training session. Ryan carried the bag of balls, which he always did, as captain; Tony, the corner flags; Tomasz, some cones.

  As they walked across the fields, Yunis dropped back. He’d seen Craig walking slowly – and alone – at the rear and he wanted to talk to him.

  Ryan was just ahead of them.

  ‘Well played today, Craig,’ Yunis said.

  ‘Thanks,’ Craig replied. Cagey.

  Yunis hadn’t quite worked out what he was going to say. He’d considered telling Steve about Craig’s dad. But, like his own dad, he was worried Craig wouldn’t want him to. So he decided he had to talk to Craig first.

  And he also knew he had to be direct.

  ‘My dad saw you at the prison,’ he said.

  ‘Yeah?’ Craig said, in a way that made Yunis think he should mind his own business.

  ‘It can’t be easy,’ Yunis said, thinking straight away that he’d put his foot in it.

  ‘Do you want another fight?’ Craig said sharply.

  ‘No,’ Yunis answered. He was scared. He didn’t want a fight with Craig. Not again, like they’d had earlier in the season. ‘I want to ask if I can help.’

  ‘Well, you can’t.’ Craig had stopped walking. He was shouting now. ‘You and your dad – and his fancy car – can stay out of it. All right?’

  ‘All right,’ Yunis said. ‘I will.’ Craig scared him when he was like this.

  But now Ryan was jogging back to them. ‘What’s going on?’ he said.

  Craig threw the cones he’d been carrying to the ground. His face was red with anger.

  ‘What’s going on is that both of you –’ he looked at Yunis and Ryan in turn – ‘need to keep your noses out of my business. So what about my dad? Yours aren’t much better. They’re rubbish parents. Your dad couldn’t be bothered to come and see you until weeks into the season. And as for your mum, Ryan, she’s the worst parent I’ve ever seen. So there’s no need to be so smug, is there?’

  Straight Talking

  After his rant, Craig ran off, leaving Ryan and Yunis standing speechless. It was dark now. The floodlights that illuminated the training sessions had been switched off.

  They walked slowly back along the path and over the small bridge that led to the dressing rooms.

  ‘Let’s give him time to get away,’ Ryan said.

  ‘Yeah,’ Yunis agreed. He knew his dad would be waiting for him in the car park. The last thing he wanted was for his dad to witness anything more like that. He might want to withdraw Yunis from United again.

  Back in the dressing room all the other lads had gone home. Including Craig.

  One of the showers was still on. Ryan switched it off. Then the two boys sat on the ring of wooden benches that went round the walls of the dressing room.

  ‘What was all that about?’ Ryan asked.

  Yunis wondered if he should say anything. His dad had said it was a secret. But something had to be done about Craig. In fact, something had to be done for Craig.

  ‘You know my dad’s a solicitor?’ Yunis said.

  ‘Yeah.’

  ‘Well, he saw Craig at one of the prisons he was visiting on Sunday.’

  ‘What was Craig doing at a prison?’

  ‘His dad’s in there.’

  Ryan put his head in his hands.

  Yunis watched him. Had he been right to tell Ryan? He thought so. Ryan was different from how he’d been a few months ago. He’d been a bully, lording it over the other players. They’d even had a fight with each other. But now he was acting like a proper captain.

  Ryan looked up eventually. ‘Can I tell Steve?’

  Yunis nodded. That was exactly what he thought Ryan should do.

  Ryan waited until Yunis’s dad’s car had drawn away from the car park before he went to talk to Steve.

  He saw his mum waiting in her car. She was playing on her PSP. He could see her, head down, face twitching, head jerking as she played whatever it was she was playing. FIFA 10, probably. And he realized that she’d not been to see Steve and that she probably wouldn’t. She’d wait until she got angry during a match and do it in front of everyone.

  He wondered if it was sad that his mum – aged forty-one – was into playing on a PSP. He wasn’t sure. So long as none of his team-mates saw her.

  Ryan knocked on Steve’s office door.

  No answer.

  He knocked again. And then he heard Steve’s voice coming from the main entrance.

  ‘I’ll get fish and chips, love,’ Steve was saying.

  Ryan walked to the doorway. Steve was on the phone. He was starting to have second thoughts about telling their team manager.

  ‘Yes, love,’ Steve said. ‘Ten minutes. I’ve just got to grab some stuff. Hang on. I’ll come now. I’ve to be here tomorrow afternoon anyway. From midday to six. There’s some kit being delivered.’

  That was it. Steve was in a hurry. Ryan wouldn’t tell him now.

  Ryan slung his bag over his shoulder, said goodnight to Steve and headed over to his mum’s car.

  He had a lot on his mind.

  Three players had left.

  One was in trouble. Big trouble.

>   And they’d lost their last match six–nil.

  There was a lot to think about. He wasn’t quite sure which way he should turn.

  Chi’s Advice

  When they got home, Ryan’s mum put on Sky Sports News straight away.

  ‘Make us a cup of tea, will you, Ryan?’ she said.

  Ryan went into the kitchen and put the kettle on. Then he joined his mum in the sitting-room and sat down, half listening to the TV.

  Rumours abound at United this evening about who will replace their sacked manager. Favourites are the former coach of Milan, Primo Pavarotti; the current Leeds manager, Howard Revie; and the existing assistant manager, Martyn Bedford.

  Whoever it is has quite a job on their hands. United are in grave danger of relegation and club morale is at a record low. We talked to some fans about how they feel…

  For once Ryan was too worried about something that wasn’t just football-related to pay any attention to speculation about United. Normally he’d be glued to the TV. But tonight he was thinking about his own team. The team he was supposed to be captain of.

  He wished his mum was like, say, Jake’s dad. Someone you could talk to, take your problems to. But she’d just go off on one and probably create more trouble than there already was.

  Sky Sports News was now talking about something else. He saw an image of the United player Neil Kelly, talking to his brother who famously sat in the stand every home game to support him.

  And then it clicked.

  He had an idea. Something that could help Craig. And therefore help United.

  But first he had to talk to someone. If it wasn’t going to be his mum, it would have to be someone else. Someone wise and calm. Someone he could trust.

  Ryan picked up the phone and dialled. The phone rang four times. Then a voice at the other end.

  ‘Hi, Ryan.’ Chi’s voice. ‘Everything OK?’

  ‘Chi. I need to ask you something.’

  ‘Sure,’ said Chi. ‘About training tonight? It was better, do you think?’

  ‘Yeah,’ Ryan said. ‘But it’s not about that.’

  ‘Right,’ said Chi.

  ‘There’s this thing happening at United…’

  ‘Craig?’

  ‘How did you know?’ Ryan was surprised Chi had hit the nail on the head.

  ‘I’ve seen it all going on. What’s the problem?’

  Ryan told Chi what he knew. About Craig’s dad being in prison. And Neil Kelly’s brother being in prison. And all the trouble Craig was making for himself – and that there was no one to help him. And the idea he’d just had.

  ‘It’s a good plan,’ Chi said, ‘but you have to tell Steve straight away. It might just work out.’

  Media Scrum

  Later the next day Ryan walked up the long driveway to the United training facilities, glancing into cars to see if he could spot first-team players, even though he knew they’d all have gone home after lunch. They only trained in the mornings.

  But something was different today. There were a lot of cars on the drive. More than usual.

  Ryan felt good about what he’d decided to do.

  At the top of the drive, near the dressing rooms and the other buildings, Ryan saw a few vans. Some had satellite dishes on top of them. Most had the logos of TV or radio stations. And there were several people standing around with cameras, microphones and notebooks.

  Ryan assumed that United had appointed a new manager, and that the media were here to report on it. If there was ever a big game – or a big story – at United, both the stadium and the training ground would be besieged by the TV, radio and newspapers.

  He looked into Steve’s office as he made his way through the media scrum. And there he saw something he didn’t expect.

  Steve was sitting at one side of his desk, Ben at the other.

  Ryan decided to leave them to it.

  While he was waiting round the corner from Steve’s office, Ryan overheard two football reporters chatting. They were saying that Martyn Bedford had been appointed as the new team manager. Ryan smiled. It was a good choice.

  Eventually, after nearly half an hour, Ryan saw Ben come out, stuff a file into his bag and leave.

  Then Ryan went to Steve’s office and knocked.

  ‘Come in.’ Steve’s voice.

  ‘Can I –’ Ryan began to ask.

  ‘Hello, Ryan,’ Steve said, half standing. ‘Come in. What’s up?’

  Ryan had something to talk to Steve about. That was what he was here for.

  ‘There’s a problem on the team,’ Ryan said, without hesitating.

  ‘OK.’

  ‘I know why Craig is being like he is.’

  ‘I see.’ Steve was leaning towards Ryan now.

  ‘His dad’s in prison,’ Ryan said.

  Steve sat back down.

  Ryan studied his face. He actually looked sad. Like he’d heard some really bad news about his own family.

  ‘That’s terrible,’ Steve said. ‘Poor lad.’

  Ryan said nothing more. He didn’t really know what to say. He had his idea – a way of trying to help Craig – but he wanted to see if Steve had something better to say. Steve was the manager, after all.

  But Steve said nothing. There was a silence between them.

  Eventually Steve said, ‘What do you think we should do?’

  Ryan was surprised. Steve was asking his opinion. This was the time to bring it up.

  ‘You know Neil Kelly?’

  ‘I do.’

  ‘What if he were to talk to Craig?’ Ryan said. He had worried that as soon as he started saying what he thought to Steve, it’d sound stupid. But it didn’t. So he carried on. ‘What if he could help?’

  Steve stood up.

  ‘That is a great idea, Ryan. I know Neil. I can talk to him. Yes. Yes, that’s it!’

  Steve sounded excited.

  ‘Will you do it, then?’ Ryan asked.

  ‘I will. I’ll give Neil a call now. Go round and see him. Maybe tonight. That’s such a good idea, Ryan. Thank you for telling me. I’m proud of you, son.’

  The Boss

  Leaving Steve’s office, Ryan walked across the courtyard towards the car park. There were still a couple of TV camera teams there. Plus what must have been other journalists and photographers standing around waiting to see if they could get an interview with the new first-team manager.

  Ryan walked through the car park and headed for the road that used to be the very long drive leading to the old house. As he did he saw a man climbing out of a car.

  Ryan looked again. He seemed familiar. He was tall and athletic but balding. Otherwise he looked like the player he had been ten years before.

  ‘Hello, son,’ the man said. ‘Are you a United fan?’

  Ryan realized who he was. The new manager. Martyn Bedford.

  For a second he was tongue-tied.

  ‘Er… no. I mean yes. I’m a player too.’

  ‘A player?’ Bedford smiled. ‘Well, I’m the new boss.’

  ‘I mean for the under-twelves,’ Ryan said, smiling now. ‘I’m the captain.’

  Bedford stopped and shook Ryan’s hand.

  Ryan had always thought it felt funny – an adult shaking his hand. But it was pretty good that it was the new United manager who was doing it.

  ‘And you’re a United fan too?’

  ‘All my life,’ Ryan said proudly.

  ‘And do you and the other under-twelves get to see United much? The first team? When they play on Saturdays. I think you play on Sundays, don’t you?’

  ‘We do,’ Ryan said, aware that some of the photographers he’d seen in the courtyard had approached them and were taking photos of Bedford and him talking. ‘I mean, we do play on Sundays. But I don’t get to watch United much. It’s too expensive and my mum…’

  As Ryan was explaining, the first-team manager pulled out an envelope.

  ‘They gave me fifteen tickets for the City match on Saturday. To hand out. You know?’<
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  Ryan nodded. He was hoping Bedford was going to give him one of them. He’d been dying to see United all season, but his mum always said that they didn’t have any spare money.

  Bedford handed him the whole envelope. ‘How about you get all your team-mates to come along on Saturday? We could use your support.’

  Ryan beamed. He couldn’t believe it.

  ‘Listen, son,’ the manager said, gesturing towards the journalists who were waiting a few metres away. ‘I need to talk to this lot. But I’ll see you there on Saturday. And make sure you sing your hearts out.’

  ‘We will,’ Ryan said. ‘Thank you. Thank you!’

  ‘You’re welcome, son.’

  And with that the new first-team manager headed towards the TV cameras and the journalists. Ryan heard the first questions that were thrown at him.

  ‘Do you think you can keep United up?’

  ‘Have you met the players yet?’

  ‘Will you be bringing in a new coaching staff – or will you stick with the existing setup?’

  Ryan headed off down the drive. He felt good. He was going to see United for the first time this season. And he had tickets to hand out to the rest of the team. He couldn’t wait to tell them!

  The First Team

  Two days later, Ryan was standing with most of his team-mates to cheer the United first team as they came out on to the pitch.

  The noise was brilliant. That’s what Ryan always loved about going to a match. The noise. The fans singing and chanting. Not a spare seat in the stadium.

  And he couldn’t help thinking that one day this could be him – he could be running out to all this noise. A first-team player.

  He smiled. At least then no one would be able to hear his mum and all her shouting.

  Ryan was sitting next to Ben. Along from them were Chi, Will and Tony. Then Craig. All supporting United. And on the end, Tomasz and Jake, both City fans. Sam, Yunis and Daniel hadn’t been able to make it.