by Tom Palmer
Ryan walked off, leaving Jake to talk to Zack. Jake wondered if Ryan was going to be even worse with him, now Jake had seen him crying.
It was a strange day. Jake had to admit that. The minute he’d entered the City ground he’d felt it. This was the home of the team he had always supported. The team whose shirt he always had in his bag for luck. But, like he’d told Ryan, he didn’t have his City shirt with him today. It was at home on his bed. He’d left it there for once. He wasn’t sure why.
But that didn’t matter. What mattered was today and what he did in his United shirt.
United were strong from the kick‐off. They attacked for the first ten minutes, with City barely getting a look‐in. And Ryan was playing the ball wide to both wings, including Jake.
Jake was happy with what he’d done so far. He was playing well, now he was getting the ball. He was starting to prove he really was a United player.
The first real chance for United to take the lead came after twelve minutes. Jake took the ball wide, then passed it to Ryan in the centre circle, who switched it to the right side and Ben.
Jake ran into the six‐yard area, expecting a cross. But Ben crossed it to Yunis who was near the penalty spot. Yunis controlled the ball and shot quickly. The ball flew towards the goal, heading straight for the bottom right corner. Jake saw it coming. He jumped to get out of the way. But the ball hit him on the ankle and spun wide.
Jake had stopped it going in, stopped his own team from scoring.
Yunis grinned at Jake, thinking it was funny. He came over. ‘Don’t worry, Jake. It was an accident. Just don’t do it next time I shoot.’
Then Zack ran past Jake and ruffled his hair. ‘Cheers, mate.’
Jake shrugged it off. He looked at Steve, who was encouraging the team to get back and defend.
As they were running back though, Ryan shouted at Jake. ‘Nice block, Jake. I said you were a City player.’
Jake heard some of the parents on the sidelines laughing.
He felt really angry. But this time, instead of it making him question himself, it made him all the more determined to prove Ryan wrong.
United
Ryan brought the ball forward, as usual, after United had won back possession. The City defence was backing off again.
Jake wondered how long it was going to take for him to get an opportunity to redeem himself. He was desperate to make up for his mistake.
His chance came five minutes later. Ryan was about to play the ball to Ben, but then seemed to change his mind.
Ryan looked up. Jake had run into the space right in front of Ryan, whereas Ben was being marked closely by two defenders. Ryan knocked it to Jake. Jake immediately spun and ran at the City defence without giving them time to think. He wrong‐footed the first defender, then, with players all around him, played the ball back to Ryan, who had come forward to support the attack.
He was really happy that it was Ryan he’d been able to pass it to. The more they played like this, the better things would be.
Jake ran towards the penalty box. Ryan had four players he could pass to. Ben on the left. Yunis and Jake on the edge of the box. And Will alongside him. To Jake’s surprise, Ryan lobbed the ball forward to him in the box.
Something had changed. Definitely.
Surprised, but pleased, Jake leaped high enough to head the ball down to Yunis, who was making a run into the box.
Yunis belted the ball home.
The net bulged. The City keeper had no chance.
One–nil.
After congratulating Yunis, Ryan jogged over to Jake and patted him on the back.
‘Good header, Jake.’
‘You made it with that chip,’ Jake said.
And Jake saw Ryan grin.
From then on the game went well. Jake was getting more space out wide – and more of the ball from Ryan. United were putting an attack together every minute, threatening to score more goals.
And at the other end Tomasz pulled off two great saves to keep United ahead.
Jake’s new confidence meant that he was happy to take on defenders. Using his pace and skill, he beat them again and again, sending crosses into the box. Yunis managed to get on the end of two of the crosses, to complete a hat‐trick.
This reminded Jake of the trial. Him and Yunis. The Deadly Duo.
Then – with a few minutes left – Jake took the ball wide again. As he did, he noticed Ryan moving up from the defence. Jake decided to try and set Ryan up with a goal. He drew the City defender towards the corner flag. Then he beat him and ran into the penalty box.
Ryan was on the far side of the penalty box, a forest of players between them. So Jake pretended to shoot, making all the defenders move towards the goal to try and block it.
But – at the last minute – Jake played the ball across the area to Ryan, in the gap made by the defenders. Ryan had all the time in the world to blast the ball home.
City 0 United 4. And Jake had set them all up.
In the car on the way home, Dad was quiet. All he’d done when he met up with Jake after the game was give him a big hug. And that was all Jake needed.
As Dad drove through the city, Jake was thinking of the crosses he’d put over to Yunis; the pats on the back from Ryan; and the handshake he’d got from Steve at the end of the game.
What had Steve said?
‘Whatever you had for your breakfast, have it next week. That was brilliant, Jake. You were definitely my man of the match. Even if Yunis did score three.’
Jake sat back in the seat and smiled, his eyes closed.
‘That smile will crack your face open if it gets any wider, Jake,’ Dad said.
Then, after a few seconds, Jake said, ‘Thanks, Dad.’
Dad looked puzzled. ‘What for?’
‘For helping me. I was thinking about packing it in.’
‘Don’t mention it,’ Dad said. ‘I think we should celebrate. How about a pizza and a film?’
‘I’ve got a better idea,’ Jake said. ‘How about a kick about on the fields, tonight? When we get back. Just you and me.’
‘Great,’ Dad said.
‘Then the pizza and the film,’ Jake said, laughing.
Sunday 9 October
City 0 United 4
Goals: Yunis (3), Ryan
Bookings: none
Under-twelves manager’s marks out of ten for each player:
Tomasz 7
Connor 7
James 8
Ryan 8
Ronan 6
Chi 7
Sam 6
Will 6
Jake 9
Yunis 9
Ben 6
Thank Yous
The Football Academy series came about thanks to the imagination and hard work of Sarah Hughes, Alison Dougal and Helen Levene at Puffin, working with David Luxton at Luxton Harris Literary Agency. Thanks are due to all four for giving me this opportunity: thank you! Thanks also to Wendy Tse for all her hard work with the fine detail, and to everyone at Puffin for all they do, including Reetu Kabra, Adele Minchin, Louise Heskett, Sarah Kettle, Tom Sanderson and the rights team. Thanks also to Brian Williamson for the great cover image and illustrations.
I needed a lot of help to make sure the academy at ‘United’ was as close to an English football club’s academy as possible. Burnley Football Club let me come to training and matches at their Gawthorpe Hall training ground to watch the under‐twelves. Vince Overson and Jeff Taylor gave me lots of time at Burnley and I am extremely grateful. I was also given excellent advice by Kit Carson and Steve Cooper.
Ralph Newbrook at the Football Foundation gave me loads of advice and read the finished manuscript. He – more than anyone – has helped me make this book and series more realistic. Thank you, Ralph!
Thanks also to Nikki Woodman for her excellent comments on the book as it developed and Daniel Taylor for his very useful reading too.
Huge thanks to my writing group in Leeds – James Nash and Sophie Hanna
h. Our mornings drinking coffee have been an enormous help.
Mostly though, thank you to my wife, Rebecca, and daughter, Iris, who have always supported my desire to be a writer, and given me the time and space and confidence to do it.