Chapter 3 #2
“Yeah. I’ll do something about it soon.”
“What are you afraid of?”
“It would still get in the papers.”
“Pah. That would soon die down. Then it would be worth it in the long run. Tell me you’re open to it.”
Steven pulled his hand away. Suddenly the beach had become very hot.
“Of course I am. Although spending all day with sweaty and very heterosexual footballers kind of screws with it.”
“Well, my friend at church has this nephew…”
“No.”
When Steven woke on Monday morning, he found himself nervous to embark on Mission Udo. He wasn’t the usual type of footballer. Udo had a vulnerability about him that intrigued Steven. How had he survived all these years?
The urge to protect him was strong and unexpected. Steven had done this kind of work with some of the younger players before. They’d had the confidence of youth but lacked the focus. Udo Holtmann was a totally different prospect.
He arrived at Brockton FC’s training ground, Newby Park.
A brilliant white two-storey building that presided over a full-sized pitch and practice areas.
Inside they had a state-of-the-art gymnasium and briefing rooms as well as the offices filled with people who made the juggernaut of a Premier League football club stay on the tracks.
Steven had managed to swallow down his hesitation about how to deal with Udo.
He might not be the usual footballer type.
No girls, bling or partying for Udo Holtmann.
But he must still have the competitive spirit he’d shown over the years.
It might be dormant at that moment. Steven simply had to find a way to wake it up.
Inside the gleaming building lay the answer. If Brockton Park was the showroom, Newby Park was the nerve centre. Things always kept as safe and secure as possible. A place to build up players before unleashing them on unsuspecting opponents.
Javier and Steven shared an office here. The first floor held the business centre and, ultimately, Jamie’s suite of offices which overlooked the pitch.
Truth be told, Jamie terrified Steven. He’d only been summoned upstairs once when he’d had an altercation with an opposing team’s coach. On the whole, he kept on Jamie’s good side. It seemed to be wise.
For the morning session with Udo, he’d booked a meeting room rather than any early arrivals seeing them in the office. He knew that Udo feared reprisals for this unusual move by Steven.
To his surprise, Udo had beaten him to it. He sat at the table with a nervous expression. His deep brown eyes fixed on Steven.
Udo’s model looks were always a little disconcerting. He kept his golden blond hair short and with the new warm weather, he’d picked up a tan. It suited him.
“Udo,” Steven said, sitting opposite him. “You’re early.”
“I’m that kind of person,” Udo replied with a shrug. “I hate to be late.”
“You rhymed.”
Udo frowned. “Sorry?”
“You…never mind. Are you raring to go?”
Udo settled his arms on the table and studied them. “I’m not sure what this is. Can I ask you one question?”
“You can ask me many if you like,” Steven replied.
“Is my time at Brockton FC in danger?”
Shit. Talk about going for the jugular.
Steven had never lied to a player before and he wasn’t about to start now.
“After Saturday, you are in Jamie’s sights. Yes.”
Udo bowed his head. Steven’s heart went out to the guy.
To fly high for years, then suddenly cracks appear.
It had been a devastating blow when it had happened to him.
One Steven hadn’t fully recovered from. He still hated that injury had ended his own career.
He’d missed that last game, the fans cheering and everyone celebrating his achievements.
“Doesn’t mean you have to prove him right.”
Udo looked up at him. “What do you mean?”
“Between us, we can rescue this. I’m pretty sure of it.”
“I’m thirty-four. You’d retired by my age.”
“Yes, but not through choice. There’s nothing wrong with you physically. It’s your spirit that’s the problem. Now that is my speciality.”
“How so?”
Steven glanced away. “When I was at Newcastle there was a guy who had come over from Japan. First time playing in the UK. It was a shock to his system in so many ways.”
Udo took a swig from the Brockton FC water bottle he had in front of him. Howard would give him points for branding.
“What did you do?” Udo asked, wiping his bottom lip with his thumb.
“Helped him to become part of the team,” Steven replied. “We’re not that different deep down. We found out he loved ten-pin bowling. Like really loved it.”
Udo chuckled. “You won’t catch me in rented shoes. That’s for sure. Did it work?”
Steven looked mock hurt. “You mean you never heard of the Newcastle FC A-team winning the Tyneside Bowling League in 2018?”
“That passed me by, I’m afraid. Did it work though?”
“Like a dream.”
A faint whisper of amusement swept across Udo’s face. “Really?”
Considering the number of billboards he’d been on, Udo didn’t come across as particularly sure of himself. Truth be told, Steven had expected someone far more confident.
“Of course. A lot that is down to you.”
Udo frowned. “Not sure what you mean.”
“Have you made any effort to get to know us here?”
It was harsh but true. Udo turned up in physical form then went home again. It took more to be part of a team.
Udo blushed.
“We’re not a bad lot,” Steven continued. “I’ve played for a few clubs over the years. None of them had an atmosphere like Brockton. I don’t know what it is, but I love it here.”
“Perhaps it’s the country air?”
“Perhaps it is,” Steven replied, grinning.
“I guess I could make more effort. I’m here to work hard, Steven. Not coast.”
“Great. Now to more business stuff. We’re playing Winterbourne this weekend. I’ll email you some videos. I’ve put together a load of clips for each player. By Saturday, I want you to know them inside out. Keep an eye on Noah Farman. He gets bloody everywhere.”
Udo nodded. “I’ll watch them every night.”
There it was. The tiniest flash of excitement.
“Can I say something fundamental?” Steven continued.
“Yes,” Udo replied, warily.
Steven took a breath. “This is going to sound like the hardest thing you’ve ever had to do,” he said. “I need you to try and relax a little. You’re overthinking everything and it’s paralysing you.”
Udo bowed his head again.
“And this has to stop.”
“What?”
“Your head goes down like a dead weight,” Steven replied. “You’re psyching yourself out. Keep it up.”
Udo did as he asked and stared into Steven’s eyes. “Like this?”
His piercing stare bored into Steven’s soul. For a second, he froze.
“Yes,” he said. “I think it will help. Don’t you?”
“I do.”
“Is there anything troubling you, Udo?”
“No,” he replied, breaking their eye contact.
Steven didn’t believe a word of it. Something was impacting Udo’s confidence.
“I won’t pry. Although I want you to know that if there is, then you can always come and talk to me. I promise it’ll be between us.”
To his credit, Udo didn’t lower his head. Instead he nodded.
“Thank you, Steven.”
“Not a problem. Now how about we spend the rest of the hour talking about our players. I think there’re a few set pieces we can try that will appeal to your style of play.”
He busied himself with getting his laptop out of his bag. In reality, he needed to break the atmosphere. Udo was carrying a burden. It was as clear as day.
There would be no getting his skills back until he dealt with it. Yet there was more to Steven’s need to help. He found Udo intriguing and it was more than just his model looks. Although they were fire.
As he fired up the computer, Steven undid the buttons on his polo shirt.
“You okay?” Udo asked.
“Yeah. It’s a warm one today.”
In reality to become infatuated with a player was madness. He would have to extinguish it and be professional.