Playing the Game
The white buildings of the Newby Park training ground lay in front of Jonas Haber where he sat in his Mercedes GLB SUV, taking took a breath. Some of the other cars surrounding him were much flashier and he’d bought this machine so he didn’t stand out.
First day reporting for duty at Brockton FC and the nerves were real.
Jonas had been a member of Canonbury FC for four years.
As the arch-rivals of Brockton, it was unusual for them to trade players.
However, in a shock move he had been swapped with Brockton stalwart, Shaun Riggs, at the end of the last season.
He hoped that wouldn’t be held against him too badly. Over the years there had been some explosive games between the two teams but Jonas had largely kept out of any nastiness.
Swallowing hard, he popped the door open and got out. Having spent his time in England on the south coast, the bite of the northern late-August air hit him.
Don’t they have summer round here?
A month ago, Jonas had travelled up in secret for his medical and to speak to the Brockton FC manager, Javier Tosar.
Instantly, he had been taken with him. Of course, Jonas had met Javier many times at industry events.
However, this had been the first time he’d properly talked with him.
The enigmatic Spaniard had convinced Jonas that this was the right move for him. Time would tell.
He stopped at the door and looked up at the club’s logo on the sign.
Right then, Brockton. Let’s see what you’ve got for me.
He went in.
Steven Cox stood in the reception area with a broad smile on his face. Jonas had also met him on more than one occasion and had instantly liked the assistant coach. His publicised romance with midfielder Udo Holtmann earlier in the year had been the catalyst for everything.
“Jonas,” he said, holding his hand out.
“Steven,” Jonas replied, taking it. “Good to see you again.”
“You’ll be sick of the sight of me by the end of the season. Come with me. Javier is waiting in his office.”
They walked through the building that served as the nerve centre of the football club. When Jonas had been here in the summer, things had been quiet. Like a school in the summer holidays. Today it was a hive of activity, physios, office staff and operations all flitting around.
“Are the others here yet?” Jonas asked as they walked up the stairs.
“No. You’re the first.”
That reassured him a little. Jonas liked to be the first to everything.
“Are the rest of the team about?”
“Yep,” Steven said. “They’re getting changed for training. Which you’ll be doing soon. First, Javier and I want to have a chat with you, Tito and Noah.”
Jonas nodded.
The most high-profile transfers of the summer would need a special pep talk from the manager. Once on the first floor, Steven led him into a small office.
Javier Tosar sat behind the desk. He was an attractive Spaniard with a salt-and-pepper beard and wide grin.
“Jonas,” he said.
Javier got up and walked around the desk. He shook Jonas’ hand enthusiastically.
“It’s good to be here.”
“Come,” Javier said, gesturing to two couches in the corner.
They all sat. A wave of nerves washed over Jonas. This was really happening.
Steven’s phone pinged. He glanced at it.
“Ah, Noah’s here. Excuse me.”
That left Jonas alone with his new manager.
“It’s great to finally be here.”
“You said that,” Javier replied. “Relax. Okay? I had to face the team alone on my first day. You’ve got two others to keep you company.”
Jonas grinned. He hadn’t thought of it like that.
Noah Farman was a defender with a fierce reputation. And anyone with a remote interest in soccer knew Tito Lopes, a rising star striker.
It also occurred to Jonas that he was the oldest by a good four years.
Not good. No one fancies Grandad Gay.
“You’re right,” he said to Javier. “Thanks. Let’s face it, my old team aren’t very popular around here.”
Javier shrugged. “That may be true but you’ve never given us any shit. There’s no reason to think you’ll be blamed. If anyone does say anything, tell me immediately. None of that player-code bollocks.”
Jonas nodded. “Got it.”
Of course he would do nothing of the sort. But it was nice that Javier had bothered to say something.
The door opened and in came Steven with the second new transfer. Noah Farman was a good-looking lad at the peak of his career, Jonas had been shocked to see his name on the transfer list. He was a quiet lad who focused on his sport.
So little Noah is gay, is he?
“Hi, Noah,” Jonas said.
Noah sat next to Jonas and took a breath.
“Well this isn’t terrifying at all.”
Jonas laughed. “We’re in it together.”
Noah fist bumped him. Jonas felt slightly ridiculous but let the moment slide.
“Tito not here yet?” Noah asked.
Javier shook his head.
“I hope timekeeping isn’t an issue,” he said. “Luckily the apartments we’ve rented for you are about five minutes from here.”
Jonas was currently staying in a hotel in the centre of town. It was nice enough. He hated staying in hotels though.
“When can we move in?” he asked.
“As soon as you like,” Javier replied.
Jonas glanced at Noah, his new neighbour. His dark brown eyes gave him the look of a deer in the headlights.
“Here he is,” Steven said, staring out of the window.
They all went over. A gold BMW i8 cruised into a parking spot.
“Flash bastard,” Jonas said, with a chuckle.
“Let’s hope he realises he’s taken a pay cut to be here,” Javier added.
“I’d better go down and wait for him,” Steven said.
Javier walked back into the room. “I was going to wait until Tito joins us to say this but something tells me I could be wasting my time with him.”
Jonas and Noah locked eyes.
“Anyway,” Javier said. “I don’t know your reasons for coming here and I don’t want to. If you want that to change, my door is always open.”
“Thanks, boss,” Noah said.
“There will be media interest,” Javier continued. “There’s no point in lying about it. We’ve been a news story since last season.”
The scrutiny the club had faced turned out to be the final straw for Jonas. He’d had to watch his Canonbury teammates laughing and joking about the fact that Brockton’s Udo Holtmann had been publicly outed.
“I’m ready for it,” Jonas replied. “Although I may disappoint them. My mission is to win something this season. Pure and simple.”
Javier nodded.
“Why don’t we meet Steven and Tito in reception?”
He led them back the way they’d come. Jonas took the time to calm himself. This was his professional home now.
They found Steven and Tito just about to climb the stairs.
“Mr Lopes,” Javier said. “We thought we’d come to you.”
“Good morning, all. I’m honoured.”
He shook hands confidently with everyone. Probably one of the most famous people to come out of the Cape Verde islands, Tito Lopes had a reputation that preceded him.
Tall with dark skin and a glint in his eye, Tito oozed confidence. He knew he was rising to the top of his game. It had been a major coup for Brockton to sign a player of his calibre.
“Sorry I was a tiny bit late,” Tito said. “Did I miss anything?”
“Try to make that the only time you’re late,” Javier said.
Tito nodded.
“Jonas here was telling us how his main focus is to win some silverware this season,” Javier continued.
Tito squeezed Jonas’ shoulder. “What a coincidence. That’s mine too.”
“Wouldn’t you have had more chance at Liverpool?” Noah asked.
Tito shrugged. “Maybe I like a challenge.”
Jonas had played against Tito on numerous occasions. He was a force to be reckoned with. It was exciting to be playing with him.
“How about a tour of the facility?” Javier asked. “Then we’ll put you through your paces.”
“I’m dying to meet the others,” Tito replied.
Jonas wished he had a quarter of the confidence of this young man. Whilst he was keen to get stuck in, he was a little nervous.
Nothing to be done but to jump straight in there.
Javier and Steven led them around the vast building. The gym was impressive, way better than Canonbury’s. A fact that Jonas shared with them, which appeared to perk things up.
There was a canteen, physio rooms, offices upstairs and windows everywhere that looked over the pitch. Wherever they went, everyone snapped to attention. Their arrival had been eagerly anticipated, apparently.
Two men walked over to them. One was short with gelled hair and tan skin. He was dripping in gold jewellery and appeared as though a smile would crack his face.
The second man was taller with silver hair. He made for an arresting sight in a mint-green suit.
“Gents, I’d like you to meet our CEO, Jamie Walter, and our Head of Communications, Howard Clooney.”
Jamie stared hard at all of them. He didn’t appear to be the kind of guy you fucked around with. Howard seemed far friendlier. He made a point of greeting each one of them.
“I’ll be having a meeting with you all once you’ve found your feet,” he said in a Texan drawl. “We’ll start on the press stuff right away. So I want to know any skeletons hanging around you. Let’s not be surprised again.”
He glared at Steven, who seemed more amused than upset.
“You did an amazing job,” he said. “And we all survived.”
“Once. Twice might kill me, dead.”
They all chuckled. Everyone except Jamie.
“Media and sponsorships are all very well,” he said. “What matters most are results. If you’ve come here for an easy ride or to fuck about, you’ve made a mistake. I want your absolute best. Do you understand me?”
Jonas, Noah and Tito nodded.
“No worries about that, Mr Walter,” Tito said. “We’re gonna fly this year.”
Jamie appraised him. His face barely moving.
“I hope you’re right, otherwise there’ll be some more major changes at the end of the season.”
Jonas frowned. It was an unusual move to threaten them on their first day. He supposed it was Jamie’s attempt at motivation.
They strode away.
“He seems nice,” Tito said.
“Don’t worry about it,” Steven replied. “He felt he lost control of the club last year.”
Jonas could understand that. They’d been in every newspaper for weeks.
“Have things died down a little?” he asked.
Steven shrugged. “What’s new one minute is standard the next. Most of the lads don’t give a shit. There were a few who had a problem with Javier’s unusual recruitment campaign.”
“But they’re gone,” Javier said, clapping his hands together. “Now how about we get you boys changed and in possession of a ball? After all, that’s why we’re here.”
A flash of anticipation swept through Jonas. It was time to prove to Brockton FC that he was a good bet.
He was ready.