Your locker room goes quiet for the time that day the noise of a hundred men who have just finished a hard training session disappearing into the warm air of the changing rooms. The smell of steam from the showers mixes with the scent of mud and sweat from the pitch. William sits on the wooden bench his breaths deep and even as he looks at the old ceiling. His shirt, stained green sticks to his skin. Feels heavy.
Every muscle in his legs hurts from the training ground and he tries to open the zip on his boots taking them off. He puts the boots into his kit bag as he hears the heavy metal door at the end of the room open. Mr. Anthony walks into the room his face showing calm and reassurance 'Listen now William " he says, his voice echoing in the empty room. "Things are happening faster than we thought. One of the board has come while we were training. Has asked to speak with you." William stops packing, one half bag in his arms, "the club wants you to be comfortable " Mr. Anthony says as he moves forward stopping a few feet from the young man. ". As such once you meet Mr. Clement I am to take you to a room near the training ground. You will not have to spend time travelling when you are here to play. I warn you though do not expect a welcome from Mr. Clement. He is a school man as we all are here. He is strict. Follows the rules and has no time for nonsense.
William feels some nervousness at the thought of meeting one of the most important men in the club but he pushes the feeling away. He does not have time to feel scared only to do his best. He gets up from the bench. Takes off his damp shirt putting it in the bag and taking a clean one from his bag. He splashes some water on his face in the mirror above the sinks before fixing his hair and adjusting his shirt. He feels the pressure in his chest the weight of the meeting and his performance on his shoulders. Once he is dressed he turns to look at Mr. Anthony giving him a nod. They leave the building. Start walking through the stadium back to the main building. Even though they just finished training William feels his adrenalin rushing through his body his body still full of energy from the days work. As they turn a corner entering a carpeted corridor that leads away from the sports complex William feels a burst of energy and wants to test himself. He turns around doing a few spins before landing and throwing a flurry of punches at an imaginary opponent. He follows this with a sweep and a jumping uppercut each one fast and accurate. He feels the muscles in his arms tighten and swell beneath his shirt as he finishes the routine, a smile on his face as he straightens his collar only to stop as the feeling of nervousness comes back to him. He feels the air on the back of his neck as the silence wraps around him like a blanket. His breaths are shallow and steady his heart beating loudly in his ears. He shakes the feeling off only for it to return again as he looks up and realizes how intense his expressions have been. He is glad for the privacy as he turns away from the corridor his face showing calm and focus
They arrive at a pair of doors at the end of a long executive corridor and Mr. Anthony knocks politely on the wood. A moment later they are invited into the office of Mr. Clement, the Chief Director of Blackpool
The room is bright and open filled with the smell of leather and fine paper. Old jerseys and complicated looking diagrams are on the walls each one showing the history and prestige of the club. Behind a mahogany desk sits Mr. Clement himself a heavyset man with a round face that could have been kinder if his eyes had not been so cold and calculating
Mr. Clement is currently clearing his desk of any stray papers as he prepares to leave for the day. He stops when he sees William looking at the man before him. It is a pause and William feels himself tense under the intensity of the mans stare. When he speaks it is in a steady voice but there is an edge of steel beneath it "I know who you are William " he finally says. "And I know why you are here Mr. Anthony moves forward his voice careful "Sir I thought it best that you two speak before the trial. Mr. Clement nods slowly his expression unreadable. "I know who he is " Mr. Clement repeats, placing his hands on the desk in front of him. ". I know why he is here.
He stands up his sleeves touching the desk as he does so. "Let me make one thing clear to you William. Do not get comfortable. Do not think that just because you stand here and I offer you a room that you have made it. I deal in results. I hear all the gossip, all the stories. I see right through them. You are another name to me until I see you run out on that pitch wearing a Blackpool shirt. You will sign for this club if you impress me on the day of your trial
he leans slightly the shadows around his face getting deeper. "If you fail to impress me all of this goes away. You will not waste any more of our time or energy. Do I make myself clear?"
The words are much of a dressing down as they are a warning and William feels himself tense at the mans attitude though he hides it well. He does not want to waste any time on empty words and empty threats. He looks into Mr. Clements eyes. Feels nothing but determination growing inside of him. This was exactly the reaction he expected. He is more than ready to prove himself "Sir " Mr. Anthony starts carefully his voice showing some regret. "I think if you just wait until the trial you will see that William is a player. Mr. Clement stops him with a sharp sound closing his briefcase with a loud click. He does not need to say anything his body language showing everything as he turns from the desk to get his coat William says nothing as they walk back to the car the pair of them walking in an uneasy silence. As Mr. Anthony turns the wheel to pull from the curb William watches the scenery go by through the window "I suggest you don't let it get to you William " Mr. Anthony finally says. "Clement is a man to please. He likes to play these games to see who is strong enough to handle the pressure. He has been doing it for thirty years so don't let him get to you. William turns his head to look at him a look on his face "I'm not scared Mr. Anthony.. I'm not going to let it get to me. What he said does not bother me because it has given me something to work for. He wants to see results? I'll show him results. I want to prove myself to Blackpool and to Mr. Clement so he can see that I am good enough to be on this pitch. William watches the rolling hills go by through the window as he speaks. His mind is already on the match on the pitch, on how he's going to show them all up. He knows where he wants to be he knows what he has to do. He is filled with a feeling of determination as he looks forward to the trial ahead. When they finally arrive at a smart building William gets out of the car before the engine has even stopped. He looks up at the masts of the training ground and knows that he is about to change his life forever.