The final whistle from the referee echoed through the massive stadium. It was a sound that signified the end of a battle, of a match that will forever be remembered by those who saw it. As the sound of the whistle reached a deafening peak, a hushed silence fell over the stadium. Then, the fans of Blackpool roared like an angry mob as one giant wall of cheers. This was because they had accomplished the almost impossible. An underdog team had done what few expected them to.
William stood in the center of the field, heart pounding as he caught his breath and the realisation of the game he had just played set in. His teammates didn't leave him to his thoughts though, their excited voices nearly deafening him as they raced toward him. They tackled him to the ground and began patting him on the back and messing with his hair until he had laughed a couple of times.
Fernandes and Morgan grabbed William under the arms and pulled him onto their shoulders. They paraded him around the field like a trophy before setting him back down on the grass. William waved the crowd of fans who had thrown their black and green scarves in the air in excitement.
Finally the celebration ended and the team walked across the field to congratulate the opposing team. Handshakes and kind words were exchanged, showing both teams had left the field as gentlemen. During their walk William caught sight of Jamal. The boy who had bullied him and made his life hell in school looked devastated. William wanted to make peace with him but he knew he had to try something different. William walked over to Jamal and put out a hand.
"Good game Jamal. You played well out there." he said trying to put an end to their feud. All William got in response was a cold glare from Jamal before he turned around and walked back to his team.
A shadow of disappointment crossed William's face, but William brushed the disappointment away and rejoined his teammates who were still celebrating their victory. The Blackpool team walked over to the edge of the stands where they had the best view to cheer with the fans one last time. The fans roared their approval and William's heart swelled with emotion. They had loved every minute of the game.
When the team arrived in the locker room the celebration continued but it was short lived. The hushed chatter of the players stopped dead in their tracks when their head coach walked in the door. He gave the players a proud look before fixing his stare at William.
"We not only won the game today but we proved all those doubters wrong. William you truly played incredible tonight. Like a professional." The coach said loudly so everyone in the room could hear him.
The coach walked up to William and gave him a proud once over before putting a heavy hand on his shoulder. "The transfer window will be opening soon meaning you will have to wait a little longer to find out your fate." he said smiling at William.
"However I can almost guarantee you that several big offers are coming your way because of tonight," I really hope you decide to stay with us because we really need you." the coach said looking into William's eyes. "You will always have a place in Blackpool."
William had mixed emotions hearing his coach talk about him staying. He loved Blackpool already but did not know the outcome of the trial. When the head coach finished talking the players began to say their goodbyes and the energy in the room began to shift. William stepped into a hot shower and took the time to wash away the dirt and sweat before packing his things into his sports bag. He walked out of the door, leaving the small apartment for the last time and heading back to his small home. The rooms were silent compared to the exciting atmosphere at the stadium. William wandered around the house and took it all in. He remembered how hard he had worked for his trial and all the hard days he had put himself through just to get here.
William was extra careful as he packed the remaining items in his apartment making sure he got everything he would need to take with him. He checked every drawer and every cabinet in the back of closets. He wanted to make sure he wouldn't leave anything behind because he had no idea whether he would ever return or not. William's heart raced as he zipped up the last bag. He had so many questions about the future and if he would be able to satisfy the Blackpool Board and scouters that had put such high expectations on his performance that night.
William shouldered the heavy bag and took one last look around the room before he turned out the lights and walked toward the stadium gates. It was cool outside and had the scent of rain in the air that made the night seem a little moody. William arrived at the intersecting point where he always met his father after games. He found familiar figure waiting patiently in the shadows of the building. He looked like he had just seen his son conquer the world.
As soon as Mr. Gill spotted William walking toward the gates his face lit up with an enormous grin that reached all the way to his eyes. He ran toward his son with surprising speed and hugged him with such a powerful grip that it almost threw William off his feet. He didn't seem to care though. "You did it son! I saw everything and was just beside myself with joy!" shouted Mr. Gill.
"That long range shot you took was the most beautiful thing I have ever seen on a football pitch." added Mr. Gill, shaking William's body. "I just know every club under the sun will be fighting to sign you because you are no longer just a talented player. You are a star! I heard all sorts of conversation from the people sitting around me asking their friends who this incredible player was!"
William couldn't help but smile at his father's enthusiasm but the doubt still lingered in the back of his mind.
"I really hope you're right Dad." William replied as they walked together. "I really hope you're right. I honestly don't know that Blackpool Board will sign me yet and that this week of waiting will be hard to endure. What if they decide to sign another player with more experience than a teenager?" William's confidence was starting to fade.
This was the reality he had been working so hard to avoid but he finally had to face it and accept it. Mr. Gill stopped to pat his back to reassure him that he had nothing to be concerned about.
"Don't worry about that stuff right now William Gill." he said sounding serious. "You did what you needed to do and you did it better than anyone of us could have imagined. You gave it your all tonight and that should be all that really matters." They continued walking toward the edge of the stadium grounds where the glowing city lights came into view. Since they didn't have a car to take them home Mr. Gill put his hand high in the air to flag down a taxi. The bright yellow car caught sight of the signal and pulled up to the curbside.
It's headlights pierced the darkness of the night like two watchful eyes. As soon as they were settled in the worn seats of the taxi the meter began to whirr and the engine rumbled. William leaned his head back against the cool glass window of the vehicle and gazed out at the familiar sights of Blackpool passing by. He watched the glowing streets blur together until finally he allowed his eyes to close.
His thoughts were consumed with the events of the night and how it had all come together. The trial was over and all he had to do now was wait for the calls and results to come in. William thought about the different offers he would most likely get and the exciting stadiums he would play in.
As the taxi rumbled along the city streets toward home William's sleepy eyes fluttered shut as he dreamed about his new career as a professional and the future that awaited him.