Archie Fairclough had almost cried when Jamie told him.

It was a clear March night. A Sunday. Everyone else was at home, watching TV and relaxing, but Jamie knew where he’d find Archie. The Hawkstone United training ground, preparing for the club’s crucial next game.

Jamie had knocked on the door and gone in. Then he’d told Archie everything. The whole story. Every detail of what had happened in the two and a half weeks since, in that moment of alarm, he had picked up that football and ordered his brain to strike it as hard and accurately as possible at the man who had mugged Jack.

He’d also told Archie about all the memories that had been coming back to him, like flashing lights in his head: the day he suggested the pay-as-you-play deal to Godal, the hat-trick he’d scored against Mallorca, and the back-heel goal he’d struck against Madrid. Jamie could remember almost everything now. Everything except for the actual moment he’d suffered the injury.

Finally, Jamie described the secret, night-time sessions that he, Jack and Dillon had been conducting in the Kingfield School Sports Hall. The sessions that had told him he was ready to play football again. Truly ready this time.

Archie had simply sat back in his chair and listened. As Jamie told his mentor the story, Archie’s cheeks had filled with colour and his eyes had glistened with emotion.

“I … I am so happy,” he had finally said when Jamie finished the story.

“Me too,” smiled Jamie.

“But I don’t understand,” said Archie, rubbing his thick white beard and shaking his head. “Why didn’t you tell me? You could have used our facilities here at Hawkstone. You didn’t have to break into the school every night!”

“I wanted to keep it a secret,” Jamie replied. “Until I was really sure. I didn’t want anyone to know. To get their hopes up. Including me. But now I am sure, Archie. That’s why I’m here.”

At that moment, Archie had very nearly started crying again. Jamie could see how much Archie cared for him. It was a beautiful feeling to know that someone existed who just wanted to the best for him and it reminded Jamie of his granddad Mike in so many ways.

Finally, Archie composed himself and stood up.

He took out a tissue and gave his reddening nose a massive blow.

“Well,” he smiled, picking up the phone. “I guess we’d better arrange a football match for you to play in, hadn’t we?”