CHAPTER 11

ON WEDNESDAY NIGHT Mr Wilson drove Jamie and TJ to the Sports Centre where the Player Development Centre was based. As usual, Rob came with them so that he could go for a run with TJ’s dad on the Sports Centre’s running trail. ‘So, who are you playing in this friendly match then?’ asked Mr Wilson.

‘It’s against the Sunday league team, Meadow Green Wasps,’ TJ told him. ‘You remember, we played them last term. Leroy’s their captain. Look, there he is now.’

TJ and Jamie knew Leroy well, because he also attended the PDC. They got out of the car and Rob took off with Mr Wilson to run ten kilometres. Leroy waved to Rob, as he ran past with TJ’s dad. ‘Your midfield genius,’ he said to TJ and Jamie. ‘I saw you all in the paper. But what happened to that girl? Your striker? There weren’t any pictures of her. Has she left your school?’

‘No,’ said Jamie, shaking his head. ‘But Mr Wood dropped her for our next match.’

‘She was really good,’ said Leroy, puzzled. ‘What happened?’

‘I wish I knew,’ replied TJ. He turned to Jamie. ‘Leroy’s right, you know. We have to help Tulsi get back in the team.’

‘Sure,’ said Jamie. ‘But what if she doesn’t want to be in the team? Have you thought of that?’

That Sunday the Parkview team travelled in the minibus to the Wasps ground. Meadow Green Wasps had some of the best facilities in the whole area, and the place was buzzing with activity. Every pitch was occupied, and the home teams in their black and orange striped kit looked exactly like a swarm of angry wasps. As they were getting out of the minibus, TJ saw Tulsi. ‘Great,’ he said. ‘You’ve come to watch.’

‘I didn’t want to,’ she said irritably. ‘Gran made me.’

‘Hi, Mrs Patel,’ said TJ. Tulsi’s gran was wearing a big black Puffa jacket and a woolly hat. Strands of white hair sneaked out from the edges of her hat and her brown eyes twinkled when she saw the Parkview team.

‘Hi, Jamie,’ she said. ‘Hello, Rodrigo. Hello, everyone. I’m really looking forward to this. Don’t mind Tulsi. She’s in one of her grumpy moods.’

Tulsi’s gran was passionate about football. When they had held a World Food and Football day at school Mrs Patel had played in goal for Tulsi’s family team, and she’d been amazing. ‘I’ve come to stay,’ she said. ‘I’ll be here to support you in the tournament too. It’s all very exciting.’

‘Not for me,’ said Tulsi. ‘I think I might just give up football completely. I mean, if you’re a boy you might have a chance to play for Wanderers one day, but I won’t, will I?’

‘Nonsense,’ replied her gran. ‘You won’t give up if I have anything to do with it. You’ll be back in the team in no time. I’m going to give you some of my special coaching.’

The others tried not to laugh. They could see from the expression on Tulsi’s face that laughing wasn’t a good idea. They ran off to get changed, and when they emerged from the dressing room Mr Wood was waiting for them. ‘Listen,’ he said. ‘There’s a TV crew here from the local station. They saw the story in the paper and they want to get some footage of you playing. I think they want to follow us at the Regional Tournament too. Just try to ignore them and concentrate on the football. I’ve told them they can’t talk to any of you until after the match, and we’ll be checking with your parents to make sure it’s OK for you to be on TV.’

‘They wouldn’t dare to say no,’ replied Jamie. ‘Hey, it’ll be like Match of the Day. One of us will have to be interviewed.’

‘Maybe,’ said Mr Wood. ‘Now, this is our starting line-up. Tommy and Rodrigo, Rafi and Rob, then TJ and Ebony. Remember, I want to see movement, and lots of it. But not just running around for the sake of it,’ he added, looking at Rafi. ‘And I want us to pass the ball fast and accurately right from the start.’

There was a sudden commotion near the entrance, and TJ caught sight of a flash of red in the car park. ‘I don’t believe it,’ said Mr Wood. ‘I told him not to come today.’

‘It’s Marshall,’ said TJ happily, as the tall figure of Marshall Jones detached itself from the crowd and made its way towards them, waving. ‘Why didn’t you want him to come?’

‘Too many distractions,’ said Mr Wood. ‘Still, I guess it might give you all a lift.’

‘Hey, coach,’ said Marshall, wrapping an arm around his friend. ‘I couldn’t stay away. It’s not often I get the chance to come and watch some football at the weekend. Hi, guys!’

‘Hi, Marshall,’ they all replied.

‘We have to warm up,’ Mr Wood told them, frowning slightly. It was then that TJ realized just how much it meant to Mr Wood that the Parkview team did well. ‘We’re wasting time,’ Mr Wood continued. Then his face suddenly relaxed into a smile. ‘You can carry that bag of balls, Marshall. You may as well do something useful as you’re here. And the holdall.’

‘OK, guvnor,’ said Marshall with a grin. ‘Be right there.’

When they reached the pitch the Wasps were already doing sprints. A big crowd of supporters had gathered along one touchline. TJ saw all of the dinner ladies with their blue sparkly pom-poms, and Mr Coggins brandishing a huge old-fashioned rattle. There were lots of mums and dads and grandparents too.

‘It’s a nice day,’ said Jamie. ‘I reckon they’ve all come out because it’s sunny.’

‘I don’t think so,’ said Marshall. ‘You guys are getting famous. Newspapers. TV. You’ll soon be more famous than me!’

‘Off you go,’ said Mr Wood to the team. ‘TJ, you can be captain today. The ref is waiting.’

TJ felt suddenly nervous. He’d never been captain before. Leroy was waiting with the ref. ‘Heads,’ said TJ, and was relieved to see the queen’s head glittering on the ground. ‘We’ll kick off.’

He shook hands with Leroy, then turned and looked at his team. There was Jamie, filling the goal and looking unbeatable. Then Tommy and Rodrigo, both confident and smiling, and Rob with his usual look of fierce concentration. Rafi was bouncing up and down, ready to run for ever, and beside TJ even Ebony looked full of confidence although it was her first-ever start. Over on the touchline the subs were jogging up and down, keeping warm, ready to come on at any moment. It was a shame that Tulsi wasn’t playing, but TJ felt really proud to be a member of this fantastic team. ‘Come on!’ he yelled. ‘Let’s show them what we can do, Parkview!’

The whistle blew, and he tapped the ball to Ebony.