CHAPTER 13

TJ AND ROB walked over to join the rest of the team. Marshall was shaking hands with everyone. ‘You’ve got a fantastic squad here, Johnny,’ he said to Mr Wood. ‘That’s the best I’ve seen you play,’ he said to everyone. ‘And that’s even with your star striker missing. Where is she?’

‘You mean Tulsi?’ said Mr Wood. ‘Well . . .’

‘Excuse me, Mr Wood.’ Maggie Burnside, the TV presenter, pushed through the Parkview squad with the cameraman and sound man behind her. ‘You said we could talk to one of the children after the game? And if it would be great if we could have you at the same time, Marshall,’ she simpered.

Marshall held up a hand. ‘This is all about the kids,’ he said. ‘And their outstanding coach, of course. I’d rather not, thanks.’

The presenter’s face wrinkled with disappointment. Her make-up was like an orange mask and her hair was impossibly perfect. ‘Well, then,’ she said. ‘We’d like to interview the star of the match. The hat-trick heroine we’re calling her.’ She pointed her finger at Ebony. ‘We’ve got some terrific footage of your goals, so come and tell us how you did it.’

They all watched, as Maggie Burnside took a nervous Ebony to one side. ‘How does it feel to be the star of such a successful team?’ she asked.

Ebony blushed. ‘Oh, well, I’m not the star,’ she said. ‘Honestly.’

‘You looked like a star to me. You scored a hat-trick.’

‘I mean . . . it wasn’t just me . . . it was everyone . . .’

‘You’re too modest. You’re the one who scored the goals. And you’re playing in a big tournament soon, I hear. I expect you’ll score lots of goals there too.’

Ebony shuffled her feet and looked embarrassed. ‘I hope so,’ she said. ‘But I might not be in the team. There’s lots of really good players at our school.’

But the TV presenter wasn’t really listening.

‘I’m sorry, everyone,’ Ebony said, as the TV crew walked away. ‘I didn’t know what to say.’

‘You did fine,’ said Mr Wood. ‘Couldn’t have been better. Hello, Phil. I didn’t see you arrive.’

They all turned to look at the newcomer. Phil, the Wanderers Academy coach, often watched youth football matches, looking for talented young players. ‘Terrific performance, everyone,’ he said. ‘As good as I’ve seen. You keep discovering new players, Johnny,’ he continued, with a glance at Rob. ‘I knew this lad was a tactical genius, but I didn’t know he actually played football.’

‘I didn’t before,’ said Rob. ‘I mean, before Mr Wood came back.’

Phil nodded. ‘Well, that was a really great team performance,’ he said. ‘It was a pleasure to watch.’

On the minibus on the way back to school the team discussed Phil’s comments excitedly. ‘Maybe we’ll all play for Wanderers one day,’ said Rafi.

‘I won’t,’ said Ebony.

‘Me neither,’ said Leila, ‘and Tulsi won’t either.’

‘Don’t be so sure,’ Mr Wood called from the front seat. ‘Marshall tells me that Wanderers are thinking about a Ladies Team, and they’re planning a Girls’ Academy too. So don’t give up hope just yet.’

TJ had only just finished his lunch that same afternoon when there was a knock on the door. His sister Lou answered it and came back into the room with Jamie, Rafi and Rob behind her. ‘Any more coming in?’ asked TJ’s dad, peering round Jamie to see.

‘We just wanted to talk to TJ,’ Jamie said, with an envious look at the bowl of tropical fruit salad in the middle of the table. TJ’s mum saw where he was looking. ‘You still have an appetite then, Jamie,’ she laughed. ‘Go on, boys. Have some if you like. We’ve finished.’

The boys tucked in gratefully. ‘What’s all this about then?’ asked TJ’s dad.

‘It’s Tulsi,’ said Jamie. ‘We have to get her back in the team but it seems almost like she’s not interested any more. She’s even started talking about giving up football.’

‘So we’re going to tell her about the Girls’ Academy,’ Rob said. ‘They might be starting one at Wanderers.’

‘I can’t believe Tulsi would want to give up football,’ said TJ’s mum. ‘She was the keenest of all of you.’

‘But it’s true,’ said TJ. ‘And it must be strange if you’re a girl and you love playing football but you know you won’t ever be able to play in the Champions League like Marshall does. Like we might one day.’

‘Hey,’ said TJ’s mum. ‘That’s a very long speech, TJ. But you’re right. It must be tough for Tulsi.’

‘There is a women’s World Cup,’ said Lou. ‘And there’s the Olympics. And quite a lot of Premier League sides have ladies’ teams, don’t they?’

‘You’re right,’ said TJ. ‘Thanks, Lou. We’ll tell her that too. We’re going to try to get her to come to the park with her gran this afternoon. We can have a kickabout for fun like we used to. She can’t say no to that. And then we can tell her about the Academy.’

But . . .

‘I’m sorry,’ said Tulsi’s mum, when they arrived at her house. ‘She’s not feeling well. She’s lying down in her room.’

‘No, she’s not,’ said Tulsi’s gran, peering over her daughter’s shoulder at Tulsi’s friends. ‘She’s sulking, that’s what she’s doing.’

‘We thought she might want to come to the park,’ Rob said. ‘Just to kick a ball around.’

‘And we’ve got some news,’ added TJ. ‘Wanderers are going to have an Academy for girls. Can you tell her?’

A few minutes later Mrs Patel came downstairs with Tulsi. Anyone could see Tulsi had been crying.

‘We’re both coming,’ said Tulsi’s gran. ‘I’ll just change into my tracksuit and trainers.’

‘Well?’ asked Tulsi, as they walked to the park. ‘Is it true? Wanderers are really going to have an Academy for girls?’

‘Mr Wood only said they’re talking about it,’ replied TJ. ‘But he made it sound as if they’re serious. Hey, look. There’s six of us. We can play three against three with rush goalies. You’ll play, Mrs Patel, won’t you?’

‘You think I came along to watch?’ said Tulsi’s gran. ‘No fear! How about me, Tulsi and Rob against the rest of you?’

‘OK,’ said TJ. ‘This should be good!’