Mr McKlop, Calum’s teacher and the coach of the football team, burst into the gym hall for the P6 teams’ lunchtime meeting. Coach Brown, Erika’s mum, strode in behind him.
“Good afternoon, ladies and gentlemen!” Mr McKlop said. “We’ve got some pretty exciting news for you.”
Coach Brown stepped forward, a clipboard in her hand. With her reddish hair and sporty build, she looked like a grown-up version of Erika. “Listen up!” she shouted. Everyone did. “Now, how many of you guys have been to Edinburgh?”
Calum didn’t put his hand up. He’d never visited Scotland’s capital city. He’d spent his whole life in the Highlands until his family had moved to Caleytown in the summer. He’d seen pictures though.
“About half of you? Well, I’ve got some good news for y’all,” she continued. “Coach McKlop and I have accepted an invitation from a school there called Castle Rock Primary to take part in their annual tournament. It’s in a couple weeks’ time.”
Noisy chatter filled the hall.
“So we need two things from y’all,” Coach Brown continued. “One: that you get your folks’ permission to come. And two: that y’all promise to show them city folks how we play soccer here in Caleytown!”
Both teams let out a big cheer, apart from Erika, who just looked a bit embarrassed by her competitive mum.
“One more thing,” Mr McKlop said, frowning at all the noise. “The boys’ team’s training session will be in the computer room today, not on the pitch.”
“What… why?” Jordan asked.
“You’ll see,” was all Mr McKlop said before he disappeared out the door.
***
Later, at ‘training’, the boys’ team sat down, two to a computer, waiting for instructions. Outside they could see the girls’ team playing on the pitches in the sunshine.
“I’m amazing on computers,” Jordan boasted. “I once got an email from an MI5 agent asking if I’d be interested in doing some work for them – no joke!”
“Then why are you holding the mouse the wrong way round?” Leo asked.
Jordan’s cheeks flushed. “I’m used to working on tablets, alright? Using a mouse is so last century.”
“Right, squad,” Mr McKlop clapped his hands together, “you must be wondering why we’re all in here.”
The whole team looked outside longingly.
“All the clubs, like King’s Park Athletic, employ people to research each team they’re going to play.”
Calum and Leo nodded along. Jordan quietly turned his mouse the right way round.
“So that’s what we’re going to do today,” Mr McKlop continued as he strode around the computer desks. “You’ll be playing these three teams in Edinburgh.” He scrawled on the whiteboard in his messy writing:
Castle Rock – Edinburgh
Minch – Glasgow
Burvie – Scottish Borders
“In your pairs, I want you to find out as much as you can about each team,” said Mr McKlop. He blew a short burst on his whistle as if they were kicking off a match.
Each pair started furiously clicking and typing.
Leo and Calum knew exactly where they’d search first. Whenever they weren’t on the pitch, they were on the Scotland Stars F.C. site.
“Click on the ‘Edinburgh and Lothians’ page,” Calum said, his eyes darting about the screen like a wasp trapped behind a window.
Calum and Leo found some links to match reports about Minch and Burvie. They were obviously good teams. Minch had a tall centre-back who seemed to score a lot of goals – for a defender. And judging by their team photograph, Burvie were a strong bunch of lads.
“Hey guys, come and look at this,” shouted Ravi. His quiff was quivering.
