Tenacious Tackles

Chapter 2: The Trial

It was a Wednesday at 8:30 am, I am currently travelling to the trials i was invited to by Coventry. I think about some possibilities but shake them off my mind keeping it clear to focus better.

I arrive at the area I am recquired to be in and start warming up. Then I do some passing with people I recognised, Caleb and Jake. No doubt Caleb got scouted and Jake was really good too, he was my friend who supported Coventry this obviously made hime excited and all-round ecstatic to be here.

A whistle is blown by a man in a Coventry City tracksuit, I jog over arriving before the vast majority. The man begins talking, "Hello I am the youth academy coach for Coventry City my name is Michael but, you can call me Mike" "What are we waiting for, lets get some drills done"

It starts off with a passing drill, which I feel went really well for me in particular, then afterwards we done a shooting drill in which I done quite average in as I am a defender.
The last drill was 1-on-1s and I felt as if I impressed the people watching in both dribbling and defending in the 1-on-1s.

We then done matches where they split us into two 11-a-side teams with us in our positions. I felt very confiednt in this match and won the ball alot and played it out and done my occasional underlap or overlap. My team that was given to me won 4-0 and i got an assist by doing a cross to a striker on my team.

Mike gets us into a room with chairs and calls out 3 players at a time and then they return rather happy or dissapointed. I then get called up alongside Jake and a guy called Jacob due to the close alphabetical on first names. He speaks to Jacob, who walks back happy then Jake who walks past with a dissapointed look on his face.

He then talks to me and says the following, "We would like to sign you a contract for the academy but first I want to talk to you about your attributes. 1. I think you are a great defender and you are good on 1-on-1s. 2.you play the ball out very well and scan for options well too.
3.you overlap very well and release the ball effectively being a danger to the opposition" "But you should attempt to talk to people before to get to know them but I know it says on your record you are autistic but you should attempt to make friends as they'll help you on the way"

I smile and thank him then return home shortly after. I tell my dad what happened and that i'll be getting a contract on Friday. He smiles and says he is proud of me. Now I have some big stuff to do, I have to tell my football team i'll be leaving and of course, celebrate!