Upupup II

27th June 2004.

Dan Ashworth ,scout for West Brom is watching in anticipation as two prison teams, HM Birmingham and Durham battle it out for the trophy of Britains best Prison Football team.
A well built ,big prison Officer is standing next to him. Durham Lead 1-0

DA" So then where's this talent then?"
Man" Just you wait for the second half. The Poor kid, he's knackered ,he didn't sleep last night ,so he dosen't play 90 minutes. It may sound soft ,but we want this trophy."

The Man summons to the bench.
MAN"Prepare to be dazzled ,this lad is special."
DA "He better be, Durham are hammering you guys."
Man"Don't worry ,we'll win this."

On trots the tall Number 16 .He slots straight into the middle of the park and from then on in its one-way traffic. This lad has got the lot ,the first touch ,The Flair ,The Vision and most importantly the passion .Dan watches on as the boy finds the right winger with a inch-perfect pass allowing him to cross the ball onto the head of the number 10 to even it up.

DA" That lad's special,I've never seen anything like it. Whats he in here for?."
Man" Attempted Murder. could be up for parole soon. "
DA" That aint to good .Still I believe Garry could take a chance, after all ,with this talent ,he's going to be snapped up by somebody."
Man" I don't know about that ,theres no chance there going to let him out. "

Dan's face dropped .He knew that this lad could change West Brom into a premiership side .He was on the table, but he'd been snatched away.

Man"The boy is a good kid, he swears on his life he is innocent .We're not sure if we can let him go though. He's only 17 ,he's served six years .ut inside prison he's as good as gold."
DA "Well we could help. Keep him off the drink ,keep him off the drugs ,give him a trial at the club ,and then take it from there ,so when's he up for Parole.
Man "Wednseday."
DA "Wednesday? thats two days, great ,We'll get him a lawyer . He could be free.
Man. "I kinda hope so, its a shame to see such talent go to waste even if I'm a blue."
DA"What you support Birmingham?"
Man"Blue through and through."

They pause their conversation to see as 16 beats two players before playing in a delightful chip and give the number 9 the perfect opportunity to give them the lead. Which he takes.

DA" Does he have a name?"
Man. "Dan Franken."
Ashworth scribles the name down frantaclly on a piece of paper .

he gets up just in time to see Franken hit an overhead kick off the bar.

Man" This lad is worth the risk."
DA"I know."
Man" Do one thing, keep him away from the drugs."
DA" Will do."

Dan then leaves as Franken lifts the trophy aloft .



---INTRO---
Dan Franken was born and bread in Grimsby ,his mother and father owned a Fish and Chip shop and he was expected to go into the family buisness. But ever since he first kicked a ball they family knew they had a star on their hands.
he was signed up to his local club Grimsby where he found an older friend in Chris Lamon ,the mayors son. His life went downhill in 1998 when a mysterious incident in Grimsby town centre saw one boy fighting for his life after being with a broken bottle. Dan was blamed for the incident and had spent 6 years behind bars. He now vows to turn his life around with the art of football but will the past come back to haunt him as he plans revenge?

Upupup II

29th June 2004. Birmingham Magistrates
Judge"In light of West Bromwich Albion F.C's appeal for Mr Franken to be released ,I can see that he may of grown up and will now know that he has done wrong and can therefore be released. However ,there will still be a threat there and for that i am handing him a six year suspended sentance."

At long last Dan Franken was a free man, he knew how important it was to stay away from Prison. As he and his lawyer walked free they were greeted with a media scrum. Dan walked through the scrum and into a black Mercedes Benz that had tinted windows. As he was drove to WBA's training ground ,he couldn't help but think he was free at last .There was slight nerves at the reaction he would get from the players, but he'd learnt the tough way .And even though he couldn't remember waht happened on that faithful April Night in Grimsby 6 years ago, he knew in his heart that it wasn't him. He didn't have it in him. He was no angel at school but he couldn't slump that low. School inside theose Youth Offending places was tough. He met real criminal kids, he expected to be bullied but even though he was a few years younger than them, he was just as tall. When he went into the Youth Offending place, he was lanky and skinny ,but he built up his weight using well weights. He's tougher mentally and physically now. But anyway ,all this dreaming about the past had taken longer than he'd thought, and by now he was at the traning ground. He read the sign on the roadside "WEST BROMWICH ALBION FC TRAINING AND YOUTH ACADEMY" "Well you couldn't get clearer than that," he thought to himself ."This must be it" .The car came to a hault and the driver yelled out "Here we are kid, stay away from trouble."
Franken looked in his pocket for money to tip him, but then realised he didn't have a wallet. "Iwish I could t...." "Don't worry kid ,the clubs paid for it all." the driver replied.

He stepped out into a fresh midlands breeze and inhaled it. It was 6 years ago that he smelt that smell. He headed out onto the training field. Gary Megson introduced the player to the squad and eyebrows were rasied and questions were asked. But as soon as he got out onto the training pitch all questions were answered. Slotting into central midfield Franken showed the rest of West Brom what he had shown Ashworth .Vision ,a first touch, Flair and a real passion.
He was something else ,he was hungry and ready for any challenge ,he aqquired the applause of a number of first-teamers and was showing his team-mates how it was done .As his trial week progressed he grew in confidence .What any remaining doubts anybody has in his ability were quashed when he majestically volleyed home from 35 yards in his final trial session. Megson knew he'd have United ,Chelsea and even England drooling at this one player. But first Megson had to sort out some off the field incidents. A nervous wait out side the gaffers office followed ,before at last he was spoken to.

Megson got straight to the point.
"Lets get down to buisness," He said "What happened with the attempted murder situation."
"Well," Franken replied nervously ."Well, er.... I can't remember what happened ,I didn't attack him though ."
"You know Dan, why can't you remember ?"Megson politely asked.
"I'll tell you what happened." Franken said." I had met the Mayor of Grimsbys son at football ,I was playing a couple of years above and he was 15. He introduced me to his friends. They all took drugs on that night but i wasn't having any of it. I popped to the toilets and they spiked my drink ,I was really out of it, but they werent really affected by it. I was then, or so I think ,led in to touch the bottle that the boy had been hit with ."

"I can't believe I'm saying this, but I believe you." Megson said.
"Well the only way I can make it public that I'm really a good kid is by the way I play my football. They'll see that I'm not a murderer." Franken replied.

"Well here's what I'm offering you, a contract until next season, 700 quid a week. Its Pro as well." Megson said gleefully handing over the conract "Welcome to the West Bromwich albion football Club."