retired_sfa97

Now, having started a couple of stories on here already before work and...work bogged me down i've finally got the time to do it now the students have gone home, so here goes and i hope ya like!

retired_sfa97

Chapter 1: The Beginning

Now many stories you see these days are from managers and so on, this however is a different tale, one that not only see's the rise of a great player, maybe the greatest of all time, but also see's the phonix of one club rising from the ashes to become one of, if not the greatest side of all time. We'll get to the greatness sure enough, but lets start at the beginning.

It was a warm July day in the city of Leicester, i had the day off work. I mean who the hell could work in a stufy dark pool club on a day like this? The sun was shining, the birds...well they were singing but the other birds, ouch, out in force. I at the time was 20 years old, going on 21 and had the world ahead of me i suppose but, it's funny how fate works, one second ya think a life of hard slog then a crappy pension awaits then all of a sudden something incredible drops into your lap. At this particular moment i was in my back garden, beer in my hand, radio playing some music. Deciding for a change i switched the radio just in time for the sports news and needless to say i was in shocked at what i heard,

"Leeds United have today unveiled their new manager as Ray Wyatt. The former Northampton and Peterborough coach also spent time as a course leader at the city's own Leiecster College....."

The reason why i was in shock? One i'm a Leeds fan, a massive Leeds fan despite where i live...and two...i know him. For the single year that Wyatt ran my course (football course naturally) and we swept the board in all the comps we played in. Now here he was managing my team. After i calmed down i relaxed again and didn't really think much of it, but i would be soon enough.

The next week or so was normal, out on saturday, chilled on sunday, work on monday. Usual kinda stuff, that is until, while at work my phone rang,

"Hello?"

"Ah, how ya doin Matty boy?"

"Errrmm, fine, who's this?"

"Only your former coach."

"****, how are ya gaffer, whats it like up there?"

"It's good, i'm doing well Matt, and yourself?"

"Same old same old chief, whats up?"

"How would you like to play for Leeds United?"

"Ha ha, and your next joke?"

"Who says i'm joking? Look if your interested come upto Leeds, just ask for me at reception, i'll make sure the girls on the desk know who you are."

With that the phone went dead, he always was good at cutting through the bullshit. I was in shock, sitting down my hands shook a little bit at the very prospect of it...hell i was scared...i couldn't pass it up...who the hell would, this chance ain't gonna come again next season. Taking a deep breath i told my current manager i was unwell and sped home. I quickly changed, got back on the road and headed up, and not at the speed limit either but i didn't care. Within the next hour i was speeding into the Elland Road car park. I took a few mins to compose myself before getting out and moving towards the reception entrance...

retired_sfa97

Chapter 2: Pre-Season

By the end of the day i was Ray Wyatt's first signing. I was given a 1 year, £500 p/w deal which, is about what i made in a month on my last job which i promptly quit the next day. When i finally got the chance to ask him why me, he simply said, "Because, you've got what i'm looking for." I still didn't know, true while playing under him in the college team i was top scorer and we did win the lot, but this was a different kettle of fish really. A small minority of the press were already scoffing but the rest just ignored me really, i wasn't big news and i could see where they were coming from, still I couldn't believe it, i really couldn't. I mean i was going to play at Elland Road, i was going to play with some of my hero's, Radabe, Kelly and alike. I reported to training at the start of the following week (staying with the gaffer), still in complete awe of my situation really, last week i was working a a pool hall, no real prospects. Now here i am in the dressing room of one of the most famous clubs of all time. Bremner, Charlton, Charles...they've all played here...it was amazing to say the least.

Pre-season was tough in no uncertain terms, my fitness was the gaffers main concern, as well as mine. I hadn't played in a while due to work and the fact that i'd kinda gained a lazy streak. His exact words to me were "Your not playing until you can complete the bleep test!" Harsh yes, but his intentions were good. So for the next month i ran my ass into the ground almost. The lads all helped me, kept me motivated. David Healy and Brian Deane on a regular basic inviting me to do some shot practice with them, offering pointers and teachings that to this day i still remember and use. It was all amazing and by the beginning of August i felt like just another one of the lads. The other signings were settling in also. I'll give ya a run down of who else got signed and who got the boot,

In
Pierre Wome, (LB) Free
James Beaumont, (MC) £35k
Phillipe Christanval, (DC) £500k
Vincente, (DMC) free

Out
Michael Duberry (DC) £90k
Danny Pugh (DMC/L) £500k
Michael Ricketts (ST) £30k

Anyway, back to the training. I ran my ass off, worked myself into a state of near exaustion but a week before the season opener i felt i was ready, the entire squad turned out the watch, which was a little daunting but i think ultimatly they helped me push myself that extra yard. It took everything i had, every last drop of energy i could summon from myself but i did it, at the end the gaffer gave me my shirt, all printed up with my name and my number (don't laugh) 69 (ok it is pretty funny). The lads carried me back to the changing rooms pretty much and i had no trouble sleeping that night. And so it was, my life as a Leeds United player had began....

retired_sfa97

Chapter 3: The ride begins

After that i threw a small party with my family and friends to celebrate, two of which were youth players at Leicester City, My bro Chris going on 19 and my best mate James 19. Chris being a central midfielder and James being a goalkeeper. But enough of them, they'll come into the story later on. Our first game of the season was at home to Watford. The stadium was electric, i couldn't stop smiling. We started the match well, playing a 4-3-1-2 formation and opened the scoring through Deane. They equalised in the 2nd half and the game ended in a draw. I didn't make the squad but, i knew i had to be patient seeing as i missed the entire pre-season fixture list just getting myself fit. A point and Ray's Revalution had begun. Our next match was again at home, but this one held slightly more significance as it was against our rivals Sheffield United. We'd just finished our meal in the club resturant when the gaffer got up and called us to order, so to speak.

"Ok guys, just wanna read out the team sheet then you can all go relax for a bit before the warm up. Starting line up, Sullivan, Kelly, Christenval, Carlisle, Wome, Wright, Spring, Gregan, Joachim, Healy and Deane. On the bench, Carson, Richardson, Crainey, Beaumont and Warner."

My legs were a bit weak as i headed out of the resturant with the lads. A bit later the gaffer explained that he had a feeling that he should stick me in the squad for this one.

It was still warm as i stepped out and headed for the bench, the fans were crammed into the stadium, making as much noise as they could. I was in a haze about it still but soon found myself settled as the match kicked off. Deane was causing trouble upfront, but they were also creating chances. The first half came and went and we were soon into the last quarter of an hour. The gaffer had already used 2 subs and i was getting the feeling like my chance wouldn't come until he turned and shouted, "Matty, get warm lad your on in 2mins", and let me tell ya i was out of that dugout like a shot. My heart was going a mile a minute as Healy made his way over, i shook his hand and headed onto the pitch with a mighty cheer from the home fans and a chorus of "Who are ya?" from the rival fans.

The gaffers words to me were simple "Play your game, get in behind them and use your pace, they're a bit short of it back there, work off Deano alright, and enjoy it!" I was playing for Leeds United i kept telling myself, i really, really thought i was dreaming, until the ball came my way. A pass from Joachim and i turned and began to run with the ball before laying it back for Wright. The game followed the same pattern, nothing clear cut but i got on the ball and did what i could until, with about 8mins left things happened. A long ball from Sulivan found the head of Gregan, Joachim picked up the loose ball and turned with it, i was looking for space to run into, trying to keep myself onside when he layed it off to Deane. One touch and he just hit it across Paddy Kenny, it looked bread a butter from where i was but he palmed it out and i ran towards it with just one thought "Don't f**kin miss!". I got there just before Kenny and tapped home, the fans went mental and i celebrated like i'd scored for Leeds United...oh, wait, i did. With my arms out by my side i ran and punched the air (Like Beckham in the greece match) before kissing the badge of my beloved Leeds United. The lads mobbed me, the fans cheered and chanted my name, and the Sheffield United fans? Well, they were in no question as to who i was now....

retired_jveklund

Dude... its a computer game. What happens on that screen is... *drumroll* ..not real life

Nice read.

retired_joeliets

Did you used to play for Farnham???

retired_Brandon Scott

nice start :thup: pal-but whats your surname in this game-not sure u mentioned it

retired_confal2

It says so in the title

Good luck with your career, Matt. I see one major drawback, though -playing in the same team as Christanval

retired_sfa97

Ah yes, Christanval...very much a waste of space. Easy to get, impossible to get rid of! No i didn't used to play for Farnham. And i am well aware it's not real life. In shorter terms i always add myself to game and see how well i can do as a player, also adding a few bit to make it entertaining. Anyway, enjoy, if ya don't like it, don't read it...

retired_sfa97

Chapter 4: The only way is up?...We'll let luck decide shall we?

Now i'd got my first goal i was raring for more and more i got. The next week we found ourselves being dumped out of the league cup in the first round, losing 3-1 to a far better Nottingham Forest side. After that Each month seemed to pass quickly and while i should have been happy with the amount of goals i was scoring, i wasn't, well i mean i was but the bigger picture wasn't a pretty one to tell the truth. We weren't heading in the direction we wanted, we'd had some great results, but whatever hard work we put in by stringing a few wins or a nice unbeaten run together it all seemed to get torn apart by one lapse in concentration. We were in a yoyo effect of sorts and it wasn't doing our confidence much good. What made is more agonising for me was i was free scoring, i was on top of the scoring charts with 16 goals for the season by the end of January but they just didn't seem to be enough to drag us clear of this run of bad luck. We sulking and facing the prospect of another season in the championship.

A 1-0 defeat to Coventry, our 4th in a row at that time, our morale was in tatters. We'd already been dumped out of the FA cup. After thrashing Barnsley 3-0 in the 3rd round we were dealt a game which at that time the whole of the city wanted, a game against premiership opposition. Aston Villa was the team in question and after making a good start to the game going 1-0 up we were soon out played and ended up losing 4-1, Angel getting a hat trick with Barry also scoring. We were also laying in 16th position, 17 points behind 6th placed Nottingham Forest without a hope in the world really, but rememeber earlier what i said about fate? Well it seems the fat lady couldn't get her arse on stage to sing for us, so we had to make our own entertainment and boy was it gooood watchin! After that defeat the gaffer dropped his favoured 4-3-1-2 formation and went for a straight 4-4-2. We were lacking width at times and also found ourselves being over run in the centre of the park on more than one occasion. But the gaffer always had his own style and he tuned the formation with us to perfection. Our strengths laid in Me and Deano in the prospect of counter attacking, long and early balls upfield for Deano to get onto were ideal. His strength to hold and lay off and my pace to beat players and finish was paramount in the gaffers mind. Despite our losing streak we had a strong defence, the best keeper in the league and in Sean Gregan, a player that would sit back and protect the back 4 when playing the right formation. With the new formation in place we took a deep breath and headed to the next game.

The game in question found me scoring my 17th of the season and was away to Sunderland. And it, not to brag, may have been the turning point of our season. Why? Because for the entire match they were mauling us, battering the goal from every angle at every oppertunity and the gaffer must have been wondering if his new formation was really as good as it could be. Gary Breen headed home on the half hour to give the black cats the lead but it wasn't the end for us. No mater how many think this game is all about skill, they're wrong, it's 1 part skill, 1 part determination and a dash of luck. Luck is what we'd been lacking and then, just out of no where, against the unlikliest side in the league (who were shooting it out with my brothers Leicester City side for the title), we got that bit of luck we needed with just a minute left. Knowing we could (and probably should) be more than 1-0 down, Sulivan rose to collect a poor Sunderland corner before hoofing it upfield. If it hadn't of been for replays i still to this day wouldn't have known what happened. The ball is coming down towards me, i miss controlled the ball with my back a good 45 yards from goal and knowing it hadn't been my night i wasn't pleased at my lack of composure just then, but imagine my utter delight in finding Gary Breen, on the ground having gone arse over tit stretching for the loose ball, which was now rolling away from him leaving just the keeper blocking my path the goal. Impossible in a car but not for me i clicked right through from 1st gear to 5th and streaked past the still grounded Breen. Taking the ball in my stride i flew towards goal, a man on a mission. I drew the keeper out like i'd been doing it all my life and just dinked it over him from 15 yards, 1-1! The final whistle blew after the restart and we got away with a point and the gaffers system seems to work a charm given the right amount of luck and we were back on track...