The next day, when Chu Zhongtian was running to school with the ball, when he passed by the newsstand, he found that the newsstand was full of people outside, and everyone raised the change in their hands to ask the boss to buy newspapers.

He thought it strange - he had run past this newsstand before I don't know how many times, and he had never seen so many people today. Curious, he stopped his steps and walked to the back of the crowd, and through the cracks he saw the colorful newspapers inside.

He just glanced at it, but caught a glimpse of a picture of head coach Eames. The newspapers with Eames' photographs were hung on strings outside the newsstand, fluttering gently in the morning breeze. People gathered around, looked up at the newspaper, pulled change out of their pockets, and pointed to the newspaper and said to the boss, "Here's one." ”

It was a Daily Telegraph, and it wasn't a tabloid in terms of size. With news of the Wimbledon team appearing in such a national newspaper, it is no wonder that the owner of this newsstand would turn this page out and hang it outside for people to see.

Although there are photos, there is not much actual content. Below the photo is a brief news item: "Wimbledon, an all-fan team (AFC Wimbledon, now known as Wimbledon) is aiming for promotion." They want to get back to the top flight, although there is still a long way to go. But so far, their first steps have been very successful. They are currently just eight points off the league title and are likely to be promoted to the eighth tier, Ismien First Division, in their first season. The team's manager, former Wimbledon legendary defender John Terry. Eames looked confident in the interview......"

There is not only one newspaper hanging on the rope, Chu Zhongtian looked at them one by one, and all of them reported on Wimbledon. And it's all about the same topic – Wimbledon are highly likely to be promoted and one step closer to their goal of returning to the top flight.

Chu Zhongtian finished reading all these reports about Wimbledon. As he read the newspaper, the group of people in front of him kept paying for the newspaper, and then someone added in to repeat what others had done before. There is also excitement about Wimbledon's prospects for this season and whether they will actually be in the Ismien First Division next season...... Everyone's face was filled with a smile full of hope.

In just one day, the news that Wimbledon is going to hit the goal of promotion has spread to almost all Wimbledon fans who care about this team.

At school, Charles. Philip and Joseph. Kenny pulled Chu Zhongtian and wanted to ask what was going on.

"Are we really going to get promoted this season?"

"Do we have enough strength?"

Chu Zhongtian just nodded, because their questions were answered with only a nod.

After receiving an affirmative reply from the "insider", the two men went to the side again and became obscene.

“…… One level this season, one level at the end of the next season, then seventh, sixth, fifth...... One level in one year, nine jumps in nine years, and we will surely become the most amazing team in the history of English football! ”

"It's a big event to be in the FA Cup next season! I don't know how far we can go......"

"Take the championship! That's not realistic...... Ha ha! I know! But I can't help but wonder how nice it would be to win the FA Cup again......"

Chu Zhongtian then remembered that he could not only look forward to a higher league in the new season, but also the English FA Cup, which has the longest history in the spotlight. There, if they do well and are lucky, they may even be able to play against a Premier League team, which is very, very slim, but not zero.

As long as there is hope, even the slightest bit, you can work hard.

The FA Cup is known as a "hotbed of upsets", so what happens when you are in the middle of it?

He can't wait for the new season.

※※※Later, Chu Zhongtian learned that those media were specially invited by the club's senior management to upgrade them. One of the things that has a significant effect is that their games will be followed by more people, so that the club will be able to earn more tickets – don't look at it as a ninth division, it's an amateur league, but you have to buy tickets to get in. More than 1,000 Wimbledon fans came to the league on March 8, even away, and Wimbledon swept away from Cobham 5-0. Back at home, Wimbledon will face Asho United. The Kings Ranch was crowded in with nearly 5,000 spectators, and the stands couldn't stand at all, so people stood in the gap between the stadium and the stands to watch the game, the final score of the game was 5:3, Chu Zhongtian did not participate, perhaps the reason why they conceded three goals, but fortunately, Russell and Borger skipped class again, helped the team score five goals on the offensive end, and won the game in the cheers of the fans.

They have extended their nine-game winning streak to an eleven-game winning streak, just two games away from their last 13-game winning streak.

'It looks fantastic, two more wins and we'll be able to equalise the record. Three more wins and we'll set a new record! Ha ha! Borger said to his good friend Russell after training.

They had just changed their clothes and came out of the locker room, ready to take the bus home.

Russell was also very happy to hear his friend say this. The team's eleven consecutive victories, he contributed a lot, and even from another point of view, he contributed more to the team than Chu Zhongtian. Because after all, Chu Zhongtian couldn't play in the midweek game, and he didn't lose a game, and he participated in it all, even if it was at the cost of skipping class. Without his playmaking in midfield, Wimbledon would have had a hard time winning those 11 games in a row...... And for the sake of the consecutive victory of these eleven games, Russell, who was not in good physical fitness, also gritted his teeth and persevered, or when he was fighting with Chu Zhongtian, his physical fitness also improved a little...... In those eleven games, he provided six direct assists, as well as four goals, and another five goals were inseparable from his playmaking.

Wimbledon scored a total of 35 goals in these 11 games, and he was involved in 15 of them alone, which shows how much of a role he has made.

Eames had said before the season that Chu Zhongtian and Russell would be the core of the team, as they defend one and attack the other, plus the team's captain, the current team's top scorer Kevin. Cooper just forms the central axis of the team. Looking at it now, it's hard to say whether Chu Zhongtian has become the core, but Russell must already be the core.

The two walked out of the King's Ranch together and asked Jack. Walk outside Goodchild Lane. When they reached the entrance of the alley, they were stopped by a strange fat man.

"Alai. Russell. The strange fat man looked at Russell, "Would you like to talk to me?" ”

Russell is no stranger to walking like this, since the team's results have improved, his fame in this area has also grown, and people often pull him to have a chat with him, and then ask for an autograph, a group photo or something...... So when he met this stranger today, he thought he had met the fans again.

Russell nodded, stopped, and showed what he thought was the most attractive smile: "Of course, no problem. ”

The visitor glanced at Borger, who was standing next to Russell, and then said to Russell, "That's right, Russell, my name is Paul. Parker (paul_parker) ......"

"Oh my God!" Borger next to him suddenly exclaimed: "You are Paul. Parker? ”

When Borger called this, Russell reacted. Then he said that the man in front of him looked familiar, and that it was Paul. Parker!

"I've watched you play, when you were at Manchester United...... ' Borger said with some emotion. I really didn't expect to meet a legend here who has been selected for the national team! I'm sorry, I didn't recognize you at first, you're fatter than you looked when you were playing......"

Bolger is still a statement to the other party, the fat man in front of him is not ordinary fat, and his whole body is deformed with a big belly.

"Ha, I really didn't expect that there are still young people who know me now." Fat man - former England international - Paul. Parker laughed.

Paul. Parker was a well-known local right-back in the early 90s, making his debut at West Ham United before playing for Fulham and Royal Garden Rangers. The best moments of his career came at the 1990 World Cup in Italy for England and a £2 million move to Alex Ferguson's side of the Red Devils in the summer of 1991.

After that, he was United's main right-back until he was beaten by the younger Gary. Neville replaced. Then he slowly faded out of the public eye.

"Where are you doing now?" Bolger was a little excited to meet a real star and kept asking about topics of interest to him.

"Welling United (welling_united), I'm the manager there." Parker spread his hands.

"Welling United?" Both Borger and Russell felt the name familiar. Welling, they know, it's a small town in the 4th district of London, and what they don't know is what level this team is.

"Now in the conferencenational."

"woow~" Borger whistled, and Russell couldn't help but be moved.

They all know what level of competition the National League is, which is the fifth division, which is four levels above Wimbledon's mixed county league. If you are promoted from this league, you will be separated from the "non-league league" and enter the "league league", and officially enter the door of the all-professional league, which is completely different worlds from here.

"We are in a good position, in the middle of the table. But next season we want to be promoted. "Paul. Parker said that the person he was looking for was interested in this league, and he could confirm this from the change in the expression on Russell's face just now.

"So, I'm coming for you, Russell. Would you like to ask if you are interested in playing for Welling United? ”

Russell's first reaction when he heard this was to turn his head to look at Borger standing next to him, and he found that Borger was also looking at him with a puzzled look. Then he pointed to himself and asked Parker opposite, "Me?" ”

Parker nodded.

"Why me? Uh, no...... Sorry I'm not dissatisfied, I just think it's weird...... Why choose me? Russell was shocked and incoherent, and he stammered for a long time before he could make what he was trying to say.

"I've been watching you for a long time, you're a very technical player, and my team is short of people like you." Parker speaks crisply and doesn't beat around the bush. He was not surprised by Russell's performance, as he thought Willing United would be too tempting for Russell in the ninth tier. 'You can organise attacks in midfield and that helps us a lot.

Russell was still a little unresponsive, he didn't expect that at this time, people from other teams would come to the door and claim to be interested in him.

'You've played for youth and youth at Wimbledon and you're a big step above the ninth division, so I think it's a bit of a waste of your talent to play here.

Paul. Parker is a celebrity in English football, and even Russell, who has always been proud, is a little embarrassed to be praised by him like this. Borger looked at his friend with envy.

"I know it's not an easy decision to make, you can think about it before you contact me, here's my number." Parker handed his business card over. Then he clapped his hands: "Then I'll take my leave, goodbye, boys." ”

Before leaving, he waved to Bolger, who hurriedly returned the salute.

When Parker's figure seemed to be around the corner of the street, the two of them came back to their senses.

"What is this? That's a great thing, Alay! Borger exclaimed excitedly.

"Uh......" Russell wasn't as excited as he was. I'm not so sure ......."

"Not sure? If Welling United can be promoted, you're a pro! What's so uncertain about this? Bolger was even happier than Russell.

Russell just shook his head, and he couldn't tell why he reacted the way he did. It stands to reason that he should be happy, and although he is a Wimbledon fan, it doesn't mean that he has to play here for the rest of his life. If he hadn't been swept away by Wimbledon Professionals, he would have been promoted to the Wimbledon first team, and he wouldn't have hesitated if any Premier League clubs had taken a fancy to him in the future. After all, he is a professional footballer, and playing football is a profession, so if there is a company that offers higher pay and has more development prospects, why not go?

But why couldn't he laugh as happily as Borger did?

When Russell got home, his mother had already prepared dinner and was waiting for him.

"Brother!" When his five-year-old brother, Luthor, saw Russell appear, he threw down his toy and pounced on him.

Russell picked up his brother and greeted his parents.

The mother brought the last soup to the table, wiped her hands, took her little son from Russell's arms, and said to him, "Go and wash your hands, Alay." ”

Russell, who had changed his clothes and washed his hands and face, sat down at the dinner table and the family began to eat.

Except for the younger brother, who was mischievously tapping the plate with a fork, everyone else was very quiet.

"That ......," Russell looked up suddenly, "something. ”

Dad put down the knife and fork in his hand and looked at his son.

"After today's training, I met Paul. Parker. ”

Dad frowned, obviously the name was familiar to him.

"It's the England international who played for Manchester United." As soon as Russell said this, his father's face showed a look of "sudden realization".

'He's coaching at Welling United now and he wants me to go to that team......

Mom, who was taking care of Luther, turned to look at Russell.

'He said he watched me for a long time and I was the guy they needed because I had the skills and the ability to organise the attack. I'm done. Russell picked up his knife and fork again and continued to eat.

"What are you going to do?" Dad's somewhat grim voice rang out.

"Me?" Russell shook his head, "I've thought about it all the way, and I don't know what to do. ”

"Do you still want to play professional football?" Dad continued to ask.

This is a question that Russell asked at the same dinner table the night after he was expelled from Wimbledon. Russell's answer was that his father had no objection, so a week later he attended a "retreat" held by the League Football Education Committee at Griffin Park in Brentford, hoping to earn himself a chance to return to professional football. There, there were a lot of young people who shared his illness - they were all players in the echelon of major professional football clubs, but they were dismissed from their original teams for one reason or another, and because they were unwilling to give up the football path, they came to "retire" on the field to make a last stand.

Maybe it's too persistent, maybe it's too nervous, maybe it's too strange...... In short, Russell messed up that retirement, his performance was very poor, his most proud technical advantage was not brought into play at all, and he was not physically fit to play half a game before being replaced early.

Exhausted, he sat on the grass and looked up at his father.

Dad was expressionless and just asked him, "Do you still want to play professional football?" ”

This time Russell shook his head weakly: "I'm going to college......"

He had already obtained A-level grades in two subjects before this, and it was not difficult to go to university.

A month later, he appeared on the campus of Wimbledon Art School as a first-year college freshman.

He joined Wimbledon just because he loves football, loves Wimbledon football and wants to do something for the team he has supported since he was a child. He didn't think he was going to go down the path of professional football.

But now it's been nine months since he joined that team, and after playing dozens of games, his mind is slowly changing.

Does he still want to continue playing professional football?

(To be continued)