EIGHTEEN YEAR OLD ANDY HAWKE WAS A YOUNG LAD WHO WAS GIFTED WITH CONSIDERABLE FOOTBALL TALENT. HE HAD ALWAYS HAD THE GIFT, EVEN AS A YOUNGSTER. NOW HE WAS LOOKING FOR A FOOTBALL CLUB TO GIVE HIM A FUTURE.
IT WOULD BE FAIR TO SAY ANDY HAD NOT HAD THE BEST OF LUCK WITH HIS FIRST TWO PREMIERSHIP CLUB TRIALS. ANDY HAD ONE FINAL TRIAL WITH A DIVISION ONE CLUB, AND BEFORE HE WENT, HE HAD ALREADY DECIDED THIS WOULD BE "MAKE OR BREAK".
Then they had been relegated to the old Second Division, and the rot had set in. Financial irregularities in the dealings of the old Chairman had led to a points penalty, and Redstoke had quietly slipped into the New First Division three seasons ago. There they stayed, never quite managing to fight their way high enough to get to the Playoffs.
Redstoke’s ground was a testament to football grounds from twenty years ago. Two superb grandstands, and two adequate stands surrounded the beautiful playing surface, and from where Andy was sitting, he could see the North Sea sparkling in the sunshine, in the distance.
What a week. After two recent failed trials with Premiership clubs, Redstoke had been Andy’s last hope. He hadn’t been too optimistic before he had arrived here either. But to his delight, the trial had gone well. He had easily outperformed all the other young lads trying to impress the staff, and at the end, he was very pleased when he was told he had passed the trial. That had been Tuesday. Andy and his father signed a Juniors Contract, that very afternoon.
On Wednesday, Andy, and the other four lads who had been successful were given a guided tour of first the training centre, and then St Vincent’s, the home ground of Redstoke. Their families were allowed to join them for a very nice lunch, and then the lads were taken into the lecture theatre for a brief history of the club. The films were mainly of the club’s history during the seventies, and the eighties, the heyday years.
Their first training session proper was on Thursday. The youngsters were introduced to the first team players. Being a club who had seen better days, the squad was small. There were just 23 players on the books, including the new trialists. They had all trained hard, and afterwards, they were given four free match tickets each, to the first game of the season, at home to Westbury Town.
On the Friday, Andy had received a phone call from Dave Horley, who had been at Andy’s trial with Kelburn, the previous week. Dave had impressed the trainer, and had been offered a Junior Contract. Dave was settling in nicely at Kelburn, and while he was excited at his prospects, he was delighted that Andy had found a club, even if it was “only” Redstoke. Redstoke was on the East Coast, and was actually only around twenty five miles away from Dave’s home. Dave had promised that the next time he was home from Kelburn, he’d pop in and see Andy, and go for a drink with him.
“Daydreaming Son?” Geoff asked him.
“I’m really pleased Dad. Redstoke could go places if they are managed right. We were told that the future looks bright, and although we don’t have a big squad, we can manage. I just want to get my first reserve team game played, and then I’ll feel as though I’ve arrived”.
Ricky pushed his match programme under Andy’s nose, and pointed. There was a small paragraph on Page Five, welcoming five new youngsters to the club. What a really nice gesture! Andy saw his name and beamed.
“I think this is proof that Redstoke believe you have already arrived, Andy” Ricky said.
“They certainly seem to like their players here” Kate said. “They took a lot of time to make sure you were all happy with the set up. I was even more impressed when they took the trouble to give all of us Mum’s bouquets of flowers!”
The sun still blazed down onto the pitch as the two teams ran out onto the pitch just before 3 o’clock. Thank Goodness! Andy hated the Close Season, and always longed for a new football season to come round quickly. They were just a few moments away from what was surely going to be his most exciting season yet. Redstoke were playing in their traditional Old Gold and Black strip, while Westbury played in a change strip of white and green.
Unfortunately, the first half was a dour exhibition of defensive football on both sides. Westbury had also spent quite a long time in this division, and weren’t expected to be anywhere near the promotion places at the end of the season. The only highlights of the game had come from Redstoke’s left winger, Danny Collins. There was a lot of expectation over the future of Collins, who had only joined the club in the Summer, last year. He was speedy, and his ball control was superb. After just one season, his nineteen goals had already alerted the scouts from several clubs, including one in Germany’s top flight.
The players ran out for the second half, and both teams were hoping to break the deadlock quickly. After 55 minutes, Westbury were awarded a free kick on the edge of the penalty area after a handball incident. The free kick was struck magnificently, and smashed into the roof of the net, leaving the Redstoke keeper, Alan Hill, static. The small contingent of Westbury fans went wild.
Some of the Redstoke players seemed demoralised, and the manager, Duncan McKay shouted encouragement to them. Some of the older players encouraged their team mates as well, and it paid off. After 68 minutes, the ball was hurriedly cleared from the Redstoke penalty area, and found itself at the feet of winger Danny Collins. He went past his marker, and then two other players before putting in a low cross. The Redstoke centre forward ran into the near post area and half volleyed the ball past the despairing dive of the Westbury goalkeeper.
This time it was the turn of the Redstoke fans to go mad. The goal had been taken well, but it was Collins who had done all the hard work. Andy admired the player, but secretly wished he weren’t quite so good. Collins played in Andy’s position on the left wing, and it would take a lot to oust him. Still, early days, and Andy was pleased for his new team.
Redstoke had two more chances quite quickly after that, and both brought magnificent saves from the Westbury goalie. Just before the end, Westbury hit the post, and when the final whistle was blown, the game had ended all square 1-1.
Andy and his family walked back to their car, chatting excitedly about what they had seen. The game had not been the most exciting, but Andy was sure that now he had signed forms for Redstoke, he had a great future ahead of him. Geoff bought the entire family fish and chips from one of the seafront shops, which Andy thought the manager probably shouldn’t know about. He looked forward to Monday’s training session.
