Chapter Two: The One-Pound Club

“Saturday's charity friendly is against Seabridge Rovers. Ticket revenue funds the stand repairs. Win and everyone gets a twenty-percent weekly bonus. Lose and there is no fine—but I complete every training session beside you.” The reserve goalkeeper raised a hand. “The owner trains?” Lin removed his coat. Beneath it was the final training shirt Bluehaven had given him. “Starting now.” Their training ground was a sloping patch of grass with two rusted goals. Eleven players plus Lin barely made six-a-side. For twenty minutes, nobody passed to the new owner. In the twenty-first, Gary deliberately shouldered him into the mud. “Welcome to tier nine.”