Bab 13: first match
Matchday at Pride Park was like no other. The streets outside the stadium buzzed with excitement, fans pouring in with scarves and jerseys, discussing the much-anticipated lineup. Inside, Wayne Rooney paced the dressing room, preparing for his first official match as Derby County's player-manager.
The lineup dropped an hour before kickoff, and as phones buzzed with notifications, fans reacted swiftly. Trevor, a lifelong Derby supporter, sat with his friends in the South Stand, frowning at the announcement.
"David Jones? Who's that?" he barked, scrolling through the lineup on his phone. "A 15-year-old? Starting? Are we running a football academy now?"
One of his mates tried to calm him down. "Come on, Trev. He must be good if Rooney's starting him."
"Good? He's a kid!" Trevor grumbled. "I've got wines older than him. This is ridiculous!"
The commentators chuckled at the reactions filtering through social media. "Well, Derby fans seem divided on this decision," one of them quipped. "It's bold, putting a teenager in such a high-pressure game. Let's see if Wayne Rooney's faith in young David Jones pays off."
The Tunnel
In the stadium tunnel, David stood near the back of the line, his hands trembling slightly. The roar of the crowd was deafening, even from here. It wasn't just noise—it was expectation, excitement, and pressure all rolled into one.
"You ready, kid?" Rooney appeared beside him, his tone calm but commanding.
David nodded, though his voice betrayed his nerves. "Yeah... just taking it all in."
"Good," Rooney said, placing a hand on his shoulder. "It's big, because it matters. But remember, you're here because you earned it. Play your game."
David nodded again, this time with a bit more confidence.
As the players stepped onto the pitch, the atmosphere hit David like a tidal wave. The sea of fans, the bright floodlights, and the palpable energy made his heart race. For a brief moment, he let it wash over him, before focusing on the task ahead.
The First Half
From the first whistle, the game settled into a gritty rhythm. Barnsley pressed high, looking to unsettle Derby's defense. David, playing on the right flank, struggled to find his footing. Every time he touched the ball, Clarke Oduor was there, muscling him off or timing his tackles perfectly.
By the 15th minute, it was clear Barnsley had targeted the young winger. David tried to dribble past Clarke twice but lost possession both times. The third attempt saw him dispossessed near the halfway line, sparking a counterattack that Derby barely managed to contain.
Trevor, in the stands, threw up his arms. "What did I say? Out of his depth!"
David's frustration grew. His confidence waned with every misplaced pass and lost duel. By the 40th minute, he was hesitating on the ball, second-guessing every decision.
As the clock ticked into stoppage time, Derby were still searching for a breakthrough. Then, David found himself in possession on the left wing. Determined to leave his mark before halftime, he surged forward. Clarke closed him down, but David, with a burst of inspiration, poked the ball through his legs—a perfect nutmeg—and sprinted past him.
The crowd roared.
David cut inside, heading straight for goal. But as he prepared to shoot, Barnsley's towering defender Mads Juel Andersen came crashing in with a hard tackle. David hit the ground, looking to the referee, but no whistle came.
As the ball spilled loose, Rooney, lurking on the edge of the box, seized the opportunity. With one swift motion, he lofted a perfect pass to Jack Marriott, who soared above his marker to head the ball into the net.
Pride Park erupted.
Rooney jogged over to David, who was still on the ground, shaking his head in frustration. Offering a hand, he grinned. "Shake it off, kid. Welcome to the big leagues."
Halftime Doubts
In the dressing room, David sat in silence, staring at his boots. Around him, the team buzzed with energy from the late goal. Assistant coach Phillip pulled Rooney aside.
"Wayne, the kid's struggling. Maybe we should take him off. Let's not kill his confidence."
Rooney hesitated, glancing at David, who looked lost in thought. But before he could respond, David stood and walked over.
"I know I messed up," David said, his voice steady but filled with determination. "But please, give me another chance. I'll prove I can do this."
Rooney studied him for a moment before nodding. "Alright, kid. Go out there and play your game. No pressure—just do what you do best."
The Second Half
David's parents, Isaac and Tabitha, watched nervously from their home in Southampton.
"David's still on," Tabitha said, clutching the armrest.
Isaac nodded, his jaw tight. "Good. He needs this chance."
But the second half started disastrously. In the 50th minute, David miscontrolled a pass, allowing Barnsley to launch a quick counter. Substitute striker Elliot Simoes smashed a stunning volley past Kelle Roos to equalize.
David slammed his fists on the ground, shouting, "Damn it!"
At home, Tabitha covered her mouth. "My poor boy," she whispered.
The commentators weren't kind. "The youngster's having a nightmare debut. You have to wonder if Rooney's gamble was a mistake."
But David wasn't done. He stood, his eyes blazing with determination, and gestured an apology to his teammates.
The clock ticked into the 90th minute. The fourth official signaled three minutes of stoppage time. To everyone's surprise, Derby made a substitution—taking off Jack Marriott.
Trevor groaned. "What's Rooney doing now? Taking off our best player for what? why not That kid?!"
Before the restart, Rooney approached David. "So, is this it? Are you done?"
David glared at him, fire returning to his eyes.
Rooney smirked. "That's the look I wanted. Now go burn them."
The Final Moments
With just two minutes left, Barnsley pushed forward, looking for a winner. But Jason Knight's relentless pressing forced a turnover. The ball fell to Rooney, who spotted David out wide.
Rooney's pass was perfect, and David took off like a rocket. Clarke Oduor, his tormentor all game, closed in. But this time, David feinted left, then exploded right, leaving Clarke in his wake.
The crowd rose to their feet as David stormed down the wing.
"He's passed Oduor! Look at that pace!" the commentator shouted.
David approached Andersen, who lunged forward to stop him. With a dazzling rainbow flick, David vaulted the ball over the defender's head, catching it on the other side.
Gasps filled the stadium.
David steadied himself and unleashed a thunderous volley. The ball screamed past the goalkeeper, slamming into the top corner.
"GOAL!"
Pride Park erupted as David sprinted to the stands, screaming in pure, unfiltered joy. Fans surged forward, cheering his name. Trevor, the doubter, was now shouting louder than anyone, trying to grab David's shirt.
At the final whistle, Derby secured a 2-1 victory. David collapsed to his knees, overwhelmed by the moment.
In Southampton, Isaac jumped to his feet, punching the air. "That's my boy!"
Tabitha wiped away tears. "He did it. He really did it."
For David Jones, this was just the beginning.
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