The Long Road Back A thick fog shrouded the marshes alongside the River Mel, where Jimmy

Slade and Terry Keelan were jogging lap after lap. The previous April, young Terry had suffered a horrific double fracture of the right tibia in a foul challenge with Hard Man Johnny Dexter during a match against Danefield United. Today was the first time he had attempted running since the incident and he was understandably nervous. Seven months out, will I ever earn a place in the Rovers side? mulled Terry. Try to stay positive. Plenty of players have come back from worse injuries. Even Racey has had his share of bad knocks, Jimmy replied as he upped the speed. Terry, uneasily, kept pace, One more time around and well head to the ground! The two young friends removed their boots and jumped into Jimmys sports car for the short drive to Mel Park, the famous home of Melchester Rovers. Terry had an appointment with trainer Taffy Morgan, when he would be given his personalised training schedule. As they pulled into the car park, Taffy was waiting with first-team regular Gerry Holloway. Morning boys! Ive brought Gerry along to have a chat with you, Terry. As you know hes had many injuries, some serious, some not, over his Melchester career. I thought you would appreciate his experience. The four stepped through the elegant doors of Mel Parks unique art deco faade and headed to the physiotherapy room. Inside, big Scotsman, Duncan McKay, was receiving a deep tissue massage; he had recently begun to have trouble with his lower back and needed such treatment everyday after training. Taffy turned on an overhead projector displaying Terrys schedule, Gerry Holloway spoke, The hardest part about returning from injury is training alone. You have to keep your morale up and stay positive. Jimmy piped up, See thats what I said, Stay positive. Terry was to start with lots of gym work to rebuild the strength in his leg muscles, but to his disappointment there was nothing on the schedule saying when he would kick a ball again. The trainer explained, I dont want to put a date on it, we cant be sure on how quickly you will recover, when your legs will be strong enough. It could be in three weeks, it could be Taffy hesitated, Never! Terry blurted out. No I didnt mean Terry was distraught and walked swiftly from the room, down the players tunnel and out onto the pitch. Jimmy and Taffy stood by the dug outs watching as their friend and colleague strolled head bowed into the centre circle. This will be very hard on Terry. Hes going to need your friendship Jimmy. Dont let him go into a depression that really could end his career. *** The next morning, at their shared flat, Jimmy Slade was eating toast in his club tracksuit, waiting at the front door for Terry Keelan, Hurry up Terry! Well be late and the boss wont like that, we could get fined! Terry appeared at the bottom of the stairs in his pants, Erm Jim I need a bit of help. All that running yesterday has left me too stiff. I cant get my trackies on! Reluctantly Jimmy helped Terry into his tracksuit and tied up his training shoes, remembering what Taffy Morgan had said, he was determined not to start the day on a negative and Terry seemed in a good mood. A moment later they were speeding along through town towards the training ground, trying not to be late. The boys arrived with seconds to spare, as Roy Race, the star player-manager of Melchester Rovers, started the video analysis of the weekends match against Portdean. They snuck into the back row anonymously as Roy turned down the lights. Rovers had won the fixture comfortably, two-nil, but as always Roy had examined every detail and would now share his insights with his players. He allowed

the video recording to run; Roy had identified a worrying tendency, his players seemed to lose concentration after scoring, allowing Portdean numerous chances in the ten minutes that followed either goal. The defence appeared to sit too deep creating a gap between the defensive line and the three central midfielders that Portdean exploited with midfield runners. Roy had thought long and hard about the solution to what he feared was a mental problem; mental problems being the hardest to eradicate from a team, even a team a successful and settled as the Rovers. The answer was ingenious; Roy had found a technical solution to a mental challenge. After we score Im going to ask Taffy to place a marker thirty yards from our goal, I want the defenders to really focus and make sure that when the opposition build an attack they are not deeper than that marker. The marker will be removed once I judge we have regained our concentration. Roy then ordered the first team onto the training field to put his plan into practice. Terry followed his team-mates but was intercepted by Taffy Morgan, No Terry! Youve got to hit the gym, boyo! With a sigh the young winger jogged slowly back inside and began the lonely regime of circuit training on the multi-gymnasium machine that Roy had recently installed. His instructions specified an hour of leg curls to start with, One hour of this! Blimey! Ill be bored after ten minutes, Terry said aloud. But no-one replied, none of the other senior players were injured so they were all on the field practising Roys new tactic. Terry sat alone lifting the weights with his calves. After only fifteen minutes Terry lost concentration and sat at the window looking out. He could see half the training field, where the first team members were now practising set pieces. Taffy Morgan had Roys notebook and was organising the attacking players, instructing them on their off-ball movements. Roy would take the kick, fizzing in wicked curling crosses towards Lofty Peak or Blackie Gray, the strongest headers of the ball in the squad. Terry was amazed at the amount of times Roys kicks would meet the attackers head. He counted; nine out of ten, ten out of ten, eight out of ten. The reserve players man-marking Peak and Gray, Cyril Knight and Len Peters, rarely won a challenge. This surprised Terry as he had played scores of matches with the pairing in the reserves and really rated them. It worried him deeply, the standard he would need to reach to get another sniff of firstteam action, was it beyond him? An inner determination took over and Terry went back to the multigym and checked his schedule, More weight work. Jees! But he settled down and went at it hard, lifting and lifting until his friends Jimmy and Trevor Cassidy appeared in the doorway. Terry looked up from the bench, sweat dripping into his eyes, Mind if we join you? Jimmy asked enthusiastically, Go for it! an out of breath Terry replied. The other two young players, Jimmy, one of the first names on the team sheet and Trevor, a perennial substitute utility player, kicked off their dirty boots and joined Terry on the weights. Terry couldnt help but compare his underworked and under-toned legs with those of his team-mates. It would be a long road back he admitted to himself. *** Terry Keelan was three weeks into his fitness regime, a schedule specially designed to speed up his recovery from a broken leg. His manager, the great Roy Race, insisted that Terry would now attend all of Melchester Rovers home games at Mel Park along with the reserves and youth players. This Saturday for his first match back they were facing Blackport Rovers, who featured Terrys favourite player, Nipper Lawrence. Terry had modelled a lot of his game on Lawrence. He too was primarily a

winger but like Nipper liked to drift infield and act as a playmaker and Terry considered the small man to be one of the very best players in England if not the world. Terry took his seat with the other reserve players in the Main Stand, directly behind the Melchester dug out. Both teams emerged from the tunnel to rapturous applause from the crowd of over fiftythousand that packed Mel Park. Rovers split to the left and Blackport off to the right. Taffy Morgan gave a friendly nod in Terrys direction as he took his seat on the bench next to Supersub Roger Dixon, the unpredictable centre forward. As the players went through their last minute warm-ups and routines, Trevor Cassidy sparked up a conversation, I hate watching when I know I wont get on. Terry agreed but added, At least youre fit enough to play. Ive not kicked a ball for over seven months! Len Peters, who was slightly older than the other reserves, jumped in, We have to be here, so try to learn something! There are some great players out there. We dont get to see Bateson, Lawrence or Duggan everyday do we? Make the most of it! It didnt take long for Blackports star names to begin to shine; Lawrence gathered a tidy pass from Bateson and swivelled to avoid a lunge from Duncan McKay. He sped off down the right wing and chipped a delightful ball into the near post, Duggan rose but his header glanced off his shoulder and into Charlie Carters arms. That was close, some lovely skills from Lawrence! Hes some player! Terry said, with obvious admiration for the diminutive international winger. In his excitement Terry didnt realise he was now standing and his comments could be heard by Melchester fans seated nearby, Hes nothing on Eliot or Wallace, Keelan sit down! one zealous fanatic shouted out. Again Terry was struck by a bout of self-doubt, Hes right, that bloke. Eliot and Wallace are internationals too and they play in my position. I couldnt get in ahead of them before my injury, how will I do it now? As if he had heard, Vernon Eliot, gazelle-like, swept along the touchline right in front of the reserves, he skipped over the left-back's outstretched leg and then inside the centre half. With legs like rubber he adjusted his body shape and fizzed a stinging right foot shot towards goal. The Blackport goalie, Wilson, didnt stand a chance and the ball cracked into the net, sending the crowd wild. As Trevor celebrated, Len Peters ruffled Terrys hair, but did not say a thing. There was little pattern to the first half, with both sides playing with a freedom rarely seen in First Division football. The atmosphere was terrific as the action swung from end to end. The flair players on both sides were dominant, and there were lots of them on display to thrill the crowd. Again the noise level rose as the King took possession just inside the Blackport half. Mike Bateson had been doing a effective man-marking job on Race so far, but this time, Roy had slipped his attention and raced into the vacant space in front of the defensive line. Wallace and Eliot made criss-crossing runs inside the full backs, creating more space as the centre halves stuttered, not knowing whether to follow or attack the ball carrier. Roy only needed half an invitation to unleash his famous Rocket. The ball flew from his left foot and into the top corner of the goal; two-nil to Melchester and both spectacular strikes. There was only a moment to restart play before the referee tooted for half-time. The Blackport players scurried down the tunnel to regroup, while the Melchester side enjoyed the generous reception from their delighted fans as they jogged off. Trevor tugged on Terrys sleeve and they filed off the terrace to join the others inside the stand in the queue for tea. A great performance so far, Mr Cassidy? an inquisitive journalist asked Trevor, Nothing unusual there! replied the

prematurely grey young utility man. I dont understand why we let these pests in the executive area. They only stir up trouble. Len agreed, Stay well clear of the press Terry. Let the senior players deal with them, theyll stitch you up sooner or later. Look at Tubby, over there. Hes on executive duty today, he has to entertain. Tubby Morton, the former first choice goalkeeper for Melchester and England had been succeeded by Charlie Carter, but was a natural communicator. He was floating between paying executives, VIP guests and the press, smiling and answering any request. Perhaps you should ask Tubby for some advice once your career is back on track. Hes a real star when it comes to PR! Terry was pleased that his team-mates were so confident he would have a successful career and he allowed himself a little grin as he watched Tubby fetching mugs of tea for wealthy businessmen and their wives. Terry tried to draw hope from Tubbys career; he was still playing every week in the reserves and was still overall second choice goalie. He had suffered injury and loss of form, but never seemed down or disappointed not to be in the first team. Maybe he would seek Tubbys advice in training on Monday. Trevor returned from the toilet and nodded at Terry to return to their seats in the stand. Clutching his polystyrene mug of tea, Terry sat. He was looking forward to seeing Nipper Lawrence on the near side of the field during the second half. He would study his movement and how he communicated with his team-mates. These were areas that Ben Galloway, the famous former Melchester manager had informed Terry he needed to improve on the week before he broke his leg against Danefield. Nipper Lawrence was shouting for the ball, clear calls, telling his colleagues exactly where he wanted the ball. Despite his size, Nipper seemed a massive presence in the midfield, the Melchester players could hear that he was around but he also covered so much ground. He nipped back and forth across the midfield and regularly switched to the left wing. This was something Terry had wanted to add to his game. He liked the idea of cutting in from the left to take pot shots rather than just driving for the byline and crossing. Mervyn Wallace his Melchester team-mate was also an expert at this tactic and it brought him many goals. Terry was feeling much more confident. Watching the game and the quality players on display had reinvigorated him and he could not wait for training on Monday. Perhaps he would even ask the manager if he could use the gym tomorrow. The rest of the match passed without incident. A heavy rain shower muddied the pitch and made swift passing near to impossible. It also nullified the dribbling skills of the tricky wingers Eliot and Lawrence. But Terry was happier now and inwardly praised the insight of Roy Race. Had he picked this match deliberately as Terrys first back? Probably, Roy Race was a great thinker. *** First team training at Melchester Rovers was always a very serious affair. Many observers believed this to be the main reason Melchester had such success introducing new young players into the First Division. Training at Rovers was just as intense as a top level soccer match. It was this intensity that was worrying Terry Keelan. It was now six weeks since he began physical training sessions, involving running and lots of weight training. He had not kicked a ball for over eight months, but now he

would be playing and he knew that his opponents in this pass and move session would take no prisoners. Duncan McKay and Lofty Peak just could not play soft football. Right four versus four. Pass and move. The aim is to keep possession for as long as possible. Swap over when you lose the ball and keep yourselves inside the coned area! Ready? Go! Roy Race watched the group including Terry keenly, Taffy! Keelan looks nervous. I dont blame him really. But Ive told McKay to give him the stiff treatment from the off. That should show him that he is fully recovered. The trainer thought this was a risky strategy but did not challenge the boss. Taffy Morgan had been working closely with Terry over the past six weeks and believed that he had full confidence in his own fitness, but was truly worried that he would never recapture the form he had shown the previous season. It would not matter how fit Keelan was, if he was not playing well he would never play for the first team at Rovers again. Terry received a short pass from Jimmy Slade and was promptly clattered, fairly, by Duncan McKay. Whats wrong with you, McKay? Hes only just back! Jimmy shouted, moving aggressively towards the Scottish international defender. Terry intervened, Leave it Jim, Im fine. That felt kind of nice, in a strange way! The young midfielders then proceeded to pass and move through McKay and Peak, Peters and Holloway, keeping possession until Roys whistle brought the exercise to a halt. Well done! Well done! Roy was delighted with the effort and skill shown by Jimmy and Terry. The pass and move sessions continued for another fifteen minutes, before Roy called in all the players for a full practice match, first team versus reserves. The first eleven was well settled and had been for some time; Carter, Baxter, McKay, Giles, Slade, Peak, Wallace, Gray, Race, Holloway, Eliot. Many players from the reserves had tried to break into the eleven over the past couple of seasons but none had become first picks and this did worry not only Terry but also players like Knight, Peters and most of all Roger Dixon. Dixon had developed a reputation as the Supersub, a man who could change the game from the bench and score vital goals when Rovers needed them most. Roger sought out Terry as the two elevens were organising their formations, Keelan, you need to get crosses into my head, quickly! Im fed up being sub and want to prove to Race that I deserve to start against Molton on Saturday. Melchester were drawn at home to old rivals Molton United, in the third round of the FA Cup. Although Roy would never publically admit it, he saw this match as somewhat of a distraction. Rovers were still in the League Cup, near the top of the First Division and still in Europe so a cup run would put extra strain on the first team squad of players. Some of the reserves believed Roy would rest some of the stars at the weekend and were determined to make an impact in this practice match. It disappointed Terry that Dixon wanted him to get the ball in the box as quickly as possible. He had planned on trying out some of the moves he had watched Nipper Lawrence execute so effectively against the Rovers a couple of weeks before. OK Roger, no problem, Terry replied, but he had other intentions, he would try out his new ideas. Terry knew his reserve side would not have much possession against the might of the first team, so he would have to go looking for the ball, like Nipper Lawrence and Roy Race do so effectively. He would drop deep and drift into central midfield. To me Trev! Terry shouted as his began his run inside McKay, his arm outstretched pointing to the space where he desired the pass. Cassidy did it just right, although passing was not his strong point, the instructions seemed to make it easier for him, thought Terry, as he dashed onto the loose ball. He flicked the ball into the air with his left foot

and volleyed a deep cross to the far post. Roger Dixon was attacking the ball and rose above Noel Baxter to power a header into Charlie Carters bottom left hand corner. Dixon shook Terrys hand gratefully, Thats what Im talking about! Keep it up! As they jogged back into their half, Terry noticed Roy was chatting on the side-line with Taffy Morgan. Keelan, over here, take that bib off, give to Gerry Holloway. Youre on our side now! Roy had a habit of putting pressure on young players and Terry knew that he would be given plenty of the ball now. He really had to show off his skills, it might be too soon for the FA Cup match but he could still make a good impression. He was right; straight away Blackie Gray shifted possession to Terry in the centre of midfield, his marker was tight and Terry could feel him tugging slightly at his shirt, so he span, letting the pass go through his legs. He collected possession on the goal side of the marker and drove straight at the heart of the defence. Wallace and Eliot were doing as he expected and making the same criss-crossing runs that he had seen against Blackport, dragging the centre halves and full backs into uncomfortable positions. As the defence backed off Terry looked up, Roy was pointing at the penalty spot, but said nothing, it was a test. Should he shoot or look for the difficult pass that Roy was suggesting. Holloway was narrowing the gap but Terry chipped the ball over his and Geoff Giles heads. It bounced perfectly onto the penalty spot where Roy was arriving just in time. The great striker did not need a touch and smashed the ball past Tubby in an instant. It was a superb goal, real Melchester Rovers magic!

CHECK BACK NEXT WEEK FOR PART 2