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Saturday, 18th March

Match 40 of 46: Chester versus Blyth Spartans

I woke up at 8 - pretty late, for me. Emma squirmed, sensing something had changed in the room. I traced my fingers along her spine, up to her flowing blonde hair. Helen of Troy could have been no more lovely. Helen of Troy, however, may have been more willing to spend the night on a mattress in my windowless office inside a freezing cold football stadium. Emma had dragged me to a hotel. One with, and I quote, a "bed that meets the dictionary definition of a bed."

I had to admit she was right; I needed a proper sleep. Big day ahead. Even the armies of old knew when to rest.

I pushed the covers off, but stayed there on my side, staring at the one, thin strip of light coming through the heavy curtains.

The unpleasantness of the night before was still there, in my bloodstream, in my soul. But there was no point dwelling on it. There was more good than bad. I'd met Eve, a true sportsman. We'd recruited Bonnie, a fantastic new teammate. We lost 4-2 but the team competed, hard, against an established outfit. Anyway, that was yesterday. Today was all about helping Jackie beat Blyth Spartans.

We went down for breakfast and joined Gemma. She'd decided to stay overnight, too, since Chester FC was a drama sandwich with a shopping trip in the middle. We talked about having a victory dinner in a restaurant called the Sticky Walnut, in a Chester suburb.

"Enjoy your breakfast," I said, in a gruff voice. "For tonight, we dine in Hoole."

Absolutely no reaction. Sometimes I wonder why I bother.

I joined them on a little walk around the old town, pottering around, not even resisting when they made me try on different clothes.

"This looks great on you," said Emma, while Gemma nodded. "You should buy it."

I couldn't tell you what I was wearing. Not a black hoodie is all I know. "I'll dress like a peacock if we stay up. Deal?"

"I'll hold you to that."

What I was doing, apart from killing time until the match, was checking out the atmosphere in the town. It was a big game. A crucial six-pointer, at home. You wouldn't have known it. The town was quiet. Some buskers, some tourists. No sign that the place even had a football club.

Maybe everyone had seen the league table.

Team

P

GD

Pts

Blyth Spartans

-33

Bradford

-25

Chester

-16

Leamington

-17

Kettering

-32

AFC Telford

-44