Touchline Rebirth: From Game To Glory-Chapter 234: Warm-Up

Chapter 234: Warm-Up

December 17th, 2010

Morning arrived quietly.

By the time Niels reached the training ground, a few players were already there. Some stretched near the edge of the pitch, while others moved through light mobility drills under Thomas’s supervision.

Today was match day.

Ellis stood near the touchline, slowly tightening the straps on his shin guards. His eyes drifted toward the empty goal at the far end of the field.

Dev jogged past him and nudged his shoulder lightly.

"Morning," he said.

Ellis nodded. "Morning."

Kieron joined them a moment later, rolling his shoulders as he loosened up.

"Still thinking about yesterday’s triangle?" he asked.

Ellis gave a small smile. "Hard not to."

Across the pitch, Niels watched the players gather. Clipboard in hand, he observed quietly for a moment before calling them over.

"Circle up."

The squad moved toward him, forming a loose group in the center of the pitch.

"Today isn’t about intensity," Niels began. "It’s about clarity."

He gestured toward the right side of the field.

"Ellis, Dev, Kieron, same structure as yesterday."

The three players immediately stepped into position.

Niels rolled the ball forward.

"Bournemouth will press early," he said. "They’ll try to trap the right side. If they overcommit, that’s when the space opens."

Ellis controlled the ball and passed inside to Dev.

Dev returned it quickly before shifting wide.

Kieron moved to cover the half-space, exactly as rehearsed.

Niels nodded slightly.

"Good. Keep the triangle tight. Communication matters today."

The players repeated the movement several times, each pass sharper than the last.

Nearby, Reece sat on the bench with his ankle still wrapped, watching the session quietly. He leaned forward slightly as Ellis received the ball again, following the movement like he was still part of the drill.

Thomas walked between players, occasionally reminding them to stay loose.

"No heavy work," he said. "Save your legs for tonight."

After fifteen minutes of repeating the patterns, Niels clapped once. "Alright, that’s enough."

Players grabbed water or stretched, feeling the match looming even hours away.

But already, the entire squad could feel it approaching.

While Sussex Town’s preparations continued, several miles away on the southern roads, another team was already on the move.

The Bournemouth team bus was heading east toward Sussex. Inside, the atmosphere was far quieter than usual.

Some players had headphones on, staring out the windows. Others reviewed small tactical sheets handed out before departure.

Their manager stood near the aisle, one hand resting on the back of a seat.

"Listen carefully," he said, his voice calm but firm. "Crawley Town have improved their structure recently. They’ll try to control possession early."

A few players nodded.

One of the midfielders leaned forward slightly.

"They’ve been building play through the right side," he said.

The manager pointed at him.

"Exactly."

He tapped the small tactics board he was holding.

"They rely on quick triangular support on that flank. If we allow them time, they’ll settle into their rhythm."

The bus rolled smoothly along the motorway as the players listened.

"So we don’t give them time," the captain said from the back row.

The manager nodded.

"Correct. So we need to press early with aggression."

He moved a marker across the board.

"Our front three will trigger the press when the ball reaches their right side. Force them inward, close the passing lanes, and win the ball high."

A defender spoke up.

"What about their winger?"

"Of course, track him tightly," the manager replied immediately. "He’s comfortable carrying the ball into space. Don’t let him turn."

Several players exchanged determined looks.

The captain leaned back in his seat and folded his arms.

"If we win the midfield battle early," he muttered. "They’ll panic."

The manager didn’t correct him.

Instead, he gave a small smile.

Ahead of them, Crawley Town waited.

After that, the morning session wound down and the players slowly headed inside the training facility. The light drills had done their job there was no fatigue, just enough movement to keep the body ready.

By early afternoon, the entire squad gathered in the dining hall for lunch.

It was a routine Niels insisted on before every match.

Long tables had been set up, and the players sat together with plates filled mostly with pasta, grilled chicken, vegetables, and plenty of water.

Thomas moved between tables occasionally, making sure everyone stuck to the nutrition plan.

"Easy on the sauces," he reminded one of the younger players with a half-smile.

Dev and Kieron sat across from Ellis, quietly eating.

For a few minutes, nobody spoke much. The room carried a strange balance—part calm, part anticipation.

Finally Kieron broke the silence.

"So," he said, leaning back slightly, "any predictions?"

Dev shook his head immediately.

"No predictions. We just play."

Ellis gave a small laugh but kept his focus on his plate.

"You’re no fun today," Kieron replied.

"It’s match day," Dev said simply.

Across the room, Niels sat with his coaching staff, occasionally glancing toward the players. He wasn’t interrupting the moment. Sometimes the team needed this quiet space together before the pressure arrived.

Reece sat with the group as well, his ankle still wrapped. Even though he wouldn’t be playing, he listened carefully as the others talked.

"You’ll see," he said to Ellis quietly. "They’ll try to press early. Don’t rush your passes."

Ellis nodded.

"I know."

The lunch slowly turned into lighter conversation. A few jokes started circulating down the table, easing the tension just enough.

A few hours later, evening arrived and in the Broadfield Stadium the floodlights were already on.

Inside the bus, the players grew quiet again. 𝙧𝙚𝙚𝔀𝒆𝓫𝓷𝙤𝓿𝒆𝙡.𝒄𝙤𝓶

Ellis looked out the window as they approached the entrance.

A small crowd had already gathered near the gates.

Dev leaned forward in his seat.

"Here we go," he murmured.

Niels stood at the front of the bus.

"Remember the plan," he said calmly, "and stay organized and patient."

The bus came to a slow stop.

For a moment, nobody moved.

Then the doors opened.

And one by one, the Crawley Town players stepped out and headed inside the stadium and they could already hear the shouts and cheers of the fans.

Inside, the staff members passed by carrying equipment bags, while distant crowd noise filtered through the walls.

When the team entered the locker room, each player moved toward their assigned spot.

Shirts were already hanging neatly above the benches, numbers printed clearly on the back.

Dev tightened his boots. "Feels different today," he murmured.

Kieron exchanged a brief glance with him as Thomas stepped aside and Niels took center stage.

The conversation gradually faded.

Niels waited until every player was looking at him.

"This is the moment you prepared for," he began calmly.

He picked up a magnetic tactics board placed on a nearby table.

"They will press early. We already know that."

He moved a few markers across the board.

"But pressure creates space. If we stay patient, the gaps will appear."

He pointed toward the right side.

"Ellis, Dev, Kieron your movement will be important tonight. Keep the triangle tight. Support each other."

All three nodded.

Niels looked around the room again.

Then the captain Max stood up first.

"Alright," he said, clapping his hands once. "Let’s go."

Players rose from their benches. Some gave quick nods to teammates. Others tapped shoulders or exchanged brief words of encouragement.

A stadium official appeared at the door.

"Two minutes."

The players lined up in the corridor that led toward the tunnel.

Moments later, the opposing team arrived from the other side of the hallway.

Bournemouth.

The atmosphere instantly shifted.

Then Bournemouth’s captain stepped slightly forward and glanced toward Crawley Town’s line.

"Long trip for us," he said casually.

Max gave a small nod.

"Don’t worry, we will give you tough competition so you can enjoy it." Max said with a laugh.

A couple of players nearby exchanged faint smiles.

One of Bournemouth’s defenders looked toward Ellis and Dev.

"Been hearing you lot like to play out from the back," he said.

Dev shrugged lightly.

Kieron leaned slightly toward Ellis and muttered quietly,

"They’ve definitely done their homework."

The two captains stepped a little closer toward the front of the tunnel as the referee checked his watch again.

"Good game," the Bournemouth captain said, extending a hand briefly.

Max shook it.

"Same to you."

The handshake lasted only a second, but the message was clear.

Respect before the battle.

From beyond the tunnel entrance, the cheers of the crowd grew louder.

The referee stepped forward.

"Alright, teams."

He motioned toward the pitch.

"Let’s go."

The line began to move.

Step by step, both teams walked through the tunnel.

And the moment they stepped onto the pitch, the stadium erupted.