Free T.J. and the Cup Run by Theo Walcott

said. ‘Could we have a go at that passing drill? Like piggy-in-the-middle but with two players in the middle where you have to get the ball through the gaps.’
    ‘OK,’ said Mr Wood. ‘Nice idea, TJ. You work with Rob. We’ll make this the last thing for today. Off you go, everyone.’
    TJ hit the ball to Rob, squeezing it between Tulsi and Rafi in the middle. Rob controlled it, and just for a second he froze.
    Jamie laughed. ‘Hey, Rob,’ he said. ‘It’s only a game. Don’t look so serious.’ He capered around in front of Rob, waving his arms in the air, and Rob’s face split into a grin. You couldn’t help laughing when Jamie was around.
    Rob clipped the ball through Jamie’s legs to TJ. TJ moved the ball a metre to one side and hit it quickly back to Rob. This time Rob didn’t need a touch. He flicked it first time, curling round Tulsi’s outstretched leg directly to TJ’s feet. TJ felt his heart lift as he saw Mr Wood watching them and Rob hit pass after brilliant pass.
    Parkview’s secret weapon was back.

C HAPTER 17
    THE CUP FINAL was played on Saturday morning on the same Astroturf pitch at the High School where they had played the semifinal. But it couldn’t have been more different. At the semifinal only Mr Burrows and Miss Berry had been there to cheer Parkview on – once Mr Potter had left. But now there were dozens of supporters for both sides.
    ‘It’s going to be a proper Cup Final,’ Mr Wood said, and TJ could see the excitement in his eyes. ‘I wouldn’t have missed this for anything. Off you go and get changed.’
    TJ waved to his family as they made their way inside. Everyone seemed to be there. He saw Mr Coggins the caretaker, and Janice and the other dinner ladies. The small lady in the green sari was Tulsi’s gran from Birmingham, and those two little bullet-headed boys were Jamie’s kid brothers. It wasn’t exactly like the fifty thousand fans who filled the Wanderers stadium for every game, but it felt just as good to TJ. He turned to Rob, who was walking beside him. ‘Isn’t this fantastic,’ he said. ‘It’s the best . . .’
    He stopped. Rob was looking green. ‘I feel sick,’ Rob said. ‘I mean it, TJ. I think I might actually be sick. I didn’t know all these people were going to come. I thought it would be like the other match. I wish Mr Wood hadn’t picked me.’
    TJ found himself suddenly feeling angry with Rob. ‘If you didn’t want to play then you should have said,’ he told him. ‘There were plenty of others who wanted to play.’
    ‘I do want to play,’ said Rob miserably. ‘I’m just not sure I’ll do a very good job with all those people watching.’
    ‘It’s the same for all of us,’ said Tulsi, who had been walking in front of them and now turned round impatiently.
    ‘No, it’s not,’ said Jamie unexpectedly. ‘Some people get much more nervous than other people do. My dad says being nervous shows how much you care. He says people who get nervous before the game are sometimes the best players. Don’t forget, we wouldn’t even be in the final if it wasn’t for Rob.’
    ‘Thanks, Jamie,’ said Rob, with half a smile. ‘But I still feel like being sick.’
    Five minutes later the Parkview squad ran out onto the pitch with their blue training tops over their blue and black striped shirts. It was a cold day, so they were all wearing hats and gloves too, as they warmed up on the pitch.
    ‘OK then,’ said Mr Wood, as the time for kickoff approached. ‘This is the starting team. Jamie in goal. Tommy and Rodrigo in defence. Tulsi and TJ up front, and Rafi and Rob in midfield. Yes, Rob? Did you want to say something?’
    For a moment TJ thought Rob was going to say he couldn’t play, but then he gulped. ‘Nothing,’ he said.
    ‘Remember,’ Mr Wood continued, ‘Hillside know all about us. They’ll have someone quick in defence to counteract TJ’s speed, and that tall blond boy will be marking you, Tulsi. Don’t expect to