Free Into The Team by Rob Damon Page B

lies in how well they work together. There’s no sense in bringing in new talent each season, because no manager, no matter how brilliant, can build an effective team in that short a time. Too much uncertainty arises when new faces arrive. It also sends a message to the lads that it’s ok to jump from one team to another, and that erodes loyalty. Stability crumbles.”
    There was nothing in those words Todd could argue with. The strength of the Reds had clear roots in the team’s consistent line up.
    “Everything I’ve done at this club has had the aim of creating a solid bond between the players,” Aiden went on. “And I don’t want anything or anyone to weaken those bonds.”
    The look in his eyes sent a shudder through Todd. It was clear those last words were meant to be heard.
    “I don’t want to weaken the bonds boss. I just don’t understand why…”
    “Do you remember Aaron Crompton and Pete Farnworth?” Aiden asked.
    The names were vaguely familiar, but Todd couldn’t place them. He shook his head.
    Aiden nodded slowly. “I suppose you’re too young,” he said. “Those men played for Northborough City back in the late nineties. I was a young player on that same team.”
    Todd had read about Aiden’s career as a player and remembered Northborough City was the first team he’d played for. But Todd would have been too young to know those players, or see them on the pitch.
    “That team was middle table.” Aiden went to the window and gazed out as if remembering. “We would always finish ninth or tenth at the end of each season. But that changed suddenly in 1998. That year we finished third.”
    Todd watched the man with his head held high, his hands in his pockets and his back straight.
    “Our manager, and the rest of the team, was overjoyed, and the other clubs couldn’t understand how we’d done it. Some put it down to luck, others figured it was simply the other teams not playing as well as they usually did. But I, and the manager, and certain people in the press, had their eyes on Aaron and Pete.”
    He turned around to face Todd.
    “It had been noted that those two players seemed to have a knack for working together. Whenever one of them got the ball, the other would be ready to receive. In each game they both had that thing called flow. And if one of those players got possession, it didn’t matter which one, they’d pass it back and forth, right down the pitch, overcoming whoever got in the way. Very often, the end result was a goal. It didn’t even matter if they were at opposite ends of the pitch. The other just seemed to know where to be in order to receive the pass. It was like they were telepathic.
    “The following year we finished second, the year after that we almost came top, but were beaten on goal difference by the club you now belong to. During the following years we dropped until eventually we were middle table again.”
    “What happened?”
    “Aaron and Pete quit football in the early 2000’s. But in the late nineties they were the best player pairing a manager could have wanted.”
    Aiden retook his seat and gestured Todd to his. After settling again, the man resumed his story.
    “During those years in the late nineties, I noticed something about those two players. They were inseparable. Always together, be it on the pitch, in training, out on the town. They even drove each other to and from matches. They’d sit together on the bus whenever we played away. They were very close.”
    Todd could predict what was coming and felt like saying it for him but refrained.
    “It came to light of course. There’s not a lot that can be kept secret on a team. And although it caused a little talk at first, the other players quickly accepted it. The team respected their close relationship, and they understood it was the source of their strength on the pitch.”
    “Are you saying this is what is happening here?”
    Aiden gave another chuckle.
    “What I will say is this. Last year