The Loanee - A Promising Future

                      Four years earlier...

He had never seen so many people in his life, let alone photographers. They weren't alone, either. Journalists were left, right and centre, while the club's staff outnumbered them almost two to one. There had never even been such a crowd at one of his matches. Yet here was a welcome party fit for a king gathered in one room... to take pictures of him holding a shirt aloft and ask a few presumably bland, pre-approved questions. Presumably to his manager.

As arbitrary as it all seemed, Alex Stephens couldn't hide his delight, nor the fact this photoshoot and press conference was in honour of his life’s proudest moment. A 19-year-old forward, Alex was signing a brand new contract with the club of his dreams, the club he was lucky enough to be a youth player for since he was 15 – and the club he had supported since he first laid eyes on a football.

A four-year deal was Alex’s reward for his blistering form as part of London United’s Under-23 side, as well as a phenomenal goalscoring record at Under-19 level. Despite his obvious talent and love for his team, though, playing for the senior side wasn’t necessarily something he’d anticipated. Far from a given, this was a huge step forward.

The club, meanwhile, were making a big fuss. This much attention wasn’t usually afforded to a new contract for a youth player. It was clearly a statement of how much Alex was valued by United – and possibly a sign he could even be considered for first-team action straightaway. His smile could not have been broader as every camera flashed in his direction. The blue top he held with his name on it was just like one he’d received from his mother a few Christmases ago. Never a fan of his decision to ‘only play football instead of doing something respectable with his life,' Tara Stephens still supported her son when she could. And, when she realised football was the best financial choice for her intelligent and capable offspring, she eventually got on board.

The day Alex received that top, he almost cried. His mum putting personal feelings aside and buying him the gift he would have wanted most in the world meant so much to him; it’s the little gestures that are often appreciated the most. A simple present – but perfect in every way. What the club were giving Alex now was as good a gift as any for a professional footballer. It was the real thing. The money was incredible for someone so young, the benefits fantastic and the length ensured stability and suggested a promising future.

As clichéd as it sounds, that all paled in comparison to playing for London United where Alex was concerned. A young man in every way describable, he was rather old-fashioned in that regard. He’d never wanted to play for any other team. When his career at United looked in doubt at the age of 17, with a progress review providing mixed results, Alex seriously considered quitting football.

“If I’m not wanted here, I don’t want to play anywhere else,” he convinced himself.

He could still have gone to university, received a stellar education and waltzed into whatever field he felt he could succeed in. Not all footballers are that lucky – and lucky is just how Alex felt when he was given the benefit of the doubt by the coaching setup at the Under-19s. He repaid their faith with haste and the coaches' rave reviews helped immensely further down the line.

A place in London United's official Top Flight squad was being reported in the national press, explaining why so many journalists turned up to this particular presser.

“First of all, congratulations Alex,” a television reporter from the nation’s main sports news channel said, filling the teenager with glee. Growing up, that reporter was on screen every day and Alex had once considered following in his footsteps, becoming what he envisaged to be a glamorous broadcaster. He barely blinked before turning straight to Alex’s manager, the up-and-coming, media-friendly Northern Irishman Chris Smith. This was when the young forward, now sat down in front of the assembled press, was brought back down to Earth rather abruptly. Jubilation and his sense of awe disappeared as soon as the first question was answered.

“Chris, what’s your response to rumours Stephens will be part of your Top Flight squad this season?”

Alex noted the formal ‘Stephens.’ It’s what he’d go by among supporters, what would show in websites and newspaper headlines. It was also what would be called out by commentators if he ever scored a goal. He thought it sounded pretty cool.

“No, those reports certainly aren’t true and I don’t know where they came from,” Smith replied. A sinking feeling overcame Alex, followed by a moment of panic. Why the big fuss today, then? Was this some kind of wind-up?

“No, what we see Alex as is very much a star player of the future,” Smith continued. “We wouldn’t have brought him here today if we didn’t rate him and see him as part of our team at some point in the next four years. But, this season, we’re going to send Alex out on loan to make sure he gets as much first-team football as he can.”

Okay, panic over, or was it? The news would mean a sharp and sudden change of mind-set. From thinking he’d never want to play for anyone else to being told in front of the watching public he had to play for someone else. This would definitely take an adjustment. The delivery seemed rather impersonal.

Already, the attending journalists had their main story. Jackpot. Smith didn’t usually need long to make a good headline. In his first year at London United, the attack-minded coach almost brought back the league title the club’s supporters so craved. They hadn’t won it for 10 years but achieved their highest points tally since doing so under Smith’s guidance. His biggest problem, unlike the rest of the league, was - strangely, considering Smith's forward-thinking nature - a lack of goals. That had encouraged Alex; goals were his speciality.

He obviously wouldn’t be able to help out this season, though... was that a wise decision? Thoughts swirled around Alex’s head. He went from hating the news – this is my club and I love it to bits, why should I play anywhere else? – to loving it – I’ve never played in the Top Flight, fighting for the title straightaway might be too much too soon – and back faster than a pinball machine working its magic. Why did he have no say in the matter?

But, the more Smith spoke, the more Alex was enthused.

“Is there a specific club in mind?” the broadcast reporter pressed on, although others now looked far more eager to fire their own questions in.

“Yes, we are in discussions with a club from the Second Tier, who have guaranteed regular games – but we won’t name them just yet,” Smith smiled.

“If Stephens impresses, will he get the chance to play for London United next season?” a newspaper journalist in the second row broke protocol by jumping in and asking. The excitement Alex was generating without even kicking a ball was already overwhelming him – and that was before he realised millions of people would be watching this broadcast live and on repeat every hour for the rest of the day.

“One hundred per cent,” Smith beamed. “The reason we’ve arranged this press conference today is because Alex’s goal record is the best this club has ever seen at youth level. If he can transfer that to senior level and show the type of character we are looking for, we’ll know he is good enough for a chance here. But we don’t want to put too much pressure on him too soon. We know what happens to young talents in this country when they aren’t handled properly.”

Whether Smith was putting a good spin on things with clichés and buzzwords – he had been accused of that throughout his first season at United, despite being praised for his overall performance and winning the manager of the season award – or whether the 43-year-old meant every word, it certainly sounded positive to Alex. Following a few earlier moments of uncertainty, his hesitation wavered. After all, this way he was guaranteed games and still had the chance to earn a place at his dream club next year. Instead of competing with London United’s world-class forwards – and his idols, no less – the 19-year-old could allow himself one more season of pure adoration.

As a clinical goalscorer at youth level, Alex had versatility in his armoury and could play out wide or at number 10. His best position was operating as an out-an-out centre-forward and that could’ve made life difficult in Smith’s first team. Michael Davis was the club’s leading striker by reputation – and a real favourite of his coach’s. The goals had dried up compared to the 28-year-old’s younger days but his manager looked like he would defend him until his last breath. Despite fan criticism and a major dip in form right when the title was well within United’s grasp, Davis started all 38 of his side’s league games the previous season.

Behind him in the pecking order was Claudio Fernandes, a big-money Colombian import of two summers before. Again, goals weren’t keeping Fernandes in the first-team fold by any means – he had only netted five the previous campaign. But the man mountain of a striker also had a reputation that preceded him. He was the owner’s most prized asset (some would even call him a possession) and reports constantly surfaced in the press that Smith was under heavy pressure to include him in the side as much as possible. Even if it meant the Colombian coming on from the bench or, more often than not, changing formations to suit the 27-year-old.

Alex remembered the day both signed for United vividly. Each transfer was welcomed positively by the Stephens household. Even in recent years, Alex and his father Brian – another massive London United fan – remained certain their frontmen would come good for the club. Not being able to train with them every day would be a blow: when news of his new contract broke, the youngster looked forward to meeting them more than anyone else. Such was their connection to the side, however, it didn’t look like they could be displaced by someone like him anytime soon – much to the disgust of certain corners of United’s famous Capital Stadium.

“That could be my motivation,” Alex thought to himself. The chance to work with them and the dream of playing alongside them could spur him on while he faced the challenge of playing for someone other than London United. So could the opportunity to play under Smith, who provided him with more encouraging words and a warm arm around the shoulder once the press conference had finished.

Alex knew how he would approach life at his mystery new club. Every ball he kicked and any goals he scored would all be an audition for something bigger and better. Every game he played, Alex could pretend he was playing for United – without the pressure of actually doing so and the nightmare scenario of things going wrong. It was a shame he couldn’t walk into the first team straightaway, high-fiving Davis and Fernandes as the trio combined to secure United their first championship for a decade. As his dad had texted him that very morning, however, a loan move was always a possibility. The perfectionist in him hated the idea but the pragmatist in him cherished it. Records fell whenever he snuck in front of goal at youth level and that earned Alex a mind-blowing new contract at Capital Stadium. He was convinced a record tally in the Second Tier would earn him a first-team place back at his parent club. The record was 30 goals over a 46-game season (there were four more teams than in the Top Flight). Alex was already imagining netting his 31^st.