Team Spirit

Chapter 27 Turning losses into profits, huge bonus

If you don't keep the players' hearts, they can leave at any time.

The same goes for Hayes. They asked Nick to stay with the team and lead the team to upgrade before leaving.

Nick agreed, or rather was captured by the vanity of leading the team to promotion.

As a result, he is injured now.

It seems that an old injury has recurred, otherwise he would not be so devastated.

In this case, the sixth-level team that had previously wanted him is likely to cancel the order. After all, the recurrence of the old injury means that the player may become a glass man.

This almost means that Nick has no hope of returning to the sixth level.

When dreams are shattered, it’s heartbreaking!
Hayes eventually replaced Nick.

Nick immediately left the Pond Court and broke off relations with the team.

This should have been a morale-boosting event, but no one at Dartford celebrated.

We all play in amateur leagues, so of course we know what injuries mean to players.

Not to mention the future, the cost of treatment alone is enough to make everyone suffer.

Although the club has purchased insurance for the players, don't forget that most players at this level are part-time, and the insurance will not compensate for the impact on your main job.

In one word, it’s difficult for everyone!

……

After Nick left the court, Hayes' offense obviously declined.

Dartford gradually took control of the ball.

In the 43rd minute, Patton passed the ball to Lu Kai and then made a forward run into the penalty area.

But Lu Kai had no intention of passing the ball to Patton, but instead kicked the ball into the middle immediately.

【Basic Crossing·Black Iron】

Eastwood moved flexibly, jumped high, and headed the football into the net with a lion's head shake.

"GOAL! Two to zero!"

"Dartford's new signing Eastwood scored with a header on his first appearance for the team! I really don't know where Lu Kai found this kid!"

“It’s said that Eastwood is a West Ham United youth player, and he really looks like a Hammers three-point shooter!”

"Of course, we also want to congratulate Lu Kai for assisting and scoring twice. He has performed brilliantly in all competitions and carried the team!"

As usual, today's halftime break lasted a full fifteen minutes, which made the Hayes players impatient.

Coach Hayes believes this is a psychological tactic that takes advantage of the home field.

But in fact, this is one of Dartford's revenue strategies, helping the team's convenience store sales to reach new highs.

……

In the second half, Hayes still failed to turn the situation around.

In the 64th minute, Lu Kai intercepted the ball in the frontcourt and dribbled into the penalty area from the left rib, attracting the opponent's defender and goalkeeper before making a cross pass.

Eastwood pushed the ball into the empty net.

Scored twice in his debut.

This is not a football dream, it’s simply a basketball fire!

Eastwood excitedly polished Lu Kai's boots to celebrate.

Lu Kai's name was also heard throughout the audience.

Because he completed a hat trick of assists in this game!

But it's not over yet.

In the 73rd minute, Lu Kai received a pass from his teammate and tried to cut inside to attack.

Hayes's defensive player fought and retreated, giving Lu Kai ample space to operate.

Lu Kai was able to push the ball to the front of the penalty area.

Only then did the other party take the initiative to attack.

But Lu Kai flicked the ball to the right, cut inside, and volleyed a backspin shot. The ball plummeted in front of the goal and went into the net.

Four to zero!
A massacre took place in Dartford!

This is also the final score.

After the game, Dartford players celebrated enthusiastically, thanked the fans, cheered with them, took photos, signed autographs, etc.

Eastwood thought he saw a familiar figure in the crowd.

But when he finished signing an autograph for a fan, the figure had disappeared.

That night, Lu Kai hosted the whole team and invited them to have dinner at the only barbecue restaurant in the city.

Since Kailuo is the son of the barbecue restaurant owner, he gets very favorable prices.

During this time, Eastwood drank too much... In the UK, you can legally drink in restaurants at the age of sixteen.

He complained about some things and thought that his father didn't care about him.

I have never seen him play football since I was a child.

The children in West Ham United's youth training camp are not only picked up and dropped off by their parents every day, but many parents even wait by their side.

"Freddy, you must be wrong." Lu Kai patted Eastwood's shoulder seriously. "I'm sure your father often watches you play football."

"At least he came to see me today."

Eastwood was stunned and shook his head subconsciously.

Lu Kai said, "Just now, when I was helping Aunt Jiang close the convenience store, I found a cigarette butt at the door. It was an Essex brand."

"And the cigarette butt was crushed hard. I remember your father had this habit after smoking."

"He should be a more traditional father who never praises you, right?"

"But you must be his greatest pride."

"Play well, Freddy, and with all your father's pride!"

Eastwood burst into tears.

……

The Sun: "Arsenal Green reach the FA Cup semi-finals, where does that leave Arsenal?"

"Man Evening News": "Lu Kai's assist hat trick was a great performance. The Green Guns won consecutive battles and blossomed on all three fronts!"

Sky Sports: "Manchester United gave up the domestic cup competition, Beckham missed Wembley! The ninth-level Beckham reached the FA Cup semi-finals, which may make up for the Red Devils' regret!"

The Times: "Since Lu Kai bought Dartford for just one pound, the team has turned a profit, with winning bonuses from the two major cups totaling £5,000! If they reach the finals of both, it could cover all the team's debts!"

Some media have paid attention to Dartford's small "economic miracle".

If they go one step further in both the FA Bottle and the Kent Senior Cup, they will be able to repay their entire debt, regardless of whether they win the title or not.

And it is a three-year debt, which must be repaid in one lump sum.

Of course, this is without considering the team's costs.

After all, the players' salary totals 4,000 pounds.

And this is only the second half of the season.

Players' salaries will be higher in the new season. If Barton keeps one player, his annual salary will be 15,000 pounds. The team must reserve some financial space for this.

Therefore, even if you are able to repay the debt in full, you must repay it in installments.

Speaking of which, Dartford is no longer a serious amateur team.

Some of their players have signed contracts, so it is considered a semi-professional team.

This situation is very rare in the ninth-tier league.

Basically, the semi-professional teams that are generally recognized are from the seventh level to the fifth level.

The fourth level is a formal professional league with strict professional requirements in all aspects.

Therefore, in the Kent Premier League, some teams also accused Dartford of "desecrating football with money" and "opening the era of money football in the amateur league."

Curse Dartford: "Those who wave checks will eventually bankrupt the team"!
When Lu Kai saw this news, he couldn't even believe it.

We are £10,000 in debt, only four of the twenty players in the team have contracts, and the combined salary for this season is a mere £4,000. Is this considered spending money lavishly?
(End of this chapter)