(Third person pov)
(16 July 2008)
Everton vs Blackburn Rovers
Goodison Park
"You ready?" Asked David softly.
Matt looked up, he was wearing his number 10, sitting alone in the dressing room, he had arrived here early, just curb his nervs, he barely slept last night.
"Ya, just taking it all in" said Matt, his family was present here, the world was watching. This was not a youth level match anymore, its professional football now.
"There are three more players that could play at your place in this game.
More experienced and strong, but I chose you to start. Gave you that number ten do you know why? Because you're better than any of them.
So, just play like it's your garden" said David patting Matt's back and leaving the dressing room.
"Play like it's my garden huh" repeated Matt, as he thought about this game.
It didn't take long for the dressing room to get filled by players, everyone changed into their jersey.
"You slept here mate?" Asked Lescott.
"Nah, didn't sleep at all" said Matt making them chuckle.
"Good, atleast your human after all" said Tom Howard, he had been terrorized by Matt since last week to train together with him, and he regrets his decision.
"Don't let the noise get to you" said Phil Neville, brother of Gary Neville, Captain of our team.
"Thanks captain" said Matt with a smile.
"Lets show them class boys, it's the debut for our number 10 after all" said Neville hyping up the players.
"Yes Captain!" Exclaimed everyone, some laughed in amusement.
It didn't take long for Davis to arrive again in the dressing room, he was wearing a dark blue bazer and grey pants.
"This is the first game of this season, and we gift this season to our fans who believe in us, who bought tickets just to watch us play, we owe it to them.
I want you to go out there and play with your heart on your sleeves. Each one of you, not for me, for them who are shouting your name outside." Without any dramatic cheer he walked out of the dressing room.
"Lets go boys" said captain Phil, Matt stood up and followed him to the tunnel where mascots hat been lined up.
Players were wearing windcheater, while the Mascot s wore oversized Everton jearsy.
'I can hear them lot from here' thought Matt he stood there, beside them wearing black and yellow were Rovers, they gave him a glance but didn't say anything.
One by one kid Mascots line up beside both teams and hold their hands.
"Hello" said Matt greeting the little ginger boy, his cheeks were red, because of cold, Matt smiled at him and took his hand.
After the song, players lined up at their positions, Matt stood on the ball, his heart beating fast, he could hear the crowd, cheering for them.
-----
"Look at that, the debutant is doing the kick off, it seems David Moyes trust the boy quite a lot" said Mike
"And the game begins, Delevigne to Arteta, Yakubu making a run, a straight ball to Delevigne, a ball to Yakubu, what a pass!" Exclaimed Kevin.
"Yakubu with one touch and cuts right, ohh he shoots wide" said continued Kevin.
"Amazing display of talent there by young debutant, receive cheers from the crowd" said Mike
"He's looking like a proper baller, and I thought he was wasting his looks by playing football." Said Kevin with a laugh.
"He's certainly proving you wrong kev and I'm loving it" said Mike.
14th minutes
"Leon to Neville, Nelson closing him down, Warlock snatched the ball.
Warlock to David Dunn, moving oh a challenge by Delevigne, a sliding tackle." Said Kevin, his eyes wide as he looked at the match.
"Somebody call Arsenal, ask them if they're watching. It's been 14 minutes and Delevigne has been everywhere on the pitch, it's like magic" said Mike with a smirk.
"I see you Mike, nice reference. A clean tackle by Delevigne, look how Neville ruffled his hair, it's giving that friendly vibe, Everton's attitude is looking good" said Kevin.
Blackburn Rovers 0-0 Everton
________
22nd Minute
"It's David Dunn scored with a left-footed shot from outside the box to put Blackburn ahead 1-0!" Exclaimed Mike.
"David Dunn scored a Screamer, Rovers are off to a magnificent start, first goal of David Dunn for Rovers and the coach looks ecstatic" said Kevin.
"He makes space by this turn to the left and look Everton defenders seems to hesitate" continued Kevin looking at the reply.
Blackburn Rovers 1-0 Everton
_________
28th Minute.
"He's playing really well for his debut" said Tom felton, next to him were Adam and Charles, they both sat surrounding the boy.
"You're impressed by that? You don't know what you have signed up for kid" said a man sitting next to Adam, he was wearing a navy blue suit, his beard had gone a little grey since he first met Matt.
"They're attacking, now look closely" said Trevor, making him focus on the game.
Matt moved passed Steven Reid, he tried to close him down, he glanced back up for split second.
Yakubu was getting marked, it was 40 yards, his debut, nobody expected for him to shoot. He shoots.
The ground went quite, as the ball left his feet, every gaze on the ball, Rovers could only watch.
The commentators went silent, ball flew, and hit the top right corner.
"Whooo" the crowd went wild.
Matt ran towards the corner flag and slide on the grass, his arms wide open. Every camera was focused on him.
"Fucking filthy mate" said Phil, he remembered the 1996 Beckham kick, that was also the first game of the season, and he too was wearing 10.
Phil almost cried hugging Matt, the teammates jumped on him, smacked his back, ruffled his hairs, there was a big smile plastered on his face.
The rovers camp was silent, there was no booing, no slurs, how could they, they just witnessed something that has shut off their hostility and at the end, they all were football fans.
Adam, and Charles. They were on their feets, Tom was the first one to break the silence, "That's, I can't believe it."
It was the same boy that had bet against them when he was 12.
Trevor was jumping like a little girl, literally. He had an excited grin on his face.
[Commentary box]
"Phenomenal! Absolutely phenomenal goal! Delevigne, a boy raised by Arsenal, no Everton's man" exclaimed Mike.
"On the first day of the season, Mike this might be the goal of the season!" Said Kevin, both men were standing.
"Look at the Rover fans! Bloody hell, they look traumatized!" Said Mike.
"With that kind of goal, anyone would be" said Kevin will a laugh.
[Box end]
Blackburn Rovers 1-1 Everton
_________
Game resumed, there were few chances created by Blackburn but couldn't hit them on target, while the defenders now paid more attention to Matt.
There were pressing aggressively, whenever he got the ball, someone was there to pull his shirt or tackle him which made him a little frustrated.
37th Minute
Matt passed to Osman, who shot a wide cross to Yakubu on the left wing.
But David Dunn closed him down making a deflection resulting in a throw in.
He threw long, directly to Arteta, who controlled the ball with his chest and passed to Matt who stood between two Rover defenders.
The ball landed just in front, he kicked the ball without thinking.
It flew and made arc, hit the right post.
Arteta was the first one to jump on him, he couldn't even make a run to celebrate the goal.
"How are you doing this! Leave something for us idiot" said Yekubu his hand anchoring Matt's neck.
Blackburn Rovers 1-2 Everton
_________
Half time.
Blackburn Rovers 1-3 Everton (Arteta (45+1'))
[Commentary box]
"And it's Half time, and what a first half that was, 4 world class goals, and it's Everton vs Blackburn Rovers." Said Mike.
"A astounding freekick by Arteta, two Screamers by the debutant. A class finish by David. I certainly didn't expect this when I was coming to the stadium Mike" said Kevin with a chuckle.
"Haha, as I said it's football. A sensational performance by Delevigne. Look at the stats, he took two shots, and two goals. A 95% passing accuracy, that's.. abnormal for a 16 years old" said Mike.
"It's his vision, he finds the players. He knows where everyone is running. And exploit gaps which the defenders don't see." Analysed Kevin.
"And you can't teach that to a player! That's his gift, you can teach kicking, passing but vision? No chance" scoffed Mike.
"That's what I am saying, why did Arsenal let him go? And for 5 million? That's a bargain." Said Kevin.
"Everton should look at that release clause real quick, cause, I don't think 9 million going to stop big clubs for coming after him" continued Kevin.
"Well it's just his first match, let's see how he performs till the next transfer window" said Mike.
[Box end]
Blackburn Rovers 1-3 Everton
_________
90+2' th minute
Blackburn Rovers 3(Cruz (66),Ooijer (90)-3 Everton
'I get it why people said defence wins trophies' thought Matt looking at the scoreline.
He had given everything today, his legs hurt, he could feel his lungs get sore.
There was bruises on his left shoulder, he had been pushed and battered by rover defender, while Everton played on their backfoot.
Tim Howard kicks a goal kick, finding Pienaar on the left who headed the ball to Neville.
He found Matt and a short pass to Matt, it was intercepted by Steven Reid, but his touch was heavy, Phil closed him down and slid into him making the ball land on Matt's feet.
He took off, running towards the goal, Yakubu on his side.
"Pass" shouted Yakubu, Matt slid him a cross, Reid was again in between but the ball surprising him bounced and crossed his leg.
Yakubu shot from inside the box, Paul Robinson makes an incredible save, the ball was deflected to Ryan Nelsen who headed the ball away to be found by Arteta.
Arteta passed a quick volley to Matt who looked only at the ball.
It was a goal.
A volley to the top left corner. Keeper couldn't move, it was too fast and unpredictable for anyone.
"Woahhh!" Came the crowd to their senses.
Matt ran towards the corner flag, held it with his right hand, other one on his waist and looked at the crowd.
Phil Neville came and kissed his hair, "Tonight's dinner on me!" He said making them cheer.
Blackburn Rovers 3-4 Everton (After final whistle)
_________
The crowd remained standing as the referee blew his whistle, Everton fans roaring, waving their scarfs in the air, cameraman snapping photos nonstop.
There's two things which never gets old in England, football and Royal family.
And today a boy had lit up football on the first day of leagues season, it's going to make some headlines.
"His stock prise going to soar like crazy" said Pini Zahavi, Matt's agent looking at the screen in his office.
'Do you really think you'll be sold for more than 50M' said Zahavi looking at Matt puzzled.
'just Wait and watch' had said the boy.
And he was watching, everything. Even at half time his phone rang twice. Two times.
'These youngsters always brought headaches and money' he thought glancing at his phone again, it was ringing again, the match ended with a hattrick after all.
(Pov end)