On July 10th, the gathering day for Sheffield United finally arrived.
The training base was bustling from the morning, extremely lively.
Many fans from the city arrived early, holding up signs at the entrance, hoping to get autographs and photos with their favorite stars.
Ma'el arrived in sportswear, in a good mood, having long looked forward to joining Sheffield United, and today he finally had the chance to officially integrate.
"Let's go, let's head inside first."
Jorson followed behind him and Gilbert, explaining as they walked: "Today's itinerary for the team includes three main activities, a medical exam, taking photos for appearance, and the afternoon's intra-squad match."
"An intra-squad match this afternoon?"
Ma'el was a bit surprised, as it was quite unusual for a team to have a match on the first day of returning.
"Perhaps you and Gilbert don't yet realize how tough things are at the club."
Jorson shook his head and said with pursed lips: "Including you, Sheffield United has six loan players this season, and four free-transfer players, almost occupying half of the first team.
"With a team of mercenaries like this, if the coaching staff doesn't get familiar quickly, how can they conduct pre-season training?"
Ma'el indeed did not expect that the famous 'Blades' of Sheffield United would face such a predicament this season.
Logically, a club with such a long history, no financial crises, and decent recent performances should be very attractive to players...
How did the failure to get promoted last season lead to a personnel crisis?
"Is there... internal conflict?"
He looked at Jorson, hoping to gauge if his guess was correct from his expression.
Unexpectedly, Jorson did not hide anything and said with a bitter smile, "Yes, the conflict between Coach Kevin and the players is almost irreconcilable. The management is preparing to replace him, but I don't know the exact time."
"You can say that?" Gilbert, beside him, widened his eyes, this was indeed explosive news.
"It's no secret, not even who his successor is."
Jorson spoke with a different tone when he reached this point, this time with admiration: "Garrispeed, you should be very familiar with him."
"It's him."
Ma'el's expression shifted; even someone like Gilbert, who grew up in the United Kingdom, would have heard this name.
A living fossil of British football, the first to reach 500 appearances in the British top league, a player who scored in 18 consecutive top league seasons... and the young coach of the Wales national team who mysteriously committed suicide.
"He's at Sheffield United?"
Gilbert's expression became excited, seemingly a fan of Speed, "I thought he was still playing."
"He is still playing."
Jorson looked at them with pride and introduced, "Garrispeed is a registered player of the club, also serving as the team's first assistant coach.
"When the position of Sporting Director is vacant, he can even be considered half a Sporting Director."
Without needing further explanation, Ma'el already saw that Jorson was likely one of Garrispeed's loyal supporters, with a more formal relationship with the current head coach.
"You will meet him later, he was the one who decided to sign you."
With these words, Jorson quickened his pace towards the medical examination room, where there were already quite a few people.
......
More than an hour later, the three of them, having completed the medical examination, headed towards an administration building.
"Are we going to take the appearance photos next?"
Gilbert was quite eager, "The photos used during broadcast when introducing the starting lineup?"
He even imitated the players' actions during broadcasts, crossing arms across the chest and laughing with teeth bared and head tilted back, very amusing.
"Not only that, they will also be used for pre-match posters, player posters."
Jorson patiently explained to the two professional team newcomers, having been acting as their guide these days, diligently and attentively.
Ma'el and Gilbert combined what he said in the car and had already understood.
He hoped that by making this effort, he could gain the two of them in return for Sheffield United's efforts this season.
None of the three mentioned it again, keeping a silent understanding in mind.
Ma'el felt Jorson's approach to this was not rational; two newcomers, from the current perspective, were really hard to rely on to save the team.
Moreover, they weren't big stars, nor were they coming down to provide free technical aid; there's no way they would slack off...
However, people indeed tend to act irrationally when in extreme love or hatred.
Arsenal had a great example, Mr. Wenger.
He bet his own future, staying with the team through its toughest times.
"However, let's first go to a brief signing ceremony."
Jorson led the two to the administrative building on the base, heading to the media room, "Garrispeed is already there waiting for you."
Ma'el had some anticipation, exchanging a glance with Gilbert before quickly following; they also wanted to meet this football elder.
"Creak." With Jorson opening a room's door and making a gesture to enter.
A media room of about a hundred square feet appeared in front of them, cold and deserted, with only a few cameras set up, seemingly belonging to the club itself.
For young players just emerging from the youth team, with no professional field stats, it was indeed hard to attract media attention.
But... this unique first time still made Ma'el feel fresh and excited.
He took a glance and then fixed his gaze at the front of the media room.
There stood a middle-aged man in a navy-blue suit, a blue and white striped tie, and a white shirt underneath. His figure was very standard, giving a sense of efficiency, but with tiredness in his eyes.
"Welcome, gentlemen."
With a squeezed smile, Garrispeed stepped forward to shake hands, "I should have met you earlier, but I was delayed by a trip a few days ago."
"Hello, sir."
Ma'el stepped forward to shake his hand, a slight shoulder-to-shoulder embrace, then stepped to the side.
Once Gilbert completed the introduction gestures, the two sat on the front table of the media room under Garrispeed's guidance.
"The club is very pleased to welcome both of you."
Garrispeed smiled and placed two contracts in front of them, courteously saying: "You are the last two signings for the team this season, and also the final reinforcements. I hope you enjoy your time here."
Next, he picked up a pen and opened the contract in front of him, "I believe you've seen the detailed contents while at Arsenal. After signing, you will officially be a part of Sheffield United."
Ma'el nodded slightly, picked up the pen, and began writing his name in several places on the contract.
"Click, click!" The club staff standing behind them quickly pressed the camera shutters, capturing the moment.
After signing the contract, Garrispeed stood up and pulled out two new jerseys from beneath the table, handing them to the two, "Let's take a photo together to commemorate this moment."
Ma'el took his number 31 jersey, which he had chosen before coming, as July 31st was his birthday, approaching soon.
As a winger, the best jersey numbers were of course number 7 and number 11.
But such numbers had long been chosen by more senior players in the club, leaving no opportunity for a newcomer like him just starting out.
Holding the jersey, Ma'el stood on Garrispeed's left side, showing a genuine smile.
Gilbert, on the other hand, stood on Garrispeed's right, smiling just as brightly.
"Click, click!" The shutters clicked rapidly, the flashbulbs kept blinking, capturing this moment.
In the lens, the two young players looked joyful, with eyes full of bright expectation and hope for their future.
As for the middle-aged man in between, he squeezed a bit of hopeful smile from his fatigue, giving a thumbs up.
Every first time should be remembered, and so should this day.