Hope - 501 words

(THE FOOTBALL TEAM ARE ALL SAT AROUND AT HALF TIME IN THE CHANGING ROOM. WHILST TALKING GARY BURSTS INTO THE ROOM AND AS HE DOES ALMOST COMPLETE SILENCE FALLS OVER THE ROOM)

GARY: Well boys... What was that shit? Anyone? Because I'll tell you something for nothing, that is no where near what you can do. You train 5 hours a day, paid millions and this is what you give back? Well IT'S JUST NOT GOOD ENOUGH. I look round here and I don't see one bad player, I see a team that should be going out there now and giving everything they've got it. Reality shock here divas it's half time, you're 3-0 down to the bottom club who haven't won a game in 3 months and we are being completely dominated. Bollocks, that's all I can say. Absolute bollocks.

Dave mate, you're skipper, what's going on out there?? Hmm?

(NO ONE SAYS ANYTHING)

Exactly you can't answer, says it all really. Well if this wasn't so important to me today I'd say fuck it. Win today, the title is ours and I can retire a happy man, but at the moment we're doing nothing and at this rate we could struggle to keep first place on goal difference. We've had entire season where you've put your blood, sweat and tears into the footy and you wanna fuck it all up on the last game well I'm not having. I'm bringing on Danny to replace you scotty, nothing personal mate but we need some fresh legs in the centre of the park to get the ball moving. Quick passes boys, touch and go, it's all simple football. That's all I'm asking. And we've gotta keep pushing forward. First to everything alright? Header, it's yours, long ball, you win it. Put them under pressure coz they're not a good team. You know that as well as I do, but you're making em look it at the moment.

I want you to go out there this half and give it all you've got. We've got 45 minutes which could make or break us, so pretend the first half didn't happen. Start a fresh, 0-0 again and we stand every chance alright?? Remember guys, we're a team. You cannot play as a group of individuals so work off each other. You can all help each other out and so pass the ball, look for the easy options, and if it's not there, look long, I'm sure Beany will get on the end of it and hold it up, then we do the same again. Oh and test the keeper. We had one shot in that half and he almost fluffed it. He's not the tallest guy in the word either so in the corners and he won't stand a chance.

So let's do this boys, get out there and so me and the fans what we can do!!

(THE PLAYERS LEAVE THE ROOM FIRST SHOUTING AS THEY DO. GARY FOLLOWS ACCOMPANIED BY SOME BACKGROUND STADIUM NOISE. WE HEAR 3 LOUD CHEERS AND FINALLY THE REFEREES WHISTLE. A RADIO VOICE THEN RISES OVER THE SOUNDS)

ANNOUNCER: And they've done it! From 3-0 down at half time, the scarlets have pulled it back to win the game and the title! Unbelievable scenes here. Fans are over the moon right not and have invaded the pitch. There's some ugly scenes right now, but they don't care.. The police are coming in to clear things up but there is a roar round the stadium. The atmosphere has been electric and the fans rally have got what they wanted out of the game. And as the fans clear the field, the trophy is carried on by the Chairman of the FA who hands it the now legend that is Gary Banstaple, who lifts it in the air. And once again the crowd erupts. It's all over here for another season. The Lightreach Scarlets are champions once again!