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Archie
“Ican’tbelieveyou’regoing to be training with Tom Whitford,” my mum says as she puts a bacon sandwich in front of me.
My mouth waters at the smell.
“Mum, I can’t eat a bacon sarnie before practice. I’ll vom all over the training pitch, which won’t be a great first impression on the team.” I push the plate in front of my dad and steal the toast that was meant for him. “I can have bacon after training, though.”
I think.
“Archie, you don’t need to worry about making a good impression, they’re going to love you. How could they not? You’re a delight.” She beams at me as she sits at the table with her plate of toast.
“You’re my mum, of course you’re going to say that. I’m fine, just normal first day nerves. And…” I take a deep breath. “I hope the gay thing isn’t an issue.” Despite Gideon’s and Vinnie’s words of support, I still can’t be a hundred per cent sure the players will follow their lead.
“It’s not a fucking ‘gay thing.’ It’s who you are, and I will stab anyone who’s mean to you,” Dad declares, waving his bacon sandwich at me, ketchup dripping all over the dining table.?
“Trevor, you’re not going to stab any Premier League footballers,” Mum tuts.
My brows shoot up. “How about he just doesn’t stab anyone in general?”?
“I meant in my mind, Jill. Stab them right up.” He stuffs the rest of his sandwich in his mouth, nodding to himself.?
“Thank you for your very aggressive support,” I say dryly.?I stand up and put my empty plate in the sink.
My parents mean the world to me. I may be an only kid, but I was never bored or lonely growing up. They didn’t even bat an eyelid when I came out to them at thirteen. Although I suppose the fact I had been drooling all over Tom Whitford posters for five years at that point had probably clued them in that boys were where I was at.
Even so, I’m not blind to the fact that they can be genuinely bonkers sometimes.
I walk back to the table and give them both a kiss on their cheeks. “I love you guys. Gideon and Vinnie both said they have my back, so I do think it’ll be better here. It’s just nerves.” I grin at the both of them. “If anyone does say anything, I’ll just level up on the gayness.”
“There are levels?” Dad asks, eyebrows knitting in confusion.
“Not literal ones.” I laugh. “I’ll just throw out a few ‘yas queens’, maybe wear some rainbow clothing, that kind of thing.”
“Ooh, I love that idea. I’m popping to Primark after work to pick up some undies, I’ll see if they’ve got anything,” Mum says with a smile. I think I could be a trillionaire and my mum would still shop at Primark and B&M.
“Cheers, Mum. Okay, my tram comes in fifteen so I better leave. See you tonight.”
They both say their goodbyes and I grab my training bag and check that I have my phone, house keys, and wallet in my pockets before heading out the door.
My family lives in South London, so it doesn’t take me long to get to my new training ground. Just a quick ride on the tram and I’m at Farleigh Road, home of the Lions. The nerves wash away the closer I get to the stadium and are replaced with a thrum of excitement coursing through me. I’m going to be playing for the team I’ve supported my whole life. Literal dream come true.
“All right, let’s get you introduced to everyone,” Vinnie says as I follow him through a set of doors. On the other side is the Pride FC locker room, currently populated with what appears to be the entire team. “Right, everyone, shut the fuck up!”
The hubbub in the room starts to die down at Vinnie’s gruff command, and everyone’s eyes fall to me. I can’t see any open hostility on anyone’s faces, so I’m going to take that as a win for the moment.
The feeling of standing in this room is surreal. I’ve seen it on TV countless times over the years, but to actually be here is pretty thrilling.
I’m snapped out of my daze when Vinnie claps one of his giant hands on my back and nudges me forward. “Archie Milligan, these are the lads. Lads, Archie Milligan.”
Jesus Christ, I feel like I’ve just been thrust naked onto an empty stage at the Royal Albert Hall and told to dance the hula.
Noticing all the curious glances fixed on me, I do what I always do when the nerves take over, and suddenly it’s word vomit-central right here in the locker room.
“Right, yeah. So I’m Archie Milligan, which I guess you already know. I play forward...and you already know that too. Shit. Okay. I’ve supported Pride F.C. since before I was born. Obviously not literally…I mean, foetuses can’t really support football teams, can they?”
I finally manage to take a breath and notice that everyone is still staring at me, their looks of curiosity now shifting to either amusement or confusion.
Well, everyone except Tom Whitford. I never really understood the expression “face like thunder” until now. Who pissed in his Weetabix and told him I did it?
