The sound of boots against wet grass filled the air as players returned to the training ground, their voices carrying across the pitch. Some moved sluggishly, still shaking off the last days of vacation, while others looked eager to get going, stretching out their limbs and passing the ball between them.
Jake stood near the touchline, hands in his pockets, watching. He had seen this routine before—pre-season always started the same way. Some players returned sharper than others. A few had gained weight. Others had put in the work during the break. Either way, by the end of today, they'd all be running again.
But before any of that, something was off.
There was a subtle shift in the group. A strange energy, as if they were all in on something he wasn't aware of. Jake narrowed his eyes slightly as Nathan Barnes jogged toward him with a suspicious grin.
Then, out of nowhere—
"Gaffer!"
