Earning The Coach’s Trust

Jace Holloway's football journey had taken another step forward.

His one-month trial with Brighton's U18s had been extended. Two more weeks to prove he belonged. Two more weeks to show he could keep up with the best.

Two more weeks to turn this opportunity into something permanent.

The pressure? Immense. The expectations? Higher than ever.

But Jace wouldn't have it any other way.

If he wanted to become a professional, this was the path he had to take.

And he was ready.

He now accepted that he was a real footballer, and that would be his career.

The extension wasn't just a sign of progress—it was a challenge.

The coaches weren't going easy on him.

If anything, training had become harder.

More intense drills.

Quicker decision-making.

Tactical sessions where even the smallest mistake was picked apart.

Jace thrived under the pressure.

Every training session was a battle, but he could feel himself improving.

His passing was sharper.

His movement off the ball was smarter.

And most importantly?

His confidence was growing.

But there was still a gap between him and the others.

The academy players had spent years in this system.

Jace had only just arrived. It was obvious they would have more experience than him.

If he wanted to close that gap, he had to do something extra.

When Jace returned to Harrowgate for the weekend, he called Theo immediately.

"Meet me at the pitch," Jace said.

Theo didn't even hesitate. "I'm on my way."

Jace needed the extra work.

The academy training was making him sharper, but he needed to take it further.

When Theo arrived, Jace had already set up cones for dribbling drills.

Theo was shocked because he wasn't expecting it to be so quickly.

"Alright," Theo said, stretching. "What are we working on?"

"Everything," Jace said. "Passing, finishing, decision-making—all of it."

Theo grinned. "You really want this, don't you?"

Jace met his gaze. "More than anything."

The session was brutal.

Drill after drill.

One-touch passing.

Sprints with the ball.

Tight control under pressure.

Theo wasn't taking it easy on him, either.

"If you're gonna make it at Brighton," Theo said, breathing hard, "you can't just keep up. You have to stand out."

Jace wiped the sweat from his brow.

"I know."

And he meant it.

Because he wasn't going to let this chance slip away.

Not after everything he'd been through.

Back at Brighton, the next test arrived.

A match against West Ham's U18s.

A team stacked with top-tier talent.

Jace wasn't in the starting eleven, but he was on the bench.

The coach had made it clear—he'd get his chance.

But he'd have to earn it.

The match started at an insane pace.

West Ham dominated early, pressing high, forcing Brighton onto the back foot.

Jace watched closely from the bench.

Studying their movements.

He was looking at their weakness and planning on how to use their weakness to work against them.

Then, in the second half—

"Jace, you're in."

His heart pounded.

This was his moment.

The moment Jace stepped onto the pitch, the intensity hit him.

West Ham were relentless.

No time on the ball.

No space to breathe.

But Jace had been preparing for this.

He dropped deep to receive a pass.

A defender closed in—Jace flicked the ball past him with his first touch and sprinted into space.

He played a quick pass to a teammate and kept moving.

One-touch football.

Fast. Fluid. Precise.

Then, in the 75th minute—his chance came.

Brighton won the ball back in midfield.

Jace spotted a gap in West Ham's defence and exploded forward.

A perfect through ball sent him racing toward the goal.

The keeper rushed out—Jace stayed calm, chipped it over him—

And watched as the ball hit the back of the net.

The crowd erupted.

Jace roared in celebration.

His first goal for Brighton's U18s.

And he wasn't done yet.

After the match, the coach called Jace over.

"You took your chance," he said.

Jace nodded. "Tried my best."

The coach smirked.

"You didn't just try. You delivered."

A pause.

"We'll talk soon. Keep this up, and you might be here for longer than two weeks."

Jace's chest tightened.

Was this it?

Because this was all he was praying for.

Was he about to earn his place?

He didn't know.

But he did know one thing.

He was closer than ever before.

And he wasn't stopping now.