Chapter 124: League One Kickoff
Saturday, August 7, 2010
Location: The Valley, London
The morning after the hotel briefing was heavy and overcast.
As Crawley's team bus pulled up to The Valley in southeast London, the reality of the League One opener finally set in.
Niels stepped off the bus and he could already feel the pressure of the upcoming match, but he was just ready to get out there and prove Crawley belonged.
The media talk hadn't helped the pre-game nerves.
That morning in the hotel lobby, they had overheard a Sky Sports pundit writing them off: "Crawley were warriors in their FA Cup run, a proper fairytale. But League One's a different thing. There's no luck run here. They'll be exposed."
The dismissal stung, and Niels knew the players had taken it personally.
Outside, the stadium was already filling up with chanting Charlton fans. Niels led the squad into the cramped, worn-down away dressing room.
