The Community Day had been a resounding success, a moment of collective joy and defiance that had breathed new life into our club.
The five thousand pounds we had raised was a lifeline, a crucial injection of cash that had staved off the immediate threat of financial collapse.
But more than the money, the event had given us something far more valuable: a renewed sense of purpose, and a powerful, tangible connection to our community. We were no longer just a football team; we were a cause. And we were ready for the war that was to come.
The two weeks between the fundraiser and the top-of-the-table clash against Marcus Chen's Salford City Amateurs were the most intense, the most focused, the most all-consuming of my life.
