180: The Eve of History

The morning mist at Phoenix Training Center had not fully dissipated, and the distant mountains were faintly visible through the haze.

Lin Feng stood by the floor-to-ceiling window of his office, a steaming cup of coffee in his hand, his gaze piercing through the glass towards the training ground.

Today, the training ground was exceptionally quiet; the players had not yet arrived, but a special tension already permeated the air.

"Boss, look at this." Richard Arnold rushed in, holding a stack of newspapers.

Lin Feng took the newspapers; the front-page headlines were almost all about the upcoming match.

The Sun used an entire page, with a particularly striking headline: "History Calls!" The Daily Mirror was even more direct: "Fourteen Consecutive Wins, Within Reach!"

What impressed Lin Feng the most was The Guardian's editorial, titled: "When Miracles Become Habit, How Do We Define the Impossible?"

"How are things with BBC?" Lin Feng placed the newspapers on the table.

"They've confirmed the special broadcast arrangements," Richard opened the folder in his hand.

"The title is set as 'Witness History: Can Northern Storm Create a New Record of 14 Consecutive Wins?', and there will be three commentators simultaneously, along with live connections to several football legends for commentary."

Lin Feng nodded slightly. The media attention had exceeded his expectations; this level of exposure was almost unprecedented for a League One team.

Players began to arrive at the training ground in succession. Lin Feng could feel the subtle change in them; a hint of tightness had been added to their usual ease and confidence.

Vardy's steps were heavier than usual, Sigurdsson lingered longer at the locker room door, and even the usually carefree Henderson seemed somewhat preoccupied.

"The pressure is starting to show." Old John walked up to Lin Feng, a hint of worry in his voice, "I can feel the kids' nervousness."

Lin Feng did not respond immediately, but continued to observe the players' state. Schmeichel's movements were a bit stiff during warm-ups, and Shawcross's expression was more serious than usual.

"John, call a team meeting in an hour." Lin Feng turned and walked towards his desk, "I need to talk to them."

An hour later, the conference room was filled with players and coaching staff. The tension in the air was almost palpable, and the same expression was written on everyone's face: a mix of anticipation and apprehension.

Lin Feng did not rush to speak, but walked to the large screen at the front of the conference room and gently pressed the remote control.

A video began to play on the screen, a review of the team's journey from League Two. The first scene showed the players' youthful appearance when they first gathered last summer, their fumbling coordination on the training ground, and their nervousness and unease during matches.

The scenes gradually shifted, with The Sun shining on the Wembley Stadium pitch, and the moment the players lifted the promotion trophy, pure joy radiating from everyone's faces.

Then came the highlights of the current season: Vardy's goals, Schmeichel's saves, Henderson's long passes, Sigurdsson's assists. Each shot recorded their footsteps as they progressed towards glory.

When the video finished playing, a brief silence fell over the conference room. Lin Feng could see the rekindled light in the players' eyes; that initial purity and passion were returning.

"Gentlemen." Lin Feng's voice broke the silence. He pointed at the screen, "Records are merely milestones on the side of the road we've traveled. Our true goal is the end of the road. Don't forget why we set out just to look at a stone."

Vardy looked up, the confusion in his eyes beginning to fade. Henderson's shoulders were no longer tense, and Schmeichel's breathing became steady.

"Do you remember how we felt when we first met here?" Lin Feng continued, "Back then, no one paid attention to us, there were no media reports, no pressure of records. We were just a group of people who loved football, gathered together for a common dream."

"That feeling is our most powerful weapon."

Lin Feng walked among the players, "Next match, forget the records, forget the media, forget all outside voices. Just like our first day gathered here, fight for your brothers, for the badge on your chest, compete, tackle, and enjoy football!"

A subtle change occurred in the atmosphere of the conference room. Tension and pressure were dissipating, replaced by that familiar sense of unity and confidence.

Maloney was the first to stand up, "The Boss is right, we don't play for records, we play for each other."

Snodgrass also stood up, "No matter what the outside world says, we are family."

Soon, all the players stood up, forming a circle, just as they would before a match. In this moment, they rediscovered that initial purity.

After the meeting, Lin Feng returned to his office to handle other matters. Today's talk had been very effective, and the players' morale had clearly improved.

"Boss, the commercial department has some important arrangements that need your confirmation." Richard knocked and entered again.

Lin Feng gestured for him to sit down, "What arrangements?"

"Several new sponsors hope to hold a signing ceremony after the match." Richard opened his folder, "Including a German car brand and two fast-moving consumer goods companies, with a total value exceeding two million pounds."

This figure made Lin Feng's eyes light up. Two million pounds was a substantial sum for Hartlepool United at the moment, enough to support the club's operations for the next year.

"Why did they choose this timing?"

"They are clearly capitalizing on the attention this match will receive," Richard explained, "If we really set a new record, these brands can ride this wave of popularity."

Lin Feng thought for a moment, "Agree to the arrangements, but the signing ceremony should be held the day after the match. I don't want the players to be distracted by any commercial activities before the game."

"Understood, I'll go arrange it now." Richard stood up to leave, "Oh, and there's news from 'Northern Storm TV'."

"What news?"

"They've decided to make this match globally viewable, with an estimated viewership of over one million." Richard's voice was filled with excitement, "This will be the biggest live broadcast event since the platform was established."

Lin Feng nodded with satisfaction. A million viewers meant immense influence, which was crucial for the international promotion of the club's brand.

"Will there be advertisements during the broadcast?"

"Yes, Puma and Samsung have both prepared special promotional videos." Richard turned to another page of the document, "These advertising revenues are expected to reach five hundred thousand pounds."

This series of commercial operations pleased Lin Feng. He was transforming a football match into a commercial event, an approach quite advanced for 2007.

After the afternoon training, Lin Feng met Sophie Green by the training ground. She seemed a bit preoccupied today; a hint of worry had crept into her usual confidence.

"What's wrong with you today?" Lin Feng initiated the conversation.

Sophie hesitated, "Lin, are you really confident? I feel... all of England is waiting to see if you'll stumble at this final step."

This question made Lin Feng stop. He could understand Sophie's concern; great expectations often came with the risk of greater disappointment.

"Do you know, Sophie?" Lin Feng turned to face her, his eyes shining with determination, "History is never waited for, it is created."

"Those who are waiting to see us fall, they will never understand what belief means." Lin Feng's voice, though calm, was full of power, "We don't play to meet others' expectations, we play to prove the power of dreams."

Sophie looked at Lin Feng, the worry in her eyes gradually replaced by another emotion. She had seen many successful people, but few could maintain such composure and confidence under immense pressure.

"You always find the right words to comfort people." Sophie chuckled, "Maybe I was overthinking it."

"No, your worries are normal." Lin Feng shook his head, "But worry doesn't solve problems, only action does. Tomorrow's match, we will answer all doubts with our actions."

As night fell, Phoenix Training Center gradually quieted down. Lin Feng was in his office, finishing up work; tomorrow, the team would depart for Walsall.

Various data and analysis reports were displayed on the computer screen. Walsall's recent form was good, and their home strength was not to be underestimated. But Lin Feng believed that after today's conversation, the players had adjusted their mindset.

His phone rang; it was Old John calling.

"Boss, the players are in great spirits." Old John's voice was relaxed, "This afternoon's training quality was very high, everyone was very focused."

"That's good." Lin Feng leaned back in his chair, "Is tomorrow's starting lineup confirmed?"

"As per your previous arrangements, all main players will start." Old John confirmed, "Schmeichel in goal, the backline is Walker, Shawcross, Nelson, and Robson, the midfield is Henderson, Sigurdsson, and Tinkler, and the forward line is Maloney, Vardy, and Snodgrass."

This lineup was the team's strongest configuration, with the best-performing players in each position. Lin Feng had great confidence in this lineup.

"What about the bench arrangements?"

"As usual, we'll bring all players who might be needed," Old John replied, "Including a few young players, just in case tactical adjustments are required."

After hanging up, Lin Feng continued to review all the preparations for tomorrow's match. From tactical arrangements to logistical support, every detail had to be foolproof.

Late at night, Lin Feng finally finished all his work. He walked to the window, looking out at the brightly lit Hartlepool city center in the distance.

This small town had become different because of football; the team's logos and slogans were visible everywhere on the streets. Player posters were displayed in shop windows, and match replays were shown in pubs.

The entire city was preparing for tomorrow's match, and this widespread enthusiasm deeply moved Lin Feng.

He remembered the scene when he first arrived here, when Hartlepool United was a team on the verge of relegation, with few fans and almost zero media attention.

And now, they were about to make history, becoming the focus of all England. This transformation was not just an improvement in performance, but a metamorphosis of the entire club's culture and spirit.

Lin Feng's phone rang again; this time it was a text message. The sender was an unknown number, but the content made him frown slightly.

"Tomorrow's match will be very interesting, I will be there to watch. Looking forward to your performance. – K.K."

This signature immediately made Lin Feng think of Keira Knightley. The fact that she would personally attend the match was both surprising and concerning.

Given Keira's fame, her presence would undoubtedly attract immense media attention. This extra attention might not be good for the team, potentially distracting the players.

But it was too late to make any changes now; Lin Feng could only hope that the players would focus on the match itself and not be affected by external factors.

He replied with a short message: "Welcome to Walsall."

After sending the message, Lin Feng turned off his phone, preparing to rest. Tomorrow would be an important day, and he needed to be in optimal condition to handle any situations that might arise.

As he left the office building, the night wind carried a hint of coolness. The distant training ground appeared exceptionally quiet under the moonlight, with traces of the day's training still remaining on the pitch.

Lin Feng took a deep breath, feeling the atmosphere of this special night. Tomorrow, they would embark on a journey to create history, and regardless of the outcome, it would be a moment worth remembering.