215: Champions! We are the Championship champions!

“Enough for each of you to buy a Ferrari.”

After training, the players left one by one. Nelson, as the captain, stayed until the end. He walked towards Lin Feng, his expression a little hesitant.

“Boss, on behalf of the brothers, I want to ask a question.”

There was a hint of nervousness in his voice.

“About the bonus…”

Lin Feng stopped and turned to face his loyal captain. Nelson took a deep breath, mustering the courage to continue.

“We don’t want money.”

His words surprised Lin Feng.

“We just want a promise. Next season, can we, these brothers, still fight side-by-side in the Premier League?”

This question touched the softest part of Lin Feng’s heart. These players were not fighting for money, but for each other, for this big family.

He reached out and firmly gripped Nelson’s hand.

“As long as you are willing to stay, as long as I am still here, you will always be the warriors of Northern Dragon.”

A hint of moisture flickered in Nelson’s eyes. He nodded vigorously, then turned and ran to the changing room to tell the other teammates the news.

Night fell, and the Phoenix Training Center gradually quieted down. Lin Feng stood alone in his office, looking out into the distance through the floor-to-ceiling windows.

The challenge of the Premier League was approaching, and the journey to the European stage was also beckoning. But at this moment, he had only one goal in his heart—the “Treble.”

The system interface appeared in his mind, with various data and analysis reports at a glance. But Lin Feng knew that the most important thing was not these cold numbers, but the never-extinguishing flame in the players’ hearts.

Wembley Stadium was waiting for them, and Arsenal was waiting for a chance for revenge. But Hartlepool United was ready, ready to create the most incredible miracle in football history.

The dream of the Treble had never been so close, and the coveting of all England had never been so strong. But Lin Feng believed that as long as these brothers were united, no goal was impossible to achieve.

The spring sunlight passed through the glass walls of the Phoenix Training Center, casting golden light on the training ground. Nelson’s words still echoed in Lin Feng’s ears; that purest request from the players was more precious than any sky-high offer.

Lin Feng stood up, facing his loyal captain, his eyes gleaming with unprecedented determination. He extended his right hand and gently patted Nelson’s shoulder.

“Listen, Michael.” His voice was deep and powerful. “As long as you want to stay here, as long as I am still here, every single one of you will be a warrior of Northern Dragon fighting in the Premier League!”

This promise echoed above the training ground, every word heavy as a thousand pounds. Tears instantly welled up in Nelson’s eyes. He nodded vigorously, then turned and rushed to the changing room.

“Brothers! The boss agreed! We’re going to fight in the Premier League together!”

The changing room instantly erupted in deafening cheers. Vardy jumped onto a bench, waving his fists, De Bruyne and Coutinho embraced tightly, and Henderson patted every teammate’s back. At this moment, money became insignificant; honor was the greatest wealth.

March 21st, Victoria Park.

The rain-soaked turf exuded the fresh scent of earth. Hartlepool United hosted Nottingham Forest. Fans in the stands held up banners, with the words “Five Steps to the Premier League” particularly striking.

The match was intense from the very first minute. Nottingham Forest clearly did not want to be a stepping stone on their opponent’s path to the title, and their every tackle was exceptionally fierce.

In the 23rd minute of the first half, Vardy was fouled maliciously by an opposing defender in the penalty area. The referee unhesitatingly pointed to the penalty spot. Sigurdsson stepped up to take the penalty, and the ball rocketed into the net like a cannonball.

In the second half, De Bruyne sealed the victory for the team with a brilliant curling shot. At the final whistle, 2-0, Hartlepool United had a perfect start to their first “must-win” match.

March 28th, Carrow Road.

The away match against Norwich City was even tougher. The Canaries showed tenacious fighting spirit at home, even taking the lead in the first half.

At halftime, Old John paced back and forth in the changing room. The players’ expressions were somewhat solemn; the pressure of playing away was evident.

Lin Feng’s message arrived at this moment: “Believe in your abilities, believe in your teamwork. Time is on our side.”

In the second half, Hartlepool United began to show their true strength. Coutinho’s individual breakthrough leveled the score for the team, followed by goals from Vardy and Maloney that completed the comeback for the away side. 3-1, another victory.

April 4th, Pride Park.

Derby County’s home ground had always been a nightmare for away teams, but Hartlepool United was no longer that timid promoted team. The match was exceptionally fierce, with both sides trading blows, creating a spectacular scene.

Henderson’s performance in midfield was particularly eye-catching; every one of his tackles drew cheers from the away fans. In the 78th minute, it was his long pass that assisted Vardy in scoring the winning goal.

3-2, a narrow victory over Derby County. With three consecutive wins, the dawn of the Championship was getting closer.

April 7th, Oakwell Stadium.

The match against Barnsley fully demonstrated Hartlepool United’s dominance. From the first minute, the away team firmly controlled the pace of the game.

De Bruyne and Coutinho’s midfield cooperation was fluid, and Vardy and Maloney formed a deadly combination in attack. Four goals came from four different players, a perfect interpretation of team strength.

4-0, a sweep of Barnsley. Four consecutive wins made everyone start to believe that a miracle was truly happening.

April 11th, Victoria Park.

The home match against Doncaster Rovers no longer held much suspense. Fans began celebrating early, and the singing in the stands never stopped.

The match unfolded like a grand performance. Every pass was precise, every shot was threatening. The 3-0 score even seemed conservative; Hartlepool United could have scored more goals.

Five consecutive wins! Lin Feng’s “must-win” order was perfectly executed. In the changing room, the players were already looking forward to the impending Championship moment.

April 14th, EFL Championship Round 42.

This was a day destined to go down in history. As the first rays of morning sun shone on the town of Hartlepool, the entire city trembled for the historical moment that was about to arrive.

Wolves had unexpectedly lost the day before, which meant that Hartlepool United only needed to defeat Plymouth at home to secure the Championship title four rounds early.

Outside Victoria Park, fans had been queuing since dawn. Although the stadium could only hold 7,000 people, the number of fans who showed up exceeded 20,000. The police had to set up giant screens around the stadium so that more fans could witness this historic moment.

In the player tunnel, the Plymouth players had solemn expressions. They knew their role today—either to be witnesses to history or to be stumbling blocks for heroes.

The Hartlepool United players, however, seemed unusually calm. Vardy was adjusting his socks, De Bruyne was resting with his eyes closed, and Coutinho was gently stroking his boots. This calm contained immense energy, like the tranquility before a storm.

The whistle for the start of the match blew, and Victoria Park instantly erupted. Every fan stood up, waving scarves and flags.

However, the match proved to be much tougher than imagined.

Plymouth had clearly prepared thoroughly. They set up an extremely conservative 4-5-1 formation, with five midfielders forming an iron defense in front of the penalty area. Whenever Hartlepool United attacked, three to four defenders would always swarm around.

In the first half, although the home team controlled 70% of possession, there were very few truly threatening shots. De Bruyne’s few long-range shots were saved by the opposing goalkeeper, and Vardy was tightly marked in the penalty area.

At halftime, the players’ expressions began to show anxiety. Nelson paced back and forth in the changing room, and Sigurdsson forcefully slapped a locker.

“We must score!” Henderson’s voice trembled slightly. “The fans are waiting for us, all of England is watching us!”

Just then, Old John’s phone rang. It was a message from Lin Feng.

Old John finished reading the message, took a deep breath, and handed the phone to all the players. The text on the screen was concise and powerful:

“Forget the Championship, get back to football. Trust your passing and control, wear down the opponent.”

These words were like a revelation. The players suddenly realized that they had been carried away by the impending glory and had forgotten the most basic principles of football.

The second half restarted, and Hartlepool United’s tempo visibly slowed. They no longer rushed, but patiently passed the ball in midfield.

The Plymouth players began to feel tired. The sustained high-intensity defending was draining their energy, and their concentration also started to drop.

In the 65th minute, De Bruyne and Coutinho tore open the opponent’s defense with four consecutive passes, but Vardy’s shot went just wide.

In the 73rd minute, Sigurdsson’s free-kick hit the crossbar, and a huge sigh went through the entire stadium.

In the 80th minute, Maloney’s header was brilliantly saved by the goalkeeper, missing a golden opportunity.

Time ticked by, and the fans in the stands began to grow anxious. Some started biting their nails, some clenched their fists, and many more constantly checked their watches.

In the 82nd minute, the turning point finally arrived.

Henderson intercepted an opponent’s pass near the center circle. He looked up to assess the situation in attack. Vardy was making a run forward, with only one center-back tightly marking him.

Henderson didn’t hesitate, sending a precise 50-meter long pass over the opponent’s defense. Vardy, understanding perfectly, beat the offside trap!

Facing the rushing goalkeeper, Vardy chose not to shoot with power, but instead delicately chipped the ball over the opponent’s head. The ball arced beautifully through the air, slowly dropping into the net!

1-0! Goal!

Victoria Park instantly erupted in thunderous cheers. Fans wildly embraced strangers next to them, tears and sweat mixing together.

Vardy ran towards the stands, arms outstretched, accepting the adoration of the fans. Teammates swarmed around, lifting him high. At this moment, he was not only the team’s top scorer but also the hero of the entire city.

The Plymouth players completely collapsed. The goal not only meant they were behind but also that their meticulously constructed defense had been utterly breached.

Hartlepool United began to press forward completely, seeking a second goal. De Bruyne’s breakthrough on the right wing created a corner kick opportunity, and Coutinho’s cross almost pierced the opponent’s goal again.

In the 88th minute, the decisive moment arrived once more.

De Bruyne received a pass on the right wing. Facing two defenders, he chose to cut inside. After two consecutive feints to shake off the defense, De Bruyne delivered a brilliant pass with the outside of his foot.

Maloney, understanding perfectly, controlled the ball, turned, and shot in one fluid motion. The ball flew into the top corner of the goal, leaving the goalkeeper with no reaction!

2-0! Maloney’s goal completely killed the suspense of the match!

This time, even the Plymouth players stopped resisting. They knew that the tide of history was unstoppable, and a miracle was destined to be born today.

The referee looked at his watch, the final whistle was about to blow. All the fans in the stadium began to count down in unison:

“Ten! Nine! Eight! Seven! Six! Five! Four! Three! Two! One!”

The moment the whistle blew, Victoria Park completely erupted!

Champions! Championship Champions!

Hartlepool United, with an unparalleled and massive advantage, won the 2008/09 EFL Championship title four rounds early!

From League Two to League One, then to the Championship, three Championships in three years! The miracle of “four consecutive promotions” was finally achieved!

The players celebrated wildly on the field. Vardy took off his jersey and ran frantically across the pitch, De Bruyne and Coutinho embraced and cried, and Henderson knelt on the grass, roaring up at the sky.

Old John was tossed high by the players, tears welling up in the eyes of the 65-year-old coach. Three years ago, he was an unknown assistant coach; now he had become a Championship-winning manager.

Fans in the stands broke through security barriers, surging onto the field to celebrate with the players. The entire Victoria Park turned into an ocean of joy, everyone reveling in this incredible miracle.

In the stadium’s VIP box, Sophie tightly held Lin Feng’s hand. Her eyes were filled with tears, proud of the man she deeply loved.

“You did it.” Her voice was choked. “You really did it.”

Lin Feng didn’t answer, just quietly watched the celebrating players on the field. At this moment, all the hard work was worth it, all the effort had paid off.

The celebration lasted a full hour. When the players finally left the field, thousands of fans still refused to disperse. They sang team songs in the stands, their voices echoing throughout the town.

In the changing room, champagne bottles popped one after another. Players hugged and congratulated each other, and everyone’s face was beaming with happy smiles.

Nelson raised a bottle of champagne, standing on a bench to deliver a “speech”:

“Brothers! Three years ago, we were fighting for survival. Today, we are Championship champions! Next year, we will go to the Premier League to prove ourselves!”

The whole team responded in unison: “For Northern Dragon! For Hartlepool!”

Amidst the height of the celebration, Lin Feng’s phone vibrated slightly. He picked up his phone and saw a message from an unknown number.

The sender’s name made his eyes light up—Alex Ferguson.

The message content was concise and meaningful:

“Congratulations, my boy. Now, the entire Premier League is waiting for you. Of course, at Wembley, I’ll be supporting Arsenal.”

Lin Feng couldn’t help but laugh. The Scottish old knight’s words contained both congratulations and provocation. The challenge of the Premier League was approaching, and Ferguson had clearly already regarded him as a true opponent.

He put away his phone and rejoined the celebrating crowd. Tonight belonged to celebration; tomorrow belonged to the challenge.

But he knew this was just the beginning. The Premier League, the European stage, and bigger stages all awaited this miraculous team.

Northern Dragon had awakened, and the entire football world would hear its roar.