30: Phoenix Spreads Its Wings

October 14, 2006, Hartlepool, cloudy.

Morning light pierced through the grey clouds, illuminating the new turf at Phoenix Training Center.

Lin Feng stood on the sideline of Training Pitch Number One.

Everything here was the result of his personal planning.

Two high-quality natural grass training pitches gleamed emerald green under the sun.

Every inch of land had been meticulously designed and constructed, with drainage pipes buried thirty centimeters beneath the turf.

Pitch Number One was specifically for tactical and technical training, with turf density and elasticity meeting Premier League standards.

Pitch Number Two was more suitable for physical training and sparring, with thicker grass roots capable of withstanding greater impact.

A full-sized artificial turf training pitch was located between the two natural grass fields, which would become the primary venue for training on rainy days.

The artificial grass fibers utilized the latest monofilament technology, providing a feel close to natural turf.

Inside the modern changing rooms, each Player had an individual locker.

The shower area was equipped with a constant temperature system and massage nozzles.

Professional equipment imported from Germany was arranged in the strength training area.

Every piece of equipment had been carefully selected, not only to meet professional training needs but also to consider Player safety.

The rehabilitation area was equipped with ice baths and physiotherapy beds.

In the professional medical room, various diagnostic devices were readily available.

A 55-inch LCD display was installed on the wall of the small tactical meeting room, capable of playing match footage and tactical demonstrations.

"Boss, the Players have arrived."

John Stone pushed open the door, his face full of excitement.

His voice trembled slightly, evidently awestruck by everything he saw.

Lin Feng nodded, his gaze still fixed on the training pitch.

[System Prompt: Phase One of Phoenix Training Center Project Completed]

[Training Efficiency Increased: +25%]

[Player Injury Risk Reduced: -30%]

[Youth Training System Activated]

[Player Radar Function Upgraded]

Excited chatter from the Players could be heard from the changing room.

Vardy was the first to rush out, his eyes gleaming as he surveyed his surroundings.

"Oh my god, this is simply the training base of my dreams!"

His voice was a little sharp with excitement.

The soft touch of the turf beneath his feet, he could feel the elasticity with every step.

Schmeichel walked at the back of the line, the Danish goalkeeper's eyes shining with satisfaction.

The training area in front of the goal was laid with special non-slip material, so even in the rain, it wouldn't affect diving saves.

"This isn't any worse than Manchester City's training base."

Simpson said softly, a hint of awe in his voice.

Having come through the Manchester United youth academy, he had seen many top-tier facilities, but the training center before him still left a deep impression.

Sigurdsson quietly walked towards the center circle, the sixteen-year-old Icelandic boy's face showing undisguised excitement.

The flatness of the turf allowed every touch of the ball to achieve the best effect.

"It feels like training at Wembley Stadium."

Snodgrass exclaimed, the Scotsman's enthusiasm instantly infecting all his teammates.

He ran back and forth on the wing, enjoying every feedback from beneath his feet.

Old John stood on the sidelines, watching everything with a complex gaze.

In thirty years of coaching, he had never seen such advanced training facilities.

The tactical notebook in his hand trembled slightly.

"John, let's start today's training."

Lin Feng's voice came from behind him, calm and firm.

Old John nodded vigorously, and the whistle echoed across the entire training ground.

The Players quickly lined up in two rows, ready to begin their warm-up.

The new pitch allowed everyone's movements to be more fluid.

Vardy ran particularly freely on the turf, his leg swings much wider than usual.

The feedback from beneath his feet made every change of direction more precise.

"This turf is practically tailor-made for me!"

He shouted as he ran, his voice full of excitement.

Schmeichel practiced diving saves in front of the goal.

The soft turf effectively cushioned the impact of landing, allowing him to perform more daring, high-difficulty movements.

Every save was full of power and grace.

Simpson and Snodgrass practiced crosses on the wing.

The turf made the ball's rolling trajectory more stable, and the accuracy of passes significantly improved.

Their coordination became more intuitive.

Sigurdsson practiced passing near the center circle.

With every touch of the ball, he could feel the perfect feedback from the turf, making it easier to control the power and direction of his passes.

The Icelandic boy's eyes sparkled with satisfaction.

Halfway through the training, Lin Feng walked towards the tactical meeting room.

The large screen on the wall was playing yesterday's match footage.

Hartlepool United had defeated Chester City 2-0 away, with Vardy scoring both goals.

Every goal in the footage was textbook-worthy.

The first goal came from a counter-attack, Sigurdsson's through ball found Vardy, who scored with a one-on-one finish.

The second goal was a set-piece routine, Simpson's cross headed in by Vardy.

"The team's attacking patterns are becoming more mature."

Lin Feng murmured to himself, his eyes gleaming with satisfaction.

The [Tactical Analysis Module] showed that the team's passing success rate in the past five matches reached 78%.

This data was already top-tier in League Two.

More importantly, the Players' injury situation had significantly improved.

In the past month, only one Player had been absent for two days due to a minor strain.

This was almost miraculous data in professional football.

John Stone knocked and entered, carrying a stack of documents.

"Boss, I've contacted a few youth coaches as you requested."

He placed the documents on the table, a hint of excitement in his voice.

"These are their resumes and recommendation letters."

Lin Feng opened the first document, his brow furrowing slightly.

Dave Jones, 42 years old, worked in the Newcastle United youth department for five years.

Every experience on his resume was ordinary, with nothing particularly outstanding.

The second document made Lin Feng's eyes light up.

Michael Harrison, 36 years old, served as an U16 coach at the Arsenal youth academy for three years.

The recommendation letter came from the former Arsenal Youth Academy Director, who gave him very high praise.

The third document was even more interesting.

Tom West, 29 years old, a former professional Player who had just retired from Sheffield United.

Although he had no coaching experience, his understanding of modern football was profound.

"Arrange interviews, starting next week."

Lin Feng closed the documents, his gaze returning to the training pitch.

The [Player Radar] function was running in the background, scanning Hartlepool and the surrounding areas.

Various data constantly flashed on the system interface.

Age, height, speed, technical characteristics—every indicator was recorded.

An hour later, the first target appeared.

James Milner, 15 years old, Leeds United youth academy.

Speed 85, Technique 82, Awareness 88, Potential Rating A-.

This name made Lin Feng's heart beat a little faster.

If his memory served him right, this young man would become an England international in the future.

Moreover, his professional career would be very long, a typical utility Player.

[System Prompt: High Potential Target Discovered]

[Suggestion: Initiate Contact Immediately]

[Transfer Difficulty: Medium]

[Estimated Cost: £500,000]

Lin Feng's mind quickly calculated the feasibility.

Leeds United was currently in a financial crisis, and they were likely to sell youth Players to alleviate financial pressure.

This was an excellent opportunity.

On the training pitch, the Players were engaged in a practice match.

The new pitch significantly improved the quality of play.

Every pass was more precise, every challenge more intense.

Vardy displayed astonishing vitality in the attacking third.

The elasticity of the turf made his acceleration faster and his changes of direction more agile.

Several breakthroughs almost led to scoring opportunities.

Schmeichel was as steady as a rock in front of the goal.

The new training facilities kept him in better shape, and every save was full of confidence.

His goalkeeper gloves sparkled in the sun.

Sigurdsson's passing became increasingly incisive.

The flat turf allowed his footwork to be utilized to its fullest, and several long passes accurately found his teammates.

The Icelandic boy's face was beaming with satisfaction.

After training, the Players sat on the grass.

Sweat dripped onto the newly laid turf, quickly absorbed.

"How does it feel?"

Lin Feng walked towards them, his voice gentle.

"It's absolutely fantastic!"

Vardy was the first to speak, his eyes gleaming with excitement.

"I've never trained on such a good pitch before."

Everyone's faces were filled with satisfaction and gratitude.

"Boss, when will we have our own youth Players?"

Snodgrass suddenly asked, the Scotsman's curiosity always particularly strong.

A slight smile played on Lin Feng's lips.

"Soon, sooner than you think."

His voice held a mysterious confidence.

At three in the afternoon, Sophie Green pushed open the door and entered the training center.

The female reporter's eyes were filled with awe.

Everything here exceeded her expectations.

As a team reporter, she had seen many professional club training bases.

But the standard of the facilities before her was already close to that of Premier League giants.

"Mr. Lin, can I have an interview?"

Her voice was a little nervous, clearly intimidated by the sight before her.

Lin Feng nodded, motioning for her to follow him to the meeting room.

"How large is the investment here?"

Sophie took out her voice recorder, her fingers trembling slightly.

"Enough to allow the Players to perform at their best."

Lin Feng's answer remained concise and vague.

He was unwilling to disclose the exact investment amount.

"What are your plans for the future of the club?"

"To become one of the best clubs in England."

Lin Feng's eyes sparkled with firm resolve.

These were not empty words, but his truest thoughts.

Sophie's pen moved quickly across the paper, recording every detail.

She keenly sensed that there was a certain special aura about this young Chinese man.

Confident, mysterious, and full of foresight.

"How important do you think youth training is to the club?"

"Youth training is the lifeline of a club."

Lin Feng paused, his gaze directed out the window towards the training pitch.

"Without youth training, there is no future."

These words made Sophie's heart tremble.

She began to understand that Lin Feng's ambition was far greater than she had imagined.

This was not just about building a team capable of avoiding relegation, but about establishing a football empire.

After the interview, Sophie observed from the training pitch for a long time.

The Players' enthusiasm for training deeply impressed her.

Everyone was working towards a common goal.

Vardy was still practicing shooting, his training kit soaked with sweat.

Schmeichel repeated diving saves in front of the goal, giving his all every time.

Sigurdsson practiced set-pieces alone, his focus moving.

This kind of atmosphere was something she rarely saw at other clubs.

As night fell, the lights of the training center illuminated the turf as if it were daytime.

Lin Feng stood by the office's floor-to-ceiling window, his gaze piercing through the glass to the training pitch in the distance.

[System Prompt: Daily Mission Completed]

[Training Base Construction: Completed]

[Youth Training System: Initializing]

[Player Radar: Scanning in Progress]

[Next Phase Mission: Recruit Youth Coaches, Establish Youth Teams]

Everything was proceeding according to his plan.

Phoenix Training Center was just the first step.

Next, he would establish a complete youth training system.

From U12 to U18, each age group would have dedicated coaches and training plans.

And James Milner would be his first target.

This future England international was currently just an ordinary teenager in the Leeds United youth academy.

But in Lin Feng's eyes, he already saw the boundless potential of this young man.

The sound of Players packing up their equipment drifted from afar.