The Rise of Millwal

Chapter 3: An Unexpected Birthday Gift

In the second half of 1986, the three sons of the Hall family were advancing on their paths toward their dreams.

Barnett left East London to study finance in West London, planning to officially step into the financial market the following year.

Andrew discovered that Aldrich was studying football match footage every day. Upon inquiry, he learned that Aldrich aspired to become a coach. Thus, Andrew decided to pursue a similar direction, but Aldrich advised him to consider becoming a talent agent instead.

This thought emerged from Aldrich's careful consideration; he aimed to leverage his advantages as much as possible. In the future, numerous budding stars and iconic figures in football would be young adolescents. Moreover, with the impending evolution of the football world over the next decade, the benefits an agent could reap would be staggering.

Attracted by the promising blueprint described by Aldrich, Andrew began studying law seriously, as being a lawyer was a prerequisite for becoming an agent.

He often fantasized about those unattainable football giants being his clients. Just being able to interact with them felt like a dream.

Meanwhile, Aldrich immersed himself in football tactics. Although modern football originated in England, which was often criticized for its rough style, English football had left an indelible mark on the history of the sport. Even though Arsenal's WM tactical revolution had faded half a century ago, the impact remained.

When Aldrich truly began to adopt a coach's perspective while studying game footage, he realized how flawed his previous viewpoint as a spectator was. Especially when watching matches on television, he could see only a small portion of the game, no matter how exciting it was, which did not allow him to grasp the overall context.

At Sander's video rental store, he could study an exciting match repeatedly for a week or longer, scribbling down notes to meticulously analyze each team's positioning, player movements, and the trajectory of the ball.

As time passed, Aldrich's understanding of football improved qualitatively. He came to believe that every goal conceded was not merely coincidental, and every goal scored was seldom a matter of luck. He felt he was standing on the threshold of becoming a football coach.

Since Aldrich started working part-time at Sander's small store, the local thugs indeed stopped causing trouble inside. Noticing Aldrich's obsession with football tapes, Sander made a point to procure more match footage for him, especially those from other European leagues.

As winter turned to spring and they entered 1987, Aldrich's life continued in a steady rhythm. His brother Barnett was trying to navigate the cutthroat environment of the London Stock Exchange, but out of caution, he hadn't rushed to invest his capital.

Aldrich didn't understand financial investment in his past life, but he was a good student, having learned about the notorious "Black Monday" mentioned in textbooks.

The market crashed in October of 1987.

This was a once-in-a-lifetime opportunity for the Hall family.

Aldrich would also attend matches at the Den, home of Millwall, but he always returned disappointed, feeling a strong aversion to the behaviors of Millwall's fanbase.

When Millwall was set to play against West Ham United, the rowdy fan group would become wild within half an hour of hearing the news; the match result was irrelevant. Instead, the violence outside the stadium would persist from before the match until after it ended.

The Heysel Stadium disaster of the 1980s was merely a marker of England's football hooliganism; countless incidents had been suppressed and concealed by the media and authorities. Millwall and West Ham were among the representative teams in this regard.

Aldrich wished to focus on the game itself, but there was an apparent regression in English football. This was hardly surprising, as clubs from England, banned from competing in European competitions, were falling behind the rhythm of Europe. Moreover, the lower division was technically lacking and tactically dull, characterized instead by crude long passes and brute strength to shove both the ball and defenders into the net.

In such circumstances, Aldrich found Millwall's games unstimulating, though the team did have an emerging star: Teddy Sheringham.

To be fair, Millwall had just been promoted from Division Three to Division Two the previous season and had achieved survival in their first season back. This season held promise, with the objective not so much to contend for a top division spot but to solidify their position, yet Aldrich found Millwall's matches painfully dull.

He attributed this feeling to his previous experiences of watching elegantly fluid and tactically rich games; thus, he naturally lacked enthusiasm for rough encounters. It was also influenced by the environment; nestled among Millwall fans, he found it hard to enjoy even a minute of uninterrupted viewing, with the din of insults and threats filling the air.

As the 1986-87 Division Two season wrapped up, Millwall performed slightly better than the past season but had yet to replicate the extraordinary ascent of Wimbledon into the top division. However, Sheringham was set to return from his loan next season, raising hopes for improved performance.

Throughout the year, Aldrich amassed a wealth of knowledge in football tactics. His studies comprised both independent research and reading material, yet he felt a growing need for more systematic and professional training, leading him to consider furthering his education as a football coach.

It wasn't until the end of 1987 that Aldrich made this ambition a reality.

The day after the infamous Black Monday in October, Barnett returned home late at night, his face brimming with excitement as he told everyone in the house, "We're going to be rich!"

The post-war economic boom that had lasted several decades had reached its peak, swiftly shifting into recession in the aftermath of Black Monday...

Barnett had made tens of thousands of pounds through borrowing and leveraging in financial markets. Subsequently, he seized the opportunity to invest in stocks he believed would perform well in the future, and with his brother's sponsorship, Aldrich officially dropped out of school to embark on structured training as a football coach.

Every major tournament year, Aldrich profited significantly from his memory, in '88, '90, '92...

Since coming to this era in the summer of '86 and becoming the youngest son of the Hall family, eight years had flown by.

On May 1994, Aldrich flew from Zurich back to London to attend a coaching seminar hosted by FIFA. As he took a taxi toward East London, he gazed at the passing scenery, his handsome face marked by a sense of nostalgia.

In recent years, his travels across Europe had enriched his experiences, giving him firsthand insights into the distinct styles of European football.

The taxi came to a stop in front of a sprawling villa in the outskirts of East London. Aldrich paid the fare and tipped the driver, retrieving his two large suitcases from the trunk with the driver's assistance.

Then, he looked back at the vast mansion, feeling a surge of emotions within him.

Today, he could consider himself quite well off.

The Hall family's wealth had skyrocketed, and as the European economy faced downturns, Aldrich had recommended that Barnett shift investment focus toward the emerging markets of Asia, which was a prime target for financial growth before the Asian financial crisis hit.

Conservatively estimating, Barnett's fortune now surpassed ￡200 million, and it was on the rise, garnering respect not only in London but establishing friendly ties with numerous business families in North America.

The gate of the villa stood open, and Aldrich walked in with his heavy luggage, oblivious to the luxury cars lined along the wide driveway. Passing the fountain at the entrance, he placed his luggage down and knocked on the front door, but received no response. He turned the doorknob and pushed the door open.

"Bang!"

As he opened the door, a feisty burst of confetti fell from above, showering Aldrich's flowing golden hair.

"Son, happy birthday!"

Amelia, his mother, rushed forward, embracing Aldrich and kissing his forehead.

After a moment of surprise, Aldrich beamed at the sight of a crowded living room, filled with elegantly dressed guests, including his mother and his father, Arthur, who had gained considerable weight over the years.

After releasing his mother, Aldrich approached his father for a hug. Smiling, he remarked, "Your belly is quite intimidating!"

Arthur, with a cigar in his mouth, smiled benevolently without speaking.

Aldrich then turned to see a couple standing nearby; his older brother Barnett and sister-in-law Leah looked very much a match.

Barnett stepped forward for a warm embrace, whispering in Aldrich's ear, "Your birthday gift is in your study, and I'm sure you'll love it."

Barnett treated his two younger brothers almost like a father, with an affectionate air.

Aldrich smiled, not overly concerned. He turned to see Andrew, who had now grown into a handsome young man in his twenties. The two brothers didn't embrace but shared a laugh as Aldrich snatched the drink from Andrew's hand.

The hall was filled with numerous guests, many of whom were familiar faces from the neighborhood, as well as old classmates and colleagues of both his brothers and parents.

Apart from a few whom Aldrich recognized, most were strangers.

The guests were curious about the youngest son of the Hall family, who had spent so much time away from home. They had heard that this young man was out learning to become a football coach, surprising many.

Aldrich's return coincided perfectly with his birthday. He didn't mind the family throwing a party, especially now that the Hall family enjoyed considerable prominence in London, a status far beyond that of wealthier newcomers.

During the party, Aldrich was reserved but engaged in lively conversations with every guest who approached him, displaying his elegance and charm.

It wasn't until late at night that Aldrich ascended to his room. He first put his belongings away, one suitcase filled with clothes and the other with books and materials. He intended to place the books in his study but inadvertently noticed a folder on the desk.

Curious, he opened the folder and gazed into it, only to be stunned when he realized it contained a contract for the ownership of a football club.

He fixated on the two names in the contract.

One was his own.

The other belonged to the football club's name.

Millwall Football Club!