The name brought back a feeling he hadn't experienced in years. Ridge Rovers FC is a second-division team in the National Football League of Arland.
It may not be well-known, but to Ethan, it felt very significant. It was the professional football club that had offered a place for Jordan, while he got himself with the Arland's powerhouse, Novan United FC.
He stopped at the edge of the pitch, his breathing still steady as his eyes followed the ball zipping across the field. Memories rushed in—school leagues, cheering crowds, the exhilaration of a perfectly timed goal.
For a time, football had been everything. He'd been good. No. He was more than good.
Coaches and scouts had noticed, and opportunities had appeared. There'd even been talk of youth academies, the kind that could launch a career.
But dreams are heavy things when carried alone. His family couldn't afford the fees, and reality, as it often does, had stepped in to end the fantasy.
