November 27th, Manchester.
The awakening aroma of freshly brewed coffee filled the inside of the Atkinson residence this early in the morning. As toast bread popped out of the toaster, Blair Atkinson sliced several thick slices of roasted ham. His son Blaise, meanwhile, sliced lettuce and tomatoes by the side.
The breakfast preparations made it seem like a normal day for the two man household, but it actually wasn't.
The teenager could make his professional debut against rivals Rotherham later today.
"Where's my free tickets?" A dash of some Thousand Island dressing was put on top of the thick ham slices by Blair. "You got one that's not too far back right? I can't miss the action!"
"You should get there early, Dad." Blaise munched on a sandwich the two of them made, promising to himself that this is the last time he'll have a cheat meal on match day. "It's a local derby so it's surely going to be packed to the brim!"
"I have a lecture until five in the afternoon… but I can assure you I'll be there by kickoff."
"I hope I can make it a memorable one for you, old man."
"Yeah, if you ever play, don't get a red card after one minute or piss your pants when a pass is sent your way."
"Don't get held up because you forgot your stuff in your office."
"You know the way to your home stadium right?" Blair fought back.
"Don't get owned by teenagers in class, okay?"
The laughter of the father and son was infectious.
***
Sheffield Blades and Rotherham don't play often, because for most years, the two clubs are in different divisions. Whenever they do though, one should always expect fireworks.
These two teams, like every other team in the Yorkshire area, don't get along.
Today is round one of the two times they're going to face each other in League One. The first time the two local teams would meet in almost a decade.
That's why, in front of Sheffield's home ground, police visibility is on heightened alert— with barricades and even riot gear— aware of the kind of trouble that could erupt at any moment between the rival teams' ultras.
When the Rotherham team bus arrived, the police went on full alert, ready to stop the ruckus that was sure to spark from the home side's fan groups. In the past, there were eggs, tomatoes, water bottles, and at worst cases— flares— thrown on rival team buses.
They are here to avoid ugly confrontations even before the match began.
Luckily for them, the home fans mostly clad in red and white marched inside the stadium orderly and without the usual distaste against their rival team. This allowed the safe and smooth passage of the away team bus, and the away fans into the already loud stadium.
Inside the home team changing rooms, the Sheffield first teamers are in a jubilant mood.
"What do you think, Atkinson? Ready for your first match at the Lane?" Potts put his massive hands on Blaise's broad shoulders. "Don't let your emotions get the better of you in games like this, hear me? Or else I'll kill you after."
"I can already feel the passionate energy from down here." Every man in the room looked at Blaise with anticipation, even if he won't be starting tonight, they still expect great things from him.
"Don't get intimidated by them, yeah? Just do what you normally do in the junior teams." Hastings smiled and gave the youngster some reassurances.
I hope the gaffer gives me a chance to show myself to the world tonight. Blaise was ready to run wild, and give it his all for what could be his first ever professional game since he returned to his youth.
The eighteen man home side rushed out of the tunnel and into the pitch with fire in their eyes.
***
"We welcome you guys here live at the Bramall Lane in downtown Sheffield tonight for the first Yorkshire derby between Rotherham and Sheffield Blades in nine long years. This is going to be a spectacle for all the local fans in attendance." The first play by play commentator of the match opened the game broadcast with a welcoming smile.
"Yeah, as a Yorkshire native myself, I live for these kinds of matchdays. It makes my blood boil." The second one, the first analyst, gave his take. "There's much anticipation for this game besides it being a derby."
"Rival teams, separated by three points in the table. Rotherham held down 11th in the table while Sheffield just a game down at 13th. These two sides would want to go up from their mid table mediocrity." The third commentator, who's also the second analyst, had a great grasp of what he's saying. "With that in mind, the home side looks like the team to beat, don't you think?"
"I disagree, Martin." The play by play commentator said. "They might have won in convincing fashion against Macclesfield last time out, but don't let that result divert you from the fact that the home team has an injury crisis at the center of the midfield."
"Well, what you say makes sense, but they still have three midfielders who are at the very least above average League One players on a bad day, and Championship quality performers at any given moment." The youngest of the three, the second analyst, made his case known. He's always had a keen eye on the strongest players of every division. "Two former England internationals, and a Prem hot prospect. That's not a bad three at all to me, Ian."
"Sheffield's starting eleven has no surprises to me at all, but their team sheet had a new name that rings a bell to me." The first analyst, who's once upon a time an SC Manchester man, noted. "This person at the end of the team sheet is a Manchester graduate."
The three looked at the team sheets they held, all of them trying to figure out who this new inclusion in the starting eleven actually is on the fly. As if on cue, a crew member gave them a rundown of basic information about the lad.
All three were pleasantly surprised at what they've seen.
"Let's talk about a new face in the block." Ian Hawk lightened up after what he saw from the staff report. "What do you think about this new guy Blaise Atkinson?"
***
Of course, Blaise had no idea about everything that's going on in the commentator's booth. He just sat there, along with six other teammates on the bench, looking at the huge flags waving from both the home and away stand, along with all the crowd singing and chanting that illuminated the legendary arena.
The two teams' starting eleven lined up either side of the referees holding the match ball, accompanied by the hurled insults and well wishes from both sets of supporters, and the cloudy night sky.
Ian Hawk said from the commentator's box, "Tonight is a good night for a thrilling derby. So let's get it started, Sheffield against Rotherham in a pulsating mid table League One clash!"