1903, Wembley, London- Stormy night as the players decided to keep carrying on with the cup final despite the terrible conditions. Players covered in dirt as they fall over and slip on the countless puddles of mud.
Jim Nales was always an expected name to score the goals for the Blades. He was one of the biggest ballers out there, but known for his lack of cup titles. Here at Wembley, was his one chance to achieve his dream, being on the top stage and winning the English Cup Title.
Running through the tackles, jumping on corners, but this day, the top scorer himself just couldn't find the net. The fans started booing as Jim missed chances after chances. "JIMMY NALES? JIMMY NALES? MORE LIKE JIMMY FAILS! HE DONT WIN TROPHIES, THE NAME'S JIMMY FAILS" chanted the fans as they witness a shockingly awful performance from a man who has done many wonders.
Half time whistle blows, Jim for the first time, has got his heads down under the pouring rain. Banana skins, pig heads, chicken feet, all the disgusting things you could imagine were thrown straight at Jim.
"What's with you today, Jim!", furious captain, Kasper Brown as he pushes Jim towards the team lockers. "Are you okay? We need the goals today more than any other day. If you don't score today, all the goals you've scored, they don't count. THEY DON'T COUNT! UNDERSTAND?!"
"You can go on, Jim? You alright?" Manager, Mason Layton as he points to the tactic board.
"I'm fine, I can go on, I have to" Jim sitting tucked on the floor, looking up.
Jim walked out the tunnel onto the pitch for the second half. The split moment he stepped on the dull, muddy grass, he knew he had to do something, he had to do anything to win the cup title of his dreams. He looked up to the stadium's grand stand, he stared at the shiny silver cup, he knew he wanted his hands on the cup.
He ran for his life to get himself on the ball, it was like he never gets tired, jumping on every cross, running on every through pass. His mentality was killing his legs, he didn't look like he was ever going to stop. But after 40 minutes in the half, he still couldn't get the ball into the net.
87th minute of 90 hits the clock, Brown gets the ball to the wing, long ball comes in, a bit too high, Jim jumps, he gets there, HE SCORES. Jim Nales has jumped 8 feet off the ground to head the Blades the victory.
The team ran joyfully towards Jim to celebrate, but shockingly after landing the jump, Jim been standing on the spot with his eyes closed, didn't move a bit. After a few seconds he fell flat on the face on the wet, muddy pitch.
"MEDICS! HURRY UP!" Brown shouts as the whole stadium stayed silent. Jim was brought away with a stretcher to the nearest hospital.
He didn't make it.
.
The football world was in shock. This incident was written down in the history books of football as one of the saddest yet iconic moments of football, 'Jim Hale, The Man Who Gave His Life to Football". Till this day no one knows why and how exactly did he die, but it was believed he jumped so high, his soul jumped to the skies.