2024-12-14, 11:22 AM - Word count:
George Shaheen grabs a bottle of beer from the refrigerator from the Inter London visitors training room area. The North Shore United training team made sure it was stocked for the lads for their post-game cool downs and recover sessions. Shaheen twists off the top and gulps about a quarter of the contents down in one swig before stepping over to a metal tub and lowering himself gingerly into an already prepared ice bath.
He grimaces as his blood vessels tighten and goose flesh races across his skin, but after a few seconds he achieves as close to physical equilibrium as the arctic temperatures of the water will allow. His face relaxes, his eyes close, he takes another sip from his beer, and his mind begins to calmly drift.
The club had just bested Inter London by a pretty substantial final 6-2 tally on this December 13th afternoon. It was another all around successful day for both team and for Shaheen personally.
He replayed the moments in his mind, starting with racing down the field at the 13 minute mark as part of a counter attack. Shaheen had begun on the right side, but crossed over to the middle as Lopta led the charge and drifted right. Lopta threaded a pass that met Shaheen’s right boot perfectly and crashed into the back of the net. It should have given North Shore an early 1-0 lead. But Miko Rashford was way offsides and the goal was called off. Eyes still closed, Shaheen chuckled remembering the bit of ragging he gave to Rashford for spoiling his moment, smiled and took another sip of beer.
During first half extra time, Shaheen made a beautiful lob feed from the right side, clearing the middle and hitting teammate Hanbal Armaros right in the chest, who was able to feed it to his left boot and beat the goalkeeper. The goal was Hanbal Armaros’ first of the season and gave North Shore a 3-1 lead at the break. Shaheen smiled again as he recalled finding Rashford in the post-goal celebratory scrum and ragging him a bit more, telling him he should take notes from Hanbal Armaros when it comes to positioning.
At just over the 64 minute mark, the fleet-footed Rashford dribbled up the right side, crossed over his defender, and made a targeted laser of a pass to Shaheen near the right-middle of the box. Shaheen redirected the ball – still a laser thanks to the heat of Rashford’s pass – and beat the goalie again. This time the goal stood. As teammates celebrated around them, Rashford had found Shaheen and put a finger in his chest, asking whether Shaheen was happy now. Shaheen had winked at him and just responded with a hug.
Shaheen recalled the 76 minute mark, when Snooks turned Inter London over leading to a fast break. Shaheen ended up with the ball at the point of attack and put so much pressure on the defense that he forced an own-goal that gave North Shore a 5-2 lead. He pictured the look of dejection on the London players’ faces at that point. Heads fallen. Hands on hips. Eyes glancing at the scoreboard to check just how much time was remaining in the contest. He took one last large draw from his beer bottle and set it down empty beside the ice bath.
What a day, Shaheen thought. A goal. An assist. A forced own goal.
He slid deeper into the ice bath, submerging himself past his shoulders. After replaying this match in his mind, Shaheen could only think about how much he loves his North Shore United team. He had no idea at the time of his drafting what to expect, but looking back now could not imagine playing for another club or with another group of people.
Shaheen opens his eyes, pulls himself out of the ice bath, chucks his empty beer bottle into a nearby trash can, and wraps himself in a couple of towels to begin warming the muscles he just iced.
There will be pains tonight from the exertion. There will be aches tomorrow as he and his teammates cram onto a plane to travel back home for the next contest. But more than either, there will be smiles.
Winning is fun. Winning big is fun. But winning with incredible people around you – there’s nothing better than that.
He grimaces as his blood vessels tighten and goose flesh races across his skin, but after a few seconds he achieves as close to physical equilibrium as the arctic temperatures of the water will allow. His face relaxes, his eyes close, he takes another sip from his beer, and his mind begins to calmly drift.
The club had just bested Inter London by a pretty substantial final 6-2 tally on this December 13th afternoon. It was another all around successful day for both team and for Shaheen personally.
He replayed the moments in his mind, starting with racing down the field at the 13 minute mark as part of a counter attack. Shaheen had begun on the right side, but crossed over to the middle as Lopta led the charge and drifted right. Lopta threaded a pass that met Shaheen’s right boot perfectly and crashed into the back of the net. It should have given North Shore an early 1-0 lead. But Miko Rashford was way offsides and the goal was called off. Eyes still closed, Shaheen chuckled remembering the bit of ragging he gave to Rashford for spoiling his moment, smiled and took another sip of beer.
During first half extra time, Shaheen made a beautiful lob feed from the right side, clearing the middle and hitting teammate Hanbal Armaros right in the chest, who was able to feed it to his left boot and beat the goalkeeper. The goal was Hanbal Armaros’ first of the season and gave North Shore a 3-1 lead at the break. Shaheen smiled again as he recalled finding Rashford in the post-goal celebratory scrum and ragging him a bit more, telling him he should take notes from Hanbal Armaros when it comes to positioning.
At just over the 64 minute mark, the fleet-footed Rashford dribbled up the right side, crossed over his defender, and made a targeted laser of a pass to Shaheen near the right-middle of the box. Shaheen redirected the ball – still a laser thanks to the heat of Rashford’s pass – and beat the goalie again. This time the goal stood. As teammates celebrated around them, Rashford had found Shaheen and put a finger in his chest, asking whether Shaheen was happy now. Shaheen had winked at him and just responded with a hug.
Shaheen recalled the 76 minute mark, when Snooks turned Inter London over leading to a fast break. Shaheen ended up with the ball at the point of attack and put so much pressure on the defense that he forced an own-goal that gave North Shore a 5-2 lead. He pictured the look of dejection on the London players’ faces at that point. Heads fallen. Hands on hips. Eyes glancing at the scoreboard to check just how much time was remaining in the contest. He took one last large draw from his beer bottle and set it down empty beside the ice bath.
What a day, Shaheen thought. A goal. An assist. A forced own goal.
He slid deeper into the ice bath, submerging himself past his shoulders. After replaying this match in his mind, Shaheen could only think about how much he loves his North Shore United team. He had no idea at the time of his drafting what to expect, but looking back now could not imagine playing for another club or with another group of people.
Shaheen opens his eyes, pulls himself out of the ice bath, chucks his empty beer bottle into a nearby trash can, and wraps himself in a couple of towels to begin warming the muscles he just iced.
There will be pains tonight from the exertion. There will be aches tomorrow as he and his teammates cram onto a plane to travel back home for the next contest. But more than either, there will be smiles.
Winning is fun. Winning big is fun. But winning with incredible people around you – there’s nothing better than that.
![[Image: Mikko-Rashford-Sig.gif]](https://cdn.discordapp.com/attachments/1022455373170475068/1120512677823918201/Mikko-Rashford-Sig.gif)
