2026-06-14, 04:15 PM - Word count:
The telephone rings. It is early enough in the morning that I am not terribly interested in rolling over to see what could possibly be so important at this hour. As the sun is peeking through the shades in my bedroom, I convince myself that it is at least worth having a peek myself.
Mikko Rashford, the screen reads.
"Morning Rash, what's the latest."
"Big moves my friend, big moves. Are you ready?"
"Ready? We've nearly just finished the last match of the season, what do you mean, ready?"
"It's time to take the next step. When you joined North Shore, we asked you to make a position change because we saw that the road to the main club was going to come sooner if you were playing in the backfield. Everyone in the organization has seen how hard you've been working on growing each season and Tentacles is ready to hand off the torch. Welcome to Reykjavik."
It hadn't been since draft night that I even considered it as a possibility, to be quite honest. When you hear your name at the SSL draft, they use the major team's name. But all I've ever known since the Academy is North Shore. It's been a great core to be a part of as well. Minutes playing in front of Chicken, who is just a few seasons ahead of me making his way to the majors. A number of phenomenal runs toward the cup and watching Del Pirlo chase goal milestones. There's not much more that you can hope for in the minors. Even still, the majors were calling and this was everything I had been hoping for from the start.
"I'm honored, Rash. I knew this next step was coming up quickly but I wasn't prepared for last season in North Shore to be my last. I'm going to miss a lot of the gang. But don't take that as a lack of excitement, I'm proud to be part of this franchise and I'm really looking forward to making a mark on the pitch in Iceland."
"Great news, see you at the facility tomorrow. You should probably pack your bags and get organized, you've got a long flight ahead of you."
Without another word, the line clicks. He's right, of course. It's going to be quite the travel to get from New Zealand half-way across the globe to Reykjavik. I'm no stranger to last minute travel plans, but this feels like a particularly long trek to figure out in the space of a few hours.
I suppose it is helpful that I'm awake at this hour then. Off to pack my bags I go. The big club is calling and I can't wait to make my mark.
Mikko Rashford, the screen reads.
"Morning Rash, what's the latest."
"Big moves my friend, big moves. Are you ready?"
"Ready? We've nearly just finished the last match of the season, what do you mean, ready?"
"It's time to take the next step. When you joined North Shore, we asked you to make a position change because we saw that the road to the main club was going to come sooner if you were playing in the backfield. Everyone in the organization has seen how hard you've been working on growing each season and Tentacles is ready to hand off the torch. Welcome to Reykjavik."
It hadn't been since draft night that I even considered it as a possibility, to be quite honest. When you hear your name at the SSL draft, they use the major team's name. But all I've ever known since the Academy is North Shore. It's been a great core to be a part of as well. Minutes playing in front of Chicken, who is just a few seasons ahead of me making his way to the majors. A number of phenomenal runs toward the cup and watching Del Pirlo chase goal milestones. There's not much more that you can hope for in the minors. Even still, the majors were calling and this was everything I had been hoping for from the start.
"I'm honored, Rash. I knew this next step was coming up quickly but I wasn't prepared for last season in North Shore to be my last. I'm going to miss a lot of the gang. But don't take that as a lack of excitement, I'm proud to be part of this franchise and I'm really looking forward to making a mark on the pitch in Iceland."
"Great news, see you at the facility tomorrow. You should probably pack your bags and get organized, you've got a long flight ahead of you."
Without another word, the line clicks. He's right, of course. It's going to be quite the travel to get from New Zealand half-way across the globe to Reykjavik. I'm no stranger to last minute travel plans, but this feels like a particularly long trek to figure out in the space of a few hours.
I suppose it is helpful that I'm awake at this hour then. Off to pack my bags I go. The big club is calling and I can't wait to make my mark.
