Football Dynasty-Chapter 33: Matured Overnight

Back to Sheringham and Cascarino scene

This was exactly why, when Richard made his declaration, it wasn't just Sheringham who was left speechless—even Coach Doherty nearly choked on his own spit.

This was absurd. Was he an agent or a full-time dad? Why was he meddling in a player's school affairs like a worried parent at a PTA meeting?

"You can ask Tony here," Richard said, crossing his arms. "Did he ever have to spend a single penny while he was with me here?"

Tony Goal—still better known as Tony Cascarino—let out a long sigh, looking like a man resigned to fate. He nodded and, with a deadpan expression, began recounting his experience under Richard's 'care.'

Indeed, food, housing, clothing—Richard covered it all. If he could have, the man probably would've done his laundry too. Sometimes, he even wondered—was Richard really an agent, or was he secretly running an orphanage for lost footballers?

Coach Doherty was skeptical. Was this even profitable? He was basically burning money every day just to cover the players' needs.

Sheringham, still young and entirely focused on his football career, had never given it much thought.

As long as his career stayed on the right path, money wasn't his concern. But when Coach Doherty raised the question, even he began to wonder and turned to Richard for answers.

Richard, unfazed, flicked his wrist dismissively. "Look, I'm a football agent. I invest in players. If they succeed, I succeed. I don't accept failure. That's why I choose my players carefully and take care of them the best I can. I want them to win leagues, earn personal medals, and build a name for themselves. That's all I care about."

He trailed off for a moment, then relaxed his shoulders, as if this was a question he had answered a hundred times before. "And as for money... isn't that what commissions and negotiation fees are for?"

"I know, I know." Coach Doherty hesitated, knowing the next part might come off as a little disrespectful, but as a manager, he needed to ask.

He weighed his words carefully before speaking. "If you're only relying on the transfer market, that means you only get paid when the transfer window opens. But in the meantime, you're spending money left and right. If you keep this up, won't you go bankrupt before you even see a return?"

No, no—that wasn't the real question. The most pressing question was where he got all this money from. From what he read, Richard came from a working-class family.

So yeah, no massive inheritance, no family fortune backing him. So where was all this money coming from?

Richard was sharp to begin with. After going back and forth with questions and answers, he finally understood the essence of Coach Doherty's question—and he burst out laughing.

Indeed, for people in the present day, if they looked at what he was doing, they would probably think he was insane—spending money like water. But Richard knew exactly what he was doing.

He understood that before the Bosman ruling and before transfer fees skyrocketed to absurd levels, the smartest move was to build strong relationships with as many top players as possible.

Of course, his money wasn't unlimited. But even so, he wasn't just throwing it around blindly.

He had already spent £1,211,250 to acquire 8.77% of Manchester City's shares. On top of that, his starter fund as an agent was quickly draining, depleting his resources rapidly until only around £900,000 remained—and that wasn't even counting his family expenses, other investments, and additional costs.

Thankfully, before the season started, the UEFA Euro 1988 was approaching.

With the promise of the agreement he had made with William Hall, he had a chance to at least recharge his accounts before the new season began.

It didn't take long for him to reach out to Fay, his personal manager.

The moment Fay heard what his bet was, his eyes gleamed with excitement.

The first bet was on the England vs. Republic of Ireland.

Richard, a proud Englishman and former footballer, went against the tide and bet on the debutant Republic of Ireland instead—a decision that left people stunned and set the media buzzing.

People were shocked—then angry. Some mocked him, while others outright bashed him on live television. Football pundits tore into him, calling his bet reckless, unpatriotic, and even disrespectful.

The backlash didn't stop there. It spread beyond just the media frenzy, seeping into his personal life in ways he never could have foreseen.

His father and brother were fired.

All because of his bet.

When Richard heard the news, he was stunned.

Fired?

It sounded absurd, yet it was happening—because of his own choices. Because of him.

The sudden news hit like a freight train.

Of course, the official reasons for their dismissal weren't directly tied to the Euro match, but finding a reason was as easy as flipping a coin. Out of all the possible justifications, Richard could see the real connection.

For the first time since his injury, he truly felt the weight of his actions stretching beyond himself. Public perception alone could ruin a person's life—that was the brutal lesson he learned that day.

Until now, with his knowledge of how the future would unfold, everything had gone smoothly—almost too smoothly. It made him forget just how ruthless the world could be.

He had been too confident, even cocky, thinking he could handle anything. But this? This had nothing to do with him directly, yet one decision had managed to upend his family's livelihood.

That night, as he sat alone, he found himself unable to sleep. Even though his father and brother assured him they could find other jobs, he could feel their humiliation—the disappointment they tried to hide.

All of it aged him overnight. He would certainly never forget it.

Richard disappeared from the public eye.

He didn't bother showing up at the watch party in William Hall's lounge, nor did he step outside his home.

With football hooliganism at its peak in the 1980s, he didn't dare to take any chances. Neither did his family. The three-day period was arguably the most miserable for the Maddox family

If the Republic of Ireland won, their family could make an excuse, as people needed to channel their anger elsewhere. But if England won, their fate would be sealed.

When the match was about to begin, all the family members gathered, even Anna. His mother, who wasn't particularly fond of watching football, had a sour expression as she watched the entire 90 minutes of the match.

It soon became one of the biggest shocks in EURO history.

No one expected The Three Lions to suffer such an unexpected defeat in their opening match against tournament debutant Ireland.

0-1.

There was chaos, but after all this, it was still the opening match, so the chaos wasn't too severe and could still be stopped.

With this result, Richard managed to turn his £25,000 into £150,000, with odds as high as 1:6.

He exhaled in relief as the result was exactly as he had predicted.

The second bet was on the England vs. Netherlands.

Richard didn't bother to attend in person. Instead, he left everything to his personal manager, Fay.

He went all in with odds of 1:1, successfully turning his £150,000 into £300,000.

The third bet, however, was on the England vs. Soviet Union.

"Are you sure about this?"

On the call, Fay hurriedly asked for confirmation. Richard could even hear his heavy breathing on the other end of the line.

"Yes, do it."

Richard was angry.

He was furious.

Angry at the unreasonable England Loyalists who had treated his family with hostility. Furious at how they had intertwined personal lives with football!

Even if he understood their reasoning, his anger still burned. So, he went all in—£300,000 on the Soviet Union.

He wanted revenge.

With his approval and direction, Fay immediately launched an aggressive marketing campaign, using Richard's name as bait.

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The Sun: "£300,000 Against the Three Lions – One Man's Gamble or Pure Treason?"

Mirror Sport: "A War of Wagers! Pure Madness!"

The Daily Mail: "The Man Who Dares to Bet on England's Defeat!"

This was England's last chance—if they lost, the Three Lions would suffer an embarrassing exit with zero points. To spice things up, William Hall's Islington branch received direct approval from higher-ups to increase the odds from 1:6 to 1:10.

Unlike the World Cup, Euro wasn't as globally massive, and betting companies usually placed strict limits on how high odds could go, especially on major matches.

But this?

This was no longer just football.

They weren't just setting odds anymore; they were manipulating the narrative, stoking the fire and daring the world to pick a side.

To bet against England now wasn't just a gamble—it was a statement of defiance, a challenge to national pride.

This was a statement.

A test of loyalty. A challenge to every patriot who bled red and white.

A war had broken out between public sentiment and raw statistics.

The message was clear: If you stand with the Three Lions, place your bets! Prove your faith!

The world seemed to turn upside down. It was as if everything had suddenly turned against him. The hostile environment forced Richard to relocate his family to safety.

The locals were furious. They marched toward his house, ready to confront him, only to be met with a shocking sight—a "For Sale" sign hanging in front of the Maddox family home.

That's when it hit them. The Maddox family had already escaped.

People felt betrayed. Even though they couldn't confront Richard directly, there was still another battlefield—the media.

Every opportunist looking to boost their status through the Three Lions turned their attention to him, using his name as a target. On the streets, people gossiped about him, debated his choices, and cursed his name.

They even dared to block the entrance to Maine Road Stadium, questioning every employee about their thoughts on Richard Maddox.

The media swarmed like vultures, desperate for a headline, and with such massive exposure, the club's board certainly wouldn't let this opportunity go to waste.

The Manchester City board wasted no time issuing a public statement, condemning Richard Maddox's actions and distancing the club from his so-called betrayal.

"Manchester City stands with England. Football is more than just a game—it's about loyalty, pride, and unity. Richard Maddox's actions do not reflect the values of this club or the passion of its supporters."

The speech was met with roaring applause. Fans, who had been simmering with anger, finally had an outlet for their frustration. The board members stood tall, their faces resolute.

Then came the announcement that made headlines across the country.

"After this tournament, Manchester City will buy back Richard Maddox's shares. We refuse to let this club be associated with a man who turned his back on his country."

The crowd erupted in cheers. The press hailed them as heroes, cleansing the club of a traitor.

The war against Richard Maddox had just escalated to a whole new level.