Football Dynasty-Chapter 8: Interview

"Mr. Swales, I—"

"No need," Peter cut Richard off, waving his hand dismissively. "I'll call my lawyer and handle all the invitation for the meetings."

'Are you pulling my leg?'

There's no way he'd take back what he just said in front of everyone. Besides, it was only a single share—what could he even do with that?

At best, it might get him an invitation to the meeting. And even then, no one would care if he showed up or not.

Richard swallowed his doubts and, in the end, accepted the single share of Manchester City.

The atmosphere was awkward for a moment, but it didn't last. Peter Swales was a successful businessman—what was one share to him? Soon, the conversation drifted back to Argentina vs. West Germany, as if nothing had happened.

Everyone cheered and clinked their scotch and whiskey glasses. The winners got congratulations, while the losers looked dejected. After all, the Three Lions' payback didn't go as planned.

The staff at William Hall's Streatfield branch, who had made a fortune with most punters betting on West Germany, were happy. Their commission probably covered a month's salary. The other person grinning was Richard, of course.

The £1,005,963 he had bet at double odds had now become £2,011,926.

After deducting the 9% tax and a 2.5% VIP service commission, he ended up with £1,780,554 in net winnings.

Richard let out a deep breath, relief washing over him. Thank God I chose to pay the taxes and commission upfront. If I hadn't...

He would have regretted it so much.

"Mr. Richard, I'll be waiting for you in Manchester. Don't forget, you're now one of us, and you'll need an introduction to the other board members. Even if it's just a single share, it's still a Manchester City share," Peter said seriously.

"Understood, sir," Richard replied obediently.

After that, the upper ranks boarded their Rolls-Royces, Bentleys, and Mercedes-Benzes, leaving Richard and Fay alone.

"I guess congratulations are in order?" Fay said awkwardly.

"For what?"

"For becoming a Manchester City owner."

"Hah, it's still way too soon to call me that," Richard chuckled. "Alright, let me cash out my winnings. I've got plans for that money."

"Wait, you're forgetting something."

"What do you mean?"

"The interview!"

Fay's reminder snapped him back. Without wasting time, Richard and Fay headed to the public lounge, where Daniel Ford from The Sun and Mark Henshaw from Mirror Sport were waiting. Since they weren't VIPs, they'd been watching the World Cup in a separate room.

"Let's get this interview started," Richard said, taking a seat.

Interview with Richard Maddox – Career and Injury

By Mark Henshaw, Mirror Sport

Mark Henshaw (Mirror Sport): "Richard, you were in your prime when your career suddenly ended. How have you come to terms with it now?"

Richard: "I think, regardless of whether you retire at 35 or 36, you'll always miss it. I mean, football was something I did my whole life, right? It's hard to just let go. What can I say... it was unfortunate, but life has to go on, doesn't it?"

Mark: "Can you tell us what really happened that day?"

Richard: "Yeah. I remember making sure I left two tickets for my mum and dad at the ticket office. I saw them sitting in the front row, and I thought, 'If I score today, I'm running straight to them.' The game started positively for us. I was up against Dreyer and Langan—1 vs 2, a tough battle, but my adrenaline was pumping. There were a few heavy tackles, good 50-50s, but nothing out of the ordinary. Then, six minutes in, it happened. They had a corner. The ball came in, I jumped to head it clear... and then I felt this force just crash through my skull."

Mark: "That sounds horrific. How did you cope in the aftermath?"

Richard: "The first three months were by far the worst. It was all about tiny milestones—first, it was, 'Can I sit up in bed?' Then, 'Can I walk again?' It was a massive emotional challenge, not just for me but for my family too."

Mark: "When did you realize the severity of the injury?"

Richard: "I knew I had staples and metal plates in my head, but it wasn't until about six months later that the doctors fully explained what they had done. It was so severe, they tried not to overwhelm me early on. Looking back, I don't think I could've handled the truth at that time."

Mark: "That must've been hard. What helped you push through?"

Richard: "Funnily enough, being a footballer helped. I treated recovery like I would any challenge on the pitch—one step at a time. It was about moving forward, no matter how slow the progress."

Mark: "At what point did you know you had to retire?"

Richard: "When the doctors told me that if I went back—if I started heading balls again for even six months—I could develop dementia or epilepsy by the time I was 28 or 29. They said it was a miracle I'd recovered as well as I had, but that playing again could cause irreversible damage. By the time I stood up to leave that meeting, I knew my career was over."

Mark: "That's heartbreaking. But looking at you now, you seem in a better place."

Richard: "It doesn't matter in the end, really. I'm grateful for what I have. Now I can do simple things I missed before—like going to family birthday parties on Saturdays, something I'd always miss because of matches. Physically, I'm okay. I can walk, run... and I just hope I find something I'm as passionate about as I was with football, something I can give 100% to again."

Mark: "Richard, thank you for sharing your story. It's inspiring to hear how you've handled everything."

Richard: "Thanks, Mark. I appreciate it."

After wrapping up the interview with Mark Henshaw from Mirror Sport, Richard didn't waste a moment. There was no need for a break; the second interview was ready to begin.

Interview with Richard Maddox - Life After Football

By Daniel Ford, The Sun.

Daniel Ford (The Sun): "Mr. Maddox, how are you doing right now? It's been a year since you stepped away from football."

Richard: "Well, I can say I'm still kickin'."

Daniel: "Oh? Any plans for a comeback?"

Richard: (laughing) "No chance. My mum and dad would beat me if I went back to the pitch! Haha."

(Both laugh before the conversation shifts to his early football memories.)

Daniel: "Let's talk about the past. What first got you into football?"

Richard: "One of my first memories is kicking a ball against a little wall. My mum and dad always said I carried a football with me everywhere I went."

Daniel Ford: "So, what made you take that step into professional football?"

Richard: (shaking his head) "Nothing really. When you're a kid, you don't think about careers—you just play. I'd rush home from school, grab my ball, and play until dinner. It was just pure love for the game."

Daniel: "Can you tell us about the start of your career?"

Richard Maddox: "I grew up in Islington, but for a year, my dad had work in Yorkshire, so we moved there. It was different from London, but I made friends quickly, and of course, we played football all the time. I joined my school's football team, and about six months later, Sheffield Wednesday spotted me. Coach Adam saw me play during a school match and invited me to join their academy. I still remember when my dad got the call—he told me, and I was running around the living room, cheering. It was everything I'd ever wanted."

Daniel: "Is that where you scored 70 goals in that local tournament?"

Richard: (shrugs) "Yeah, that's the one. A year later, I scored 42 goals for the under-18s, and I started thinking I might actually get a shot with the first team. I remember having a serious talk with the academy manager around that time."

Daniel: "Any special words for Sheffield Wednesday?"

Richard: "What can I say? A lot has changed since then. I could list so many things that affected me long after, things I sometimes forget. But it always felt like destiny to play for Sheffield. I'd be lying if I said there weren't tough moments, but that's football. Everything happens on the pitch. I was fortunate to play and grow with Sheffield Wednesday."

Daniel: "Thank you for your time, Mr. Maddox. One last question—since you've hung up your boots, what's next for you?"

Richard: (smiling) "Well, that's still up in the air. I'm exploring my options, but football will always be a part of my life in some way. Who knows?"

Daniel: "We wish you the best, Richard. Thanks again."

Richard: "Thanks, Daniel. Appreciate it."

Interview end—

The interview wrapped up with firm handshakes and polite smiles.

"Thanks for your time, Richard. I really appreciate it," Mark Henshaw said, closing his notebook.

"No problem, Mark. It was good to talk," Richard replied with a nod.

"Thank you, Richard," Daniel added.

"You're welcome, Daniel."

As Mark and Daniel gathered their things and left, Richard took a brief moment, waiting until they were out of sight before turning his attention to Fay. He rubbed his hands together in anticipation.

£1,780,554

Without wasting any more time, Richard called a taxi and headed straight to the Islington Council House to finalize the payment for the buildings he had purchased—an overdue transaction he was eager to complete.

As usual, Stuart—the same council officer who had helped him before—was there to assist, ready with the official documents.

Richard reviewed the list of properties he was about to acquire:

Terraced Houses: 30 units priced between £13,000 to 16,000

Offices, Shops, and Pubs: 21 units ranging from £13,000 to £25,000.

Warehouses, Garages, and Workshops: 41 units priced between £8,000 and £22,000.

The total cost for purchasing all the buildings came to £1,428,600.

After completing the payment, Richard carefully placed all the paperwork—title deeds, payment confirmation contracts, and forms—into his father's old leather briefcase, the same one he had used when they moved to Yorkshire years ago.

Once everything was settled at the council, he visited the agents and each of the houses he had purchased, especially the ones already occupied, to finalize agreements with the tenants.

The man who had previously looked at Richard with skepticism was now packing up his belongings with his family, waiting for him to complete the payment. When he saw Richard carrying a large suitcase, he was speechless.

"Are you moving in? Is the deal off? Let me tell you, even if you beg, I won't return the deposit," the man warned.

"No, no, you've got it all wrong," Richard replied, shaking his head. "These are just my clothes. My house is under renovation, and since this place will be renovated too, I thought I might as well move in temporarily."

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Even though the man didn't fully understand, he clearly didn't care.

After completing the payments for all the occupied houses, Richard spent an additional £200,000, bringing his total expenditure to £1,628,600 in a single day!

With £151,954 remaining, Richard set aside £100,000 for future repairs on the buildings along the main road, leaving him with around £51,954.