Chapter 93: Heroes Return to Crawley

Chapter 93: Heroes Return to Crawley Chapter 93: Heroes Return to Crawley Sunday, May 16, 2010 The sun set over Crawley, casting a golden light as the open-top bus carrying the FA Cup champions drove through town. Fans filled the streets, dressed in red, cheering loudly from sidewalks, pubs, rooftops, and windows echoing the excitement of Wembley. Red scarves waved like flags, banners flapped in the wind, and kids sat on their parents’ shoulders, their faces painted with proud red stripes. Crawley Town, the impossible victors who’d defeated Chelsea 2-1 in the FA Cup Final, were home, and the town pulsed with a joy so fierce it felt like it could split the sky. The bus crept through the packed streets, the air thick with chants of "Craw-ley! Craw-ley!" and the soulful, defiant strains of Sweet Lowdown Glory, sung with raw, unshakable passion. Max stood tall at the front, clutching the FA Cup trophy, its silver surface gleaming like a star in the fading light. He thrust it skyward, and the crowd erupted, their screams rattling shop windows and shaking the cobblestones. "This is for you, Crawley!" Max roared, his voice hoarse but blazing, igniting a fresh wave of cheers. He led the fans in a chant, fists pumping, "Who are we? Crawley Town!" The response was a deafening wall of sound, a tidal wave of pride that swept through the town. Luka, electric with energy, scrambled onto the bus’s roof, his grin wide as he broke into a wild, carefree dance, arms flailing, hips swaying to the crowd’s rhythm. Fans roared with laughter, phones flashing to capture the moment, their cheers urging him on. "Go on, Luka!" Jamal shouted, tossing him a red scarf. Luka caught it mid-spin, twirling it like a performer, drawing whoops and applause. Thiago, leaning over the bus’s edge, sprayed water from a bottle, pretending it was champagne, soaking his teammates and sparking playful shoves and cackles. The crowd ate it up, their cheers swelling, feeding the team’s fire as the bus rolled on. Niels stood at the back, quieter than the rest, his eyes tracing the sea of faces families waving flags, old-timers with tear-streaked faces, kids in oversized Crawley kits clutching homemade signs. A lump formed in his throat as he saw a banner held high: "Niels, Our King." His tough exterior cracked for a moment he gave a small wave, moved by the love from the crowd. This wasn’t just a win; it was Crawley’s spirit on full display, a town that had dared to dream big. Nearby, a young girl holding a red balloon waved a sign: "Max, My Hero." Max blew her a kiss, and her joyful squeal rose above the noise as her parents beamed with pride. The bus rolled past the high street, where pubs overflowed and fans raised their pints, chanting together: "We’re League One, we’ve won the Cup!" A group of teens shouted a cheeky line "Chelsea’s still picking up their jaws!" sparking loud laughter from the crowd. Outside a chip shop, an elderly fan with a worn scarf wiped away tears, whispering, "Fifty years, and I lived to see this." Nearby, a mother lifted her son onto her shoulders as he waved a flag, shouting, "We’re champions!" his voice breaking with excitement. As the bus neared the town center, a local news reporter, Sarah from Crawley News, pushed through the throng, mic in hand, her cameraman scrambling to keep up. She zeroed in on Niels, breathless, her eyes bright with excitement. "Coach Niels! Sarah from Crawley News! What’s the plan for next season? Can you keep this magic alive?" The crowd hushed, eager for his words. Niels, caught off guard, flashed a rare, sly smile, his eyes glinting. "Next season? Let’s soak in this one first, love," he said, his tone light but firm, sidestepping the question with the ease of a seasoned tactician. The fans burst into laughter, chanting his name louder, "Niels! Niels!" as Sarah grinned, knowing she’d been outmaneuvered by the wily coach. The parade ended at Broadfield Stadium, Crawley’s beating heart, now transformed into a dazzling festival of light and sound. Red and white banners draped the stands, fluttering in the evening breeze, and a stage stood at the pitch’s center, bathed in the glow of floodlights. The team piled off the bus, the trophy passed between them like a sacred flame, its silver catching every eye. Fans packed the stands, their cheers a living pulse that shook the ground. Fireworks cracked above, painting the sky in bursts of red, gold, and white, each boom met with gasps and shouts that echoed into the starry night. The celebration party ignited with a roar that rivaled the parade. Max took the stage, trophy gleaming in his hands, and the crowd went wild, their screams shaking the stadium’s steel. "This is for every single one of you!" he shouted, voice raw with emotion. "Crawley, you’re the heartbeat of this team!" Fans screamed, scarves twirling like a red storm, some leaping to their feet, others hugging strangers. Luka grabbed a mic, leading a chant, his wild dance moves sparking laughter across the stands. Thiago and Jamal tossed handfuls of confetti, their grins lighting up the night, while photographers’ flashes captured the team’s joy in vivid, frozen moments. Niels stepped up next, his presence commanding silence. His words were simple but heavy, carrying the weight of the journey. "You believed in us when the world laughed," he said, eyes sweeping the stands, locking onto faces young and old. "This cup’s as much yours as ours. You’re Crawley’s soul." The crowd roared, some wiping tears, others clutching each other, their cheers a tidal wave of gratitude. A local band struck up Sweet Lowdown Glory, and the stadium sang as one, voices soaring, raw and proud, into the night sky, the anthem weaving through the air like a thread of pure triumph. The party stretched on, fans reluctant to let the magic fade. Kids swarmed the pitch, kicking balls, reenacting Max’s winning strike with gleeful shouts. Parents snapped photos with the trophy, passed from player to player like a relic of legend. Thiago signed a kid’s scarf, kneeling to whisper, "Dream big, mate, and don’t stop." Luka, still buzzing, pulled a group of teens into a dance circle, their laughter ringing out as they mimicked his moves. Jamal, ever the joker, balanced a plastic cup on his head, strutting like a peacock, drawing roars from the stands. Even the substitutes, who’d fought from the bench, took their turn with the trophy, their hands trembling as they touched history. Niels stood off to the side, watching it all, a quiet smile softening his weathered face. The fireworks had faded, but the air still hummed with life. A group of fans started a new chant, soft but powerful: "Thank you, Coach, for making us dream." Niels’s eyes glistened, but he held his composure, giving a nod to the crowd, his heart full. A young boy ran up, offering a crumpled drawing of the team lifting the cup. Niels took it, ruffling the kid. Just as the cheers began to fade and the bus tour neared its end, Niels’s phone buzzed in his pocket. He pulled it out, expecting another flood of congratulations but paused when he saw the message. Club President: "Please come in for a meeting tomorrow at 10 a.m. We’d like to speak with you privately." The joy in his chest stilled for a moment, a shadow flickering beneath the high of victory. He slipped the phone back into his coat, forcing a smile for the fans still waving and calling his name. Whatever it was, it could wait until tomorrow. Tonight belonged to Crawley. The night burned on, Crawley alive with a dream that refused to fade, its heart beating red, proud, and eternal.