Introduction
A former soccer player is head hunted for her sports expertise by the Lionesses. Romance amongst young women athletes will surely follow. This story of a young transgender woman, picks up Vicki's life after 'Goalposts Part One', but stands alone. Some characters and incidents are referred to but are not essential for enjoying this instalment.
Based on contemporary themes; strong language; explicit sex; lots of fun; some tears.
Goalposts Part Two
"It was lovely to see you Helen but please don't overdo the stretches or you'll be right back here again. We're done, unless you have any other issues?" Vicki smiled to her patient, holding up her fleece for her as she dressed. "Come on, I'll walk you to the door. I could use some fresh air."
Together they walked down to the atrium of the Rushford Sports Clinic and its glass fronted entrance.
Outside lay a paved area of raised garden beds, still dotted with the last summer flowers that glowed in the low autumn light. Vicki plucked a sage leaf as she passed, rolling it in her hands to enjoy its earthy fragrance.
"Any news on that job?" Helen asked as they approached her car.
"Yeah. They've found themselves a sports doctor, so I've missed out there, sadly," Vicki answered with a shrug. "Have a safe drive back, Helen and I'll see you at the game on Saturday. Bye, love."
The two women parted with a friendly hug. Vicki shivered in the chilly November air, giving Helen a wave as she drove away.
Since graduating as a physiotherapist, Vicki had a growing reputation in the sports community for bringing clinical expertise to training and pitch side problems. She had hoped to support the England field hockey team at the Olympics, but discovered she had missed out to a more qualified doctor.
However, when one door closes another opens. As Vicki was gathering her medical kit for the Saturday match, her phone rang. She didn't recognise the number.
"Hello?" she answered flatly, expecting a telesales call.
"Vicki Hadley? Forgive me, we have met before at a conference for Sport England some months ago. I'm Cindy Hawthorn, the welfare secretary at the England Lionesses team camp. Have you got a minute?"
"I thought I recognised your voice, Cindy." Vicki smiled and set down her bag. "I can give you five minutes. I'm just on my way to the club. What can I do for you?"
Cindy came straight to the point, appreciating time was short. "One of our team gave a glowing report after they attended the trauma seminar you presented for Physios in Sport. Is there any chance you can come up to St George's Park in the next week or two?"
"Did you want to book me through the Rushford Clinic, Cindy. I'm sure we can fix up something?"
"Well, this was more a personal meeting, Vicki, not an official one. We'll cover your costs, of course."
"Just a moment Cindy, let me check my diary." Vicki flipped open her computer to check. "I'm going to be in Birmingham on the third, so I could call over the following morning if that works?"
"Perfect. That's a regular training day and the whole squad will be on site. About ten o'clock sound okay for you? Just ask for me at reception. Thanks Vicki, I'll let you get on. See you on Wednesday the fourth. Bye."
Vicki closed her laptop with a frown. She had kept her distance from the Football Association after they banned her from competitive sports for being a transgender player. The humiliation still rankled. However, they had world class facilities and plenty of funding, so she could swallow her hurt feelings if it meant a decent fee.
'Personal meeting. Intriguing,' she mused.
* * * * *
Vicki had never visited St George's Park, the Football Association's training camp. A week later her sat nav guided her down a long drive to its impressive main reception. The building complex was vast with indoor pitches and more sports facilities that a player could ever need. It lay in a site of over 300 acres, set out with manicured pitches in rolling countryside.
"I'm here to meet Cindy Hawthorn. I'm Vicki Hadley." She smiled to the young man at reception.
"Just a moment. I saw you check in and messaged her, so I think she might be on her way down." He gestured to the stylish benches with a smile. "Here's a visitors badge but please, take a seat for a moment."
The tall atrium was ablaze with inspirational slogans and posters of England football heroes, mostly men she noted, but the men's game brought in the money so that made sense to her. 'Respect for the game and each other' declared one poster. Vicki liked the message.
Looking around she could understand why Premiereship tickets cost over a hundred pounds. It made her hockey clubs look very much the poor relations.
"Vicki! How lovely to meet you properly. I'm Cindy." Her host raised a hand in a wave as she hurried over. "How was your journey? Did you get parked okay?"
Vicki greeted her with a fist bump, still mindful of past Covid restrictions. "A pleasure, Cindy. Yup, no problems finding you, thanks."
Cindy gestured and Vicki followed and the two bustled across the hall to a stairway.
"We could take the lift, but it's kinda frowned on here, Vicki. Is that a change of clothing you've brought with you? We can easily find something for you if not." Cindy seemed to be a woman in a permanent hurry, but Vicki was happy to chat as they strode the corridors.
"Who exactly am I meeting, Cindy? This all seems very cloak and dagger."
"We'd like you to meet Alice Tong and Charlotte Dowty, our senior physios. You might know their names already? They'll be in the therapy suite so we'll go there first. Then Sarina has asked to meet you. She's really the reason you're here." Cindy answered, turning to Vicki as they came to a halt at the Physiotherapy department.
"Excuse me? Did you say Sarina? Not Sarina Weisman. Not that Sarina?" Vicki stopped in her tracks. Sarina was the former Dutch national football coach the Lionesses had managed to recruit.
"Yes, Sarina. Hence the cloak and dagger stuff. We're a close knit family, and we guard our privacy, so yes. Sorry if that's thrown you, but honestly she's lovely," Cindy replied with a mischievous smile, clearly enjoying the surprise and Vicki's reaction.
She pushed the door open into the warmth of the treatment rooms. Vicki changed into her regular treatment outfit and spent an hour with the other therapists. Her initial shyness was quickly dispelled by the enthusiasm and professionalism of her hosts. She was always happy to geek out with other physios and was quickly drawn into discussions about the protocols and philosophy of their medical team.
She was flattered when Alice found a video of one of her presentations, picking on her ideas and how they'd discussed them amongst themselves.
Time flew past and Cindy soon appeared at the door, rolling up on her toes anxiously.
"I'll take you down to the indoor pitch where Sarina's with the squad. They'll be breaking for lunch soon but you can watch some of the training."
Vicki was overawed by the scale of the facilities as Cindy guided her through a maze of corridors, classrooms and retail outlets. They finally arrived at the glass doors to an indoor pitch.
"You've probably seen Sarina's assistant, Arjan, at the team matches on television. He's expecting you and he'll let her know you're here. I expect I'll see you before you leave."
Cindy put her hand gently to the small of Vicki's back and indicated where she should go.
Vicki was bewildered. She half expected a Mad Hatter to appear and this was a bizarre dream. She'd never been to St. George's and now she was about to meet Sarina Weisman, the famous head coach. She suddenly realised she had butterflies; something she'd not experienced since her Super League soccer days.
She dug her thumbnail hard into her finger to distract herself and quiet her nerves as she made her way across the artificial turf.
Arjan saw her approaching and waved her to a seat next to him, giving her a fist bump in hello.
"Hi Vicki. This is right yes, Vicki? I'm not so good with names at all times," Arjan smiled his apology with a distinct Dutch accent. His face was as gaunt and pale as he appeared on television but the light in the hangar sized space was tinged green. Bright but artificial. She wondered if her own face looked ghostly.
"Let's watch a while. See what you think of the session. I think there's someone here you know. Lotte Brizel is still in the squad."
Vicki peered through the weaving bodies for Lotte and recognised her body language before she could focus on her face. Lotte and her had been lovers once, before their lives took them in different directions. They'd parted amicably and remained friends, often texting photos and jokes to each other.
Vicki watched Lotte for a little while, but she soon became fascinated by the whole training environment.
Sarina Weisman was in regular joggers and sweat top. She had a bird like quality -- her arms folded tightly across her chest made her shoulders stoop like a hawk waiting to fly. She watched the players with an intense concentration, shouting praise and encouragement. After ten minutes, Sarina clapped her hands and the players gathered in a circle for a debrief.
Arjan glanced her way with a smile. "Impressed?" he asked.
"Of course, yes. So many great players here - I know most of them from league matches on TV. There's a couple of the younger players I don't know. But listen Arjan. Can you tell me why I'm here? I mean, it's been a lovely surprise to be invited, but this is a mystery," Vicki answered, still perplexed and still digging in her thumbnail.
"Ah! And you must be Vicki!" Sarina called before Arjan could reply and Vicki stood to meet her. "But where are my manners? Where is Lotte? Lotte? Come over here a second and say hello."
Lotte looked across in a double take, then bolted over to greet Vicki. As they hugged, Sarina clapped her hands in delight. A couple of other players wandered over in friendly curiosity.
