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Chapter 263 The Beginning of a New Life

Fortunately, the match between Tyne and Exeter United kicked off on Wednesday night, otherwise Tang Lin would not have been able to come to the stadium to watch the game.

He might feel regretful for quite a while.

What he was seeing was a very novel experience for him, a "newcomer" who had only been a fan for less than a year.

Before the match between Tyne and Exeter United, Lize Park was packed with people inside and out.

He thought he was early—he came directly from the school to Lize Park Stadium.

Because Liser Park is right next to Newcastle University.

He can get there by bicycle.

When he arrived at the place where he had arranged to meet Mr. Berg and his group, he found it already packed with people, and he couldn't find them at all.

He could only stand there, looking around, trying to distinguish one person from another in the crowd.

But this was also difficult, because most of the people in the stadium were Tyne fans, all wearing the same dark blue jerseys. At first glance, they all looked almost identical, like nesting dolls.

The Exeter United fans, however, stood out more. Wearing white Exeter United away jerseys, they looked like waves on the ocean amidst the dark blue crowd.

These Exeter United fans seem to be particularly popular.

Tang Lin often sees Tyne fans pulling them along to take photos while holding up commemorative scarves from the game.

Everyone warmly hugged, shook hands, and posed for group photos.

Tang Lin hasn't been a football fan long enough, so in his experience watching games, he doesn't think he's ever seen such a harmonious scene before a match.

The outcome of this match is no longer in doubt, nor is it meaningful.

No one believed that Exeter United could beat Tyne away from home, even if Tyne didn't field their strongest lineup.

The real drama of this match actually unfolded off the field.

Not only fans from both sides, but also many media outlets and independent media have been seen by Tang Lin while he was waiting for Mr. Berg and his group.

They carried their cameras and lenses, aiming them at the joyful scene between the fans of both sides.

Many people also held up microphones to interview the fans.

Although he couldn't hear what they were saying, Tang Lin could guess with his knees that the interview was definitely about the "heartwarming interaction" between Exeter United and Tyne.

It was indeed heartwarming, but perhaps it was also related to the huge difference in the level and strength of the two teams.

Exeter United were unable to pose any threat to Tyne in this match, which made the atmosphere quite pleasant.

He could easily imagine how hellish it would be if Tyne were to suffer a shock defeat to Exeter United in the match!
However, such a possibility is unlikely...

After all, Wang Lie was on the roster for this match.

Of course, the starting lineup for the match has not been announced yet, but even if Wang Lie doesn't start, sitting on the bench will still be a deterrent to Exeter United.

Tang Lin started scrolling through his phone. At this time, the trending topic "Tyne vs. Exeter United" had already appeared online, and many fans were posting photos and videos of themselves at the scene and discussing it with everyone.

This match has generated a lot of buzz online.

Tang Lin thought this was good news for Exeter United.

With increased exposure and a large amount of traffic, it may be possible to attract more potential buyers.

Having a story to tell is always better than having no story at all.

If this leads to them becoming a viral sensation, it might not necessarily be a bad thing.

Before long, Tang Lin was greeted by Mr. Berg and his group.

Upon meeting him, Jon Berg handed him a scarf, a commemorative scarf from the match, half Tyne blue with Tyne's team name and crest embroidered on it. The other half was white, representing Exeter United, also featuring Exeter United's name and crest.

Tang Lin took the scarf and held it in his hand.

Later in the competition, he and Mr. Berg and the others next to him will open their scarves, raise them above their heads, and sing along with them.

He understands this program, so there's no need to ask him anymore.

In previous matches, the scarf he held would have been Tyne's scarf, and there would have been no opponent present.

But today is a special day. To express their support and goodwill for Exeter United, Tyne fans will be cheering in this way.

"Alright, guys, let's go!"

Robbie Dixie waved his hand, and the group headed towards the stadium entrance.

However, they were stopped by a group of away fans carrying Exeter United flags shortly after they left.

"Hey guys, can we take a picture with you?"

"That's what the lead Exeter United fan asked."

Robbie Dixie looked around at everyone, and seeing that no one objected, he said, "Of course, no problem!"

The other side acted quickly, unfurling the Exeter United flag behind everyone as a backdrop.

The fans of both sides stood alternately in front.

Then the leader of the other party said to Tang Lin, "Could you please stand in the middle?"

Tang Lin was surprised. He pointed to himself and asked the other person for confirmation, "Me?"

"Yes."

Tang Lin was surprised to find himself in the center position. He couldn't understand why he was receiving such special treatment, so he asked, "Why? Uh, I mean, why am I standing in the middle?"

The other person explained, "Because you are Chinese!"

Tang Lin was taken aback, thinking to himself, "Did I speak English the whole time?"
How did the other party know that I was Chinese?
Could it be because of Wang Lie?
Wang Lie played for Tyne, so they assumed all Tyne fans with black hair and yellow skin were Chinese?
Thinking of Wang Lie, Tang Lin understood somewhat why the other party wanted him to stand in the center position—thanks to Wang Lie.

Tyne's star player is Chinese, and Exeter United fans, in order to curry favor with Tyne's supporters, naturally wanted to place this Chinese player in the center as a sign of respect...

Although he understood why the other party did this, Tang Lin was still speechless.

He was about to refuse, but Robbie Dixie, who was next to him, burst into laughter and pushed him forward.
"You guys have great taste, guys! That's right, he's our Tyne's lucky boy, he really should be standing in the middle!"

Others followed suit.

Tang Lin had no choice but to be surrounded by everyone and take this group photo.

After taking the group photo, the Exeter United fans shook hands with the Tyne fans one by one and expressed their gratitude.

Robbie Dixie and his colleagues said it was just a small favor and not worth mentioning.

But Exeter United fans took it very seriously: "You could have done nothing, and no one could blame you. But you stepped up, just to help a stranger's team... I think that's the essence of football, the spirit of football—bringing joy and hope!"

After saying that, they turned and left.

Robbie Dixie turned to look at Don Lin: "They're right, so you should be in the middle, because you also bring us hope, Don."

Tang Lin waved his hand: "It was Wang Lie who brought you hope, not me..."

Dixie, however, insisted on his own opinion:

“You’re right, the king has indeed brought us hope. But the king is too far away from us, while you are right beside us.”

Dixie patted him on the shoulder.

"Besides, you really did bring us hope. I still remember what you said in the stands back then, it was a proverb from your country. If it were just the king, without you, I might have become pessimistic again for a long time after the team lost a game. In short... I wouldn't be that confident."

Jon Berg nodded in agreement, saying, "Robbie's right, Don. You deserve it."

Tang Lin stopped arguing and fell silent.

He recalled the two games he had watched last season, and how, in just over two months, the Tyne fans had undergone a complete transformation.

He used to think that people calling him a lucky guy was just a joke or teasing.

Looking back now, perhaps I really did change them?
I'm certainly not as capable as Wang Lie, but it seems... I did make a tiny, albeit small, contribution. ※※※

Jamie Olsen stands in the stands at Lize Park.

This was his first time stepping onto this stadium in the far northeast, and the scene before him deeply impressed him.

Although the game hadn't started yet, the stands were already packed with people.

The vast majority are Tyne fans.

How spectacular it is when a stadium with a capacity of 65,000 is filled!
Even when each person is just speaking normally, the volume of their voice is deafening.

Tyne fans keep their word!
They really filled the stadium!

Looking at the raging fire he had personally set on fire, Olsen's eyes gradually welled up with tears.

He raised his phone and took a picture of the stands in front of him through the blurry vision.

All the photos and videos of this match will be stored on his phone for a very, very long time.

Because this is the starting point for the new life of Exeter United.

※※※

Liu Zhong looked at Tyne's starting lineup for this match.

As expected, Wang Lie was not among them.

Not just Wang Lie, all the key players are absent.

Instead, substitute players and rotation players were used.

Looking at the list, Liu Zhong suddenly laughed and said, "I suddenly have an idea... Before the match, everyone's attention was completely focused on things outside of the game, the focus was completely off. Do you think Exeter United might pull off an upset away from home and beat Tyne? That would definitely generate the most traffic..."

Guo Xuequan shook his head and gave a very definite answer: "Of course not. After all, Tyne's substitutes also need to prove themselves in matches and strive for more playing opportunities. Tyne probably won't take it as seriously as they would in the Champions League, but with their strength, as long as they don't deliberately underestimate their opponents, they shouldn't be eliminated by a fourth-tier English team."

The match unfolded exactly as Guo Xuequan had predicted.

Despite fielding a reserve squad, even the substitutes were better than the Exeter United players.

Because Exeter United is not a normal League Two team, but a League Two team on the verge of bankruptcy that has not been able to pay wages for two months.

Exeter United sold off most of their key players from last season, and the current Exeter United team mainly consists of youth team players and players acquired cheaply from outside the country.

While their fighting spirit for the team is commendable, it's true that their skill level is far from enough to bridge the gap between them and Tyne.

Exeter United players did everything they could to stop Tyne's attack, but they still conceded a goal in the 22nd minute.

The first goal for Tyne was scored by the team's center, Peter Oliver.

He missed many chances against Premier League opponents, but he performed with ease against the defense of League Two teams.

Seventeen minutes after Oliver's goal, in the thirty-ninth minute of the match, Joshua Parker made it 2-0.

This score also became the final score for the two teams at the end of the first half.

Facing a fourth-tier team, leading by only two goals at halftime seems like a less than satisfactory result.

But considering the "friendly" nature of this match, 2-0 is actually quite good.

At halftime, McNeil substituted striker Milton Tucker for Peter Oliver, while Exeter United made no substitutions. The two sides then switched sides to resume the game.

In the 58th minute, Tyne scored again.

Right-back Archie Noble assisted substitute Milton Tucker.

The score became 3-0.

Considering the timing of this score, the outcome of the match is no longer in doubt.

The fans from both teams in the stands started doing the wave – their minds were no longer on the game.

Television broadcasts also frequently focused their cameras on the fans in the stands.

Exeter United fans held up signs thanking Tyne fans for their support.

Tyne fans also used banners to encourage Exeter United to persevere.

Such a harmonious atmosphere left the commentators deeply impressed, who exclaimed that this was true football, this was the essence of football!
In such a joyful atmosphere, Wang Lie came on as a substitute!

McNeil ultimately did not actually wait until the last minute of the game to bring Wang Lie onto the field.

He gave Wang Lie a full twenty-five minutes.

When Wang Lie and Adam Little exchanged high-fives and ran onto the field, a deafening roar erupted from Lize Park Stadium, like a storm sweeping across the stands.

Wang Lie's appearance brought the atmosphere of the match to a climax.

When he scored in the 84th minute, even the Exeter United fans applauded him.

Wang Lie did not celebrate, but instead expressed his gratitude to the Exeter United fans.

"4-0! This goal has nothing to do with the outcome of the match, but it has even greater significance – this marks his seventeenth consecutive game with a goal in all competitions! He continues to break his own records! Exeter United fans applaud him! Such a moving scene is the best testament to this great record!"

After Wang Lie scored, McNeil used all of his substitutions.

He gradually substituted in key players to try and regain his match fitness.

However, everyone's mind was no longer on the game.

Fans in the stands raised their scarves and sang the famous song "Newcastle upon Tyne".

Even Exeter United fans were singing along, because the song itself is a very famous pop song, and the homesickness it expresses is not only applicable to Newcastle people, but can also resonate with people from other places.

Although the sign held up by the fourth official indicated six minutes of stoppage time.

In reality, the referee blew the final whistle in the fifth minute—no one objected; whether it was one minute more or less, it wouldn't affect the final result of the match.

Actually, everyone was hoping the game would end soon...

Finally, after three whistles, a huge cheer erupted from the stands at Lize Park Stadium.

A perfect match, Tyne secured victory and advanced to the next round of the League Cup.

Exeter United will receive 90% of the ticket revenue. Looking at the packed stands at Lize Park, this percentage of ticket revenue will be substantial, meaning Exeter United doesn't need to worry about bankruptcy administration for the time being.

After the match, some Tyne players approached Exeter United players to exchange jerseys, but the Exeter United players said they didn't have the money to buy new jerseys, so they couldn't exchange them...

The Tyne players took off their jerseys and gave them to the other team.

We don't need to exchange jerseys; we just wanted to express our support for Exeter United in this way.

On the podium, Exeter United's general manager, Tom Charlesley, extended his hand to Will Foster, the general manager of Tyne United, who was standing next to him.

"We are very grateful for your club's generosity. Exeter United will always remember it."

Will Foster smiled and said, "Hopefully this will help you get through this."

"I think so."

Charles Lee wasn't just saying that to appease her.

Even before the match, many media outlets wanted to interview him. In the past few days, Exeter United's name has frequently appeared on various trending topics and front pages, greatly increasing his popularity.

This will certainly attract more potential buyers to the team.

Charles Lee genuinely believes that after this match, Exeter United can emerge from its financial crisis.

With so many kind people supporting us, how can we not fight to survive?
He hopes that when the two teams meet again, there will be no off-field drama, and it will just be a pure football match.

Because that means Exeter United has survived.

(End of this chapter)