Renaldo

by James McCreath

  Mallory, and having her wishes conveyed to the team by a surrogate manager.

  This is precisely what transpired with the hiring of ex-Canary player Randal

  Horton as team manager and the election of Mallory Russell as executive vice

  president in charge of football operations.

  Horton had been one of Mallory’s poster boys years before, and the two had

  always been on the same wave length. As for Mallory’s appointment, the rest of

  the directors figured that they had nothing to lose by giving the enthusiastic

  woman the reins, for attendance was falling at The Bird Cage as a result of

  the succession of mediocre teams. Having a beauty such as Mallory Russell in

  charge would, at least, guarantee increased press coverage.

  While little could be accomplished for the balance of the 1976 season,

  the Yellow Birds did manage to improve substantially in the second half of

  schedule and came within three points of promotion. During the off-season,

  Mallory pestered her father to open the bank vault sufficiently to permit the

  acquisition of two top quality players who were on the transfer market from

  first division clubs.

  The first was forward Georgie Steeves from newly relegated Tottenham

  Hotspur. His transfer fee of fifty-five thousand pounds was the most the

  Canaries had ever paid for a player, but in Mallory’s opinion, he was just the

  offensive spark that the team needed.

  The second acquisition was for a major league keeper, and in Scotsman

  Fraser MacTavish, the Canaries obtained a man nicknamed ‘Stonewall’ by his

  Glasgow Rangers supporters. MacTavish was a seasoned veteran, thirty years

  of age and only available due to a stable of young, energetic keepers that were

  trying to break into the Ranger’s lineup. Fifty thousand pounds secured his

  services for the Canaries, but Sir Reggie had a stern warning for his daughter

  that this was the end of the spending spree. He also stated that there had better

  be a tangible return on his investment or she would follow in the footsteps of

  her predecessor, the unfortunate Tony Abbott.

  The Canaries started the 19-8 campaign slowly, losing several games

  that they should have won. It was relayed to Mallory by manager Horton that

  several of the holdover players lacked the real desire that was necessary to win.

  They had become second division floaters, content in their jobs and unwilling

  to give that extra effort needed to gain promotion.

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  RENALDO

  Realizing that there was no more money in the till for further new blood,

  Mallory and Horton decided to give the most lethargic players there outright

  release and fill the void with untested amateurs that proliferated on the playing

  grounds of London. Two university players were plucked from their school

  teams, more for their enthusiasm than their proven ability. Horton was trying

  to field a team with the proper chemistry, and the impromptu shakeup and

  dismissal of several of the old-guard players had the desired effect on those who

  remained.

  Team captain Lawton MacRae was squarely in favor of the purge, for

  he had the heart of a lion and hated the endless losing seasons. He berated

  his players for their lack of pride and self-esteem, then he and his mates gave

  manager Horton and the club executive a vote of confidence. The results of that

  vote were evident immediately on the second division playing fields.

  The Canaries did soar to the top of the table, and could have possibly

  run away with the league had not several midwinter injuries to key players

  knocked them down into their familiar fourth place standing by the start of

  April. Luckily, all hands were back on deck for the crucial ‘run for the roses,’

  and by early May, they had clinched promotion to the big league. The Russell

  family and the team’s loyal followers were, at last, in a position to savor an

  accomplishment that had eluded the Canary Wharf Football Club for four

  decades.

  The fact that it was all his daughter’s doing and not that of a man,

  specifically his son, did not concern Reggie Russell. Nigel had grown to be

  special in many ways, most of them philosophical, spiritual, and nurturing.

  He was inseparable from his mother as a child and showed a scholarly, artistic

  aptitude at a young age. Theology at King’s College, then an ordainment into

  the Church of England completed his formal education. But there was very

  little that was formal about Nigel Russell, and he immediately volunteered

  for missionary work in Africa. His mother, hating the thought of being so far

  away from her adoring son, became ‘born again,’ signed up as an aid worker,

  and traveled with Reverend Russell to Kenya. Over the past several years, she

  had spent less and less time visiting London, and nearly all the family reunions

  seemed to take place at some remote African village.

  Neither Reggie nor Mallory seemed to mind the fractured structure of

  their family. All four were pursuing their own dreams, and with good spirit

  and best wishes from the others. Mallory and her brother had always been

  close. Their relationship remained so, but at this point in time, usually by

  means of transcontinental mail, as they were seldom on the same continent at

  the same time. For a free-spirited family like the Russells, it was a ‘catch you

  later’ existence.

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  JAMES McCREATH

  Five days after ‘the clinch,’ the board of directors assembled in a private

  suite at the Naval and Military Club to chart the course of action for their

  newly promoted club. Architect John Hughes was also present by invitation.

  After a hearty luncheon and several congratulatory toasts, the board settled

  down to business.

  Team treasurer Neville Strathy gave the financial report for the season

  just ended. A modest profit was realized due to the team’s on-field success. One

  director mentioned that the coffers would be considerably fatter had the team

  not paid out over one hundred thousand pounds on the transfer market the

  previous summer.

  An incensed Mallory Russell responded that without those two players,

  the team would still be in the second division, and they would not be sitting

  in their present posh surroundings discussing the future of the club in the

  premier league. The dissenting director had no rebuttal.

  “Now, about the expansion of the Bird Cage. Shall we hear from Mister

  Hughes?” Sir Reggie smoothly shifted topics. John Hughes moved to an easel

  that stood at one end of the boardroom table.

  “Ladies and gentlemen, as you all are aware, my firm has been working on

  the renovation and expansion of The Bird Cage for several years, always with

  the anticipation that the Canaries would gain promotion to the first division.

  That time has now come, and I am pleased to report that we have developed

  a phased scheme of expansion that will not put undue strain on the club’s

  finances.” Several of the directors responded to that comment with loud ‘here,

  heres.’ Hughes didn’t miss a beat.

  “The first step is to build a new, modern grandstand to replace the east

  terraces.” At this point, Hughes flipped
over the title page on his architectural

  plans to reveal an artist’s conception of the new covered grandstand. “This

  facility will accommodate fifteen thousand seated spectators, twenty luxury

  boxes, office space that can be leased to other corporations, as well as the most

  up-to-date sanitary and concession facilities available in all of Great Britain.”

  This time, a rousing round of applause as well as ‘here heres’ filled the

  room.

  “I am informed that the cost of phase one will be in the range of four

  million pounds. The second phase will take place when finances permit. The

  major task here calls for the construction of a mirror duplication of the new

  grandstand where the old west grandstand sits. The final phase will entail

  renovation of the end terraces to permit full enclosure of the grounds, with a

  ring of luxury boxes and the elimination of terraced standing. Total cost over

  five years is projected at ten million pounds. Any questions, gentlemen?”

  As if to acknowledge the oversight, it was Mallory Russell that raised her

  hand.

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  RENALDO

  “Oh, excuse me, Miss Russell. That should have been ‘any questions, ladies

  and gentlemen?’”

  “Thank you, Mr. Hughes. Your plans look most impressive. I worry about

  the loss of revenue from having the present east stands under renovation when

  we make our first division debut in only three and a half months. How quickly

  can phase one be completed?”

  “An appropriate question, to be sure, Miss Russell. We anticipate that the

  club will be without the use of the east stand for the entire 1978-79 season.

  Construction, if started immediately, should take somewhere close to eight

  months. Allowances should be made for labor slowdowns and supply shortages,

  however.”

  There were many skeptical faces seated around the board table at this

  point. Hughes sensed that he had to take the offensive to reassure the wavering

  pinstripes.

  “But there is a need to look at this project as a long-term benefit, not

  only to the supporters, but to the entire community. The Isle of Dogs has

  become something of an industrial wasteland, although there is much talk

  about major government-induced development in the near future. This new

  stadium could be the leading edge of that resurgence and accelerate a new dawn

  for one of London’s most historic areas. All efforts will be made to parallel your

  construction with future government-assisted projects for housing, commerce,

  and transportation improvements. You will also be creating new interest in one

  of the oldest football clubs in the country, and by having only a limited number

  of seats available for your initial season in the first division, you will stimulate

  a tremendous demand for subsequent years.”

  Again, it was Mallory who responded. “The one overriding caveat that we

  have, Mr. Hughes, is our ability to remain in the first division longer than our

  initial season. We made it there with a combination of veterans, some of whom

  are on their last legs, and enthusiastic schoolboys, who surely will not measure

  up to first division standards. To make this expansion project viable, we must,

  once again, open up the purse strings and acquire the talent that will enable

  us to be competitive in our lofty new surroundings. Do not forget, gentlemen,

  that the bottom three first division teams will find themselves back in the

  second division a year from now. It is our job to find the men that will keep the

  Canaries out of that particular birdbath!” The assembled suits chuckled with

  amusement.

  “Just where do you propose that we look for such players, Mallory?” Sir

  Reggie interjected.

  “Argentina, father, that’s where. In little over a month’s time, the very best

  players in the world will be assembling in Buenos Aires. England’s National

  Team will not be among them, as you are all well aware. The current state of

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  JAMES McCREATH

  our domestic football just does not measure up to world standards, gentlemen,

  whether you care to admit it or not. I believe most of the first division managers

  will stay at home and continue to naval gaze as is their sorry tradition. These

  men will not admit to the dismal state of our national sport.” There was a muted

  rumble of disagreement with the young lady’s sentiments that momentarily

  filled the air. Mallory leapt at once.

  “There! That is exactly the attitude that I am talking about. If it’s not

  British, it just doesn’t measure up. Well, I say, horse droppings! There are

  hundreds of talented players about to be showcased in the largest football

  extravaganza that the world has ever seen, yet most of us are prepared to play

  ostrich, with our heads in the sand. Argentina, gentlemen, is where we can find

  the Canary’s future, and I wager that we will be almost alone on this mission, if

  we dare to engage it.” Stunned looks lined the faces of Mallory’s counterparts.

  “Do you actually propose to bring foreigners over here to play for us, Miss

  Russell?” one of them questioned.

  “That is precisely what I am suggestin, Mr. Horrocks. We already have five

  Scots and three Irishmen on our roster, sir! What difference would a Brazilian

  or a Swede make?”

  “But the chaps we have now are at least of British origin. I don’t think

  the paying public would tolerate seeing a bunch of foreigners in our colors.

  Such a thing has never been done before. It’s preposterous,” Horrocks stated

  emphatically.

  “I think not, sir.” Reginald Russell was quick to come to his daughter’s

  defense. “As you know, several of our nation’s finest players have already

  departed for the continent because of the huge salaries that countries like Italy

  are willing to pay. I feel as Mallory does, that it should not be a one-way flow of

  talent. As long as they can score goals, I don’t care if it is a Peruvian, an Iranian,

  or a Martian that tickles the twines for our birdies. We have nothing to lose

  and, perhaps, an awful lot to gain. I will think on your suggestion, Mallory,

  and report back to the board within seven days. Now, Sir Neville Strathy had

  best address the terms of his bank’s most generous loan, which will enable us

  to not only to build our new stadium, but also sign players the likes of which

  the New York Cosmos have acquired in Péle and Beckinbauer.”

  Sir Reggie sat down with a wry grin on his face, his tongue planted firmly

  in his cheek. The board certainly had its work cut out for it, but Mallory’s

  stimulating idea had given him a gut feeling that should they venture to

  Argentina, their voyage would not be in vain.

  326

  Chapter twenty-twO

  Buenos Aires, Argentina. June 2, 1978.

  The day of reckoning had finally arrived. A nation held its breath, for

  the uncertainty of how its team would perform was at the forefront

  of every Argentine heart and soul. The events immediately preceding this

  day had been devastating and deadly for the host country of the World Cup

  Tournament. A black cloud had fallen over the sport of football in general, and
<
br />   the National Team of Argentina in particular.

  Television news cameras had captured the final moments of four thugs

  posing as Catalan football enthusiasts as their plans unraveled in a small

  seaside town in Spain. It was in Calella, just up the Mediterranean coast from

  Barcelona, that the kidnappers panicked when their car was surrounded by

  an elite Spanish antiterrorist squad. Whether the detonation of their plastic

  explosives was intentional or not, it blew to eternity the five occupants of the

  vehicle, as well as the hopes of a World Cup championship for Argentina, in

  many people’s minds.

  Circumstances leading up to that cataclysmic deed began with the

  announcement that an Argentine football player would take a leave of absence

  from his Spanish club team to return home in preparation for the upcoming

  World Cup Tournament. While this news was greeted with euphoria on the

  western side of the Atlantic Ocean, on the European side, betrayal and rage

  were the predominant moods in a select number of bars and cafés around

  Barcelona.

  Yes, Nicodemo Garcia would return to Buenos Aires in time to be the

  spiritual guide for Argentina. But Spain was also about to compete in World

  Cup ’78. Where did Garcia stand? For Catalonia and Spain, his adopted home,

  or for Argentina, the land of his birth? Many of the more fanatical supporters

  of Catalonia F.C. in Barcelona considered his brief abandonment of their

  beloved team to be a breech of faith and an act of a traitor punishable by

  death. Dominated and derided season after painful season by their hated cross

  town nemesis F.C. Barcelona, the long-suffering Catalonia faithful could finally

  sense that revenge was imminent with the transfer of Nico Garcia from the

  Las Palmas club. A record amount of money had been paid for Garcia’s services

  halfway through the 1977 season, and positive on-field results were instant

  for the upstart Catalans. The 1978 campaign was going to be their shining

  moment of glory, with Nicodemo Garcia in a starring role.

  JAMES McCREATH

  The only cloud on the horizon was the possibility that Garcia would forgo

  an idyllic Spanish summer and return to South America to play for his country

  in the World Cup. The president of Catalonia F.C. was extremely vocal in

  denouncing the preparations for, and the atmosphere surrounding, Argentina