The Rise of Millwal

Chapter 125: Aldrich Whirlwind

When the FIFA match day arrived, most of the key players had left the team, leaving Aldrich with a lighter workload. Beyond preparing for the upcoming League Cup final against Aston Villa at the end of the month, he spent most of his time wandering around the youth team, making it a habit to keep an eye on the players' development.

He was particularly delighted to see that Van Nistelrooy, who had been stuck in the reserves for a long time, had finally found his groove in the last three months. His performance in reserve matches was impressive, especially in the penalty area, where he had become increasingly sharp. Unlike when he first joined the team, struggling to find his footing after being bullied by opposing defenders, he now calmly sought out space and developed his own thought process for judging the trajectory of the ball, reaping tangible results.

Scoring nine goals in the last six reserve league games, Van Nistelrooy was still pushing himself. He dreamed of the day when reserve team coach Molex would tell him, "Rud, from today on, you're no longer needed in the reserves; it's time to train with the first team."

Aldrich had been closely observing Van Nistelrooy's hard work and achievements. After one day's training, Aldrich made a point to have a lengthy conversation with him, and once it concluded, Van Nistelrooy left feeling thrilled.

Aldrich made a commitment to him: if he continued to put in the effort during training and focused on enhancing his support play as a forward, Aldrich would provide him with some game opportunities in the next few months.

Luca Toni was another forward who had been with the club for a year and a half, yet he still resembled a wooden block on the pitch. Having just turned 18 at the season's start, he participated in the youth league and scored regularly; however, he often appeared to be scoring only against weaker opponents. This mindset cultivated a tendency towards individualism in his play, overpowering defenders with his physicality and making it increasingly difficult for his teammates to connect with him.

Aldrich held some hope for Toni, believing that a powerful striker like him, with good physical qualities, could hold the ball up front and create space for teammates to join the attack. Though his speed was a downside in fast-paced games, he was capable of being a significant threat in targeted attacking plays inside the box.

Fortunately, a few months ago, Nagy had taken over the youth squad and started to reshape Toni to better fit into the tactical system.

In the days leading up to the national team matches, Aldrich gave the team some time off. However, he still had matters to attend to himself—he had to "serve his sentence." The court had sentenced him to do 40 hours of community service, and he hadn't completed a single hour yet.

Perfectly timed for these days, he could finish his sentence in eight-hour shifts over two days, and thereafter continue with three-hour shifts, wrapping it up before the end of February.

Waking up early the next day, Aldrich freshened up and began to change. He opened his wardrobe and glanced over his Armani clothing before choosing a plain, unbranded athletic outfit he couldn't recall buying. He put on his pants and shoes and grabbed his jacket before heading downstairs. Before long, Andrew arrived, delivering the markers Aldrich had asked him to buy.

With his hands in his pockets, Andrew grinned as he watched Aldrich write two eye-catching lines on the back of his jacket: "Protect the environment; everyone is responsible."

Once the ink dried, Aldrich put on the jacket and turned to Andrew, asking, "How does it look?"

"Not bad, eco-warrior," Andrew replied.

Aldrich chuckled and turned to leave, saying, "I'm off to be a cleaner. Bye."

Andrew didn't even stop for breakfast and walked straight into the kitchen to find something to eat.

Aldrich left his home. Regardless of the circumstances, he was still a public figure. In London, celebrities were often photographed while shopping, especially when doing volunteer work. Reporters were already waiting around Fleet Street, eager to capture Aldrich's "sentence," all for the sake of news.

As he stepped out of the community entrance, Aldrich unexpectedly spotted three friends. Yvonne, with her ponytail, stood smiling in front of a small jeep, while Brady and Fred sat on the front hood, both dressed similarly in jeans and custom T-shirts emblazoned with a blue lion and the words: "The Mighty Lion Rules!"

Bang! Fred jumped down from the vehicle, yanked open the door to grab some tools, then slammed the door shut.

Aldrich couldn't help but laugh, "What are you guys doing here?"

"We're here to help you get famous," Yvonne replied brightly.

Brady and Fred slung brooms over their shoulders, while Yvonne held garbage bags and handed Aldrich a litter picker.

Seeing their eagerness to join in the fun, Aldrich had no reason to shoo them away. Everyone knew that Aldrich's community service was simply a show—more about form than function.

However, he didn't view his court-ordered volunteer work as a bad thing; he felt no humiliation. Instead, he could flip the situation and turn it into an opportunity.

As the owner and head coach of Millwall, Aldrich embodied the club's spirit. His public image was intertwined with that of Millwall, which meant his actions needed to reflect positively on the club.

He was a star, undeniably so. He had a surname; his commanding presence on the sidelines, his articulate responses during media interviews, and his striking celebratory gestures—all contributed to Millwall's impressive record.

He naturally emanated personal charisma, often compared by pundits to Redknapp, with Aldrich emerging victorious because Redknapp lacked the same commanding aura on the sidelines, explaining why Millwall's team spirit consistently surpassed their opponents.

As a public figure, Aldrich aimed to leverage his volunteer opportunity to bolster Millwall's reputation. He wrote the environmental slogan on the back of his jacket to promote awareness.

Was it a publicity stunt? Yes. But for anyone to dismiss Aldrich's initiative outright would reveal their narrow-mindedness.

When Pelé reached the pinnacle of the World Cup in his prime, he didn't thank his country or his family; he urged the world not to forget the suffering children. Can one say Pelé was just putting on a show? Perhaps. But it was a show the masses needed, recognized, and responded positively to, transforming Pelé from a man into a legend.

Maradona's passionate shout for Argentina—was that a stunt at his peak? Who would dare say so? This patriotic fervor resonated among the people at a fundamental level.

Michael Jackson now standing among children singing "Heal the World" enamored audiences globally.

Even in Aldrich's vicinity, he could clearly identify similar examples. Princess Diana, despite her separation from the prince for over three years, maintained an extraordinary reputation among the people, who revered her dedication to charity.

Ultimately, it was all about promotion—championing universal values. Everyone understood what was right, but when celebrities took a firm stance at opportune moments, it sparked reactions and resonated deeply with the audience, earning their innate recognition and support.

Millwall, notorious in the English football scene, had its reputation confined to footballing circles, but a top-tier club's influence stretched well beyond the pitch. Aldrich was relentless in his mission to elevate Millwall's standing, starting with himself.

Holding a litter picker in one hand, Aldrich pulled out his phone with the other and called the court-appointed supervisor.

Before long, a thirty-something Black man dressed smartly in a shirt and slacks rode up to the community entrance on a motorcycle.

He parked his bike and approached Aldrich, introducing himself with a handshake, "Mr. Hall, I'm Nordman. Are you ready to perform your community service today?"

Aldrich glanced at his watch and said, "Eight hours today, eight tomorrow. Please record the time. By the way, is there a required workload?"

With a smile, Nordman shook his head, "It's just a symbolic punishment; as long as you complete the hours, there are no performance targets."

Aldrich raised an eyebrow, understanding. He took a deep breath and lifted his head to the cheerful sunshine, remarking, "Then let's start now."

With that, Aldrich began walking along the street, bending down to pick up litter when he saw it and placing it into the garbage bag that Yvonne held. For the more challenging trash, Brady and Fred would assist him.

Unbeknownst to them, they had developed an audience. A few cars had begun to trail behind them, and from the windows and sunroofs, people were capturing every moment with their cameras.

Aldrich didn't mind. He was laughing and chatting with his companions, transforming into happy cleaners.

They became the focus on the street, particularly in East London, where many pedestrians recognized Aldrich and initially displayed surprise, soon greeting him amiably.

As they reached ten in the morning, a crowd of young people began to gather behind Aldrich. They looked to be underage, and at first, when they spotted him, they would approach him for autographs or pictures. Aldrich politely declined, letting them know he could fulfill their requests during lunch. Consequently, these energetic teens followed closely behind, some even joining in the litter-picking effort.

Aldrich became like a whirlwind, purifying the streets while also stirring up laughter.

"Hey, Aldrich, come work at my shop! I'll give you five pounds an hour!" shouted a white-bearded old man selling hamburgers, giving Aldrich a thumbs-up, which drew smiles from passersby.

Aldrich humorously replied, "Sure, save me a spot! If I'm ever out of work, I'll be the first to find you!"

"Well, you might as well forget it! I definitely don't want to get mobbed by our Millwall fans!"

"Hahaha..."

More and more people gathered around Aldrich—young and old alike, though mostly teenagers. Many were parents with children who idolized Aldrich. The kids, perched on their fathers' shoulders, glowed with excitement, while their fathers fought to weave through the crowd.

Media representatives also began to arrive, taking countless photos and filming throughout; even a local news station was covering the event from the roadside.

Aldrich rejected all interview requests but ran over to a reporting vehicle to pick up a cigarette butt that a driver had just discarded, making a point without needing to say a word. The crowd behind him turned to boo at the driver, who ducked away, making everybody burst into laughter.

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