Chapter 86: Fans Rage
Trevor sat in his home, the weight of the Covid lockdown pressing down on him. It had taken away the one thing that had always brought him true joy, and he didn’t say this lightly, given that he was surrounded by his wife and two kids.
Football had been Trevor’s obsession since he was a little kid—perhaps a little too obsessed for those who knew him. He had been introduced to the sport by his father, just as so many kids in the UK were. The passion for the game—and for a particular team—had been passed down. Trevor had fallen in love with Derby County, affectionately known as "the Rams" by their supporters.
A lifelong fan, he had stood by Derby County through thick and thin, facing tough rivals and their fans, always staying loyal to the team he loved.
Just a few months ago, Trevor had been living the dream. Since the appointment of Wayne Rooney—the Manchester United and England legend—as Derby County’s manager, the atmosphere around the club had transformed.
When Trevor first heard the news, he was furious. Like many other fans, he thought the club was just chasing headlines, using Rooney’s name to boost ticket sales and merchandise. His frustration boiled over when he learned Rooney would also take on the role of player-coach. Trevor had shouted in exasperation, "So, what are we now? The Saudi or American clubs? Letting big names use us as their retirement home!" a notion not many shared as they believed even a semi-retired Wayne Rooney on the pitch could do some serious damage and he was quickly proven wrong.
Wayne Rooney had revolutionized the team. He tweaked the lineup, giving opportunities to players who had previously warmed the bench while reducing the roles of older, slower players. He shifted the team’s tactics to a fast-tempo style, reminiscent of his Manchester United days, where speed and youthful energy reigned supreme. The changes paid off, with young talents like Jason Knight stepping up to shine and Max Bird thriving in his new role as a fullback, showcasing his speed and defensive solidity.
However, no one captured Trevor’s heart more than then 15-year-old sensation: David Jones. Initially, Trevor had been one of Jones’s harshest critics, lambasting the club for signing someone so young. But the teenager turned out to be a revelation. David Jones became the spark the team desperately needed, lifting them from the brink of despair. At the start of the year, Derby County had been languishing in 16th place. Now, they sat 11th, with renewed hope and ambition.
Trevor’s most vivid memory was their match against Manchester United. Though Derby ultimately lost, it was a spectacle. They had gone toe-to-toe with the Red Devils and, for a brief, magical moment, led 2-0. Sure, Manchester United wasn’t the powerhouse they once were, but they were still third in the Premier League, trailing only a Pep Guardiola-led Manchester City and a Klopp-managed Liverpool, fresh off a Champions League triumph. That night, Trevor dared to believe in miracles again, all thanks to Rooney’s leadership and a teenager named David Jones.
In Trevor’s book, a 3-2 loss against Manchester United—where they had even held a 2-0 lead—was a huge plus. It was undeniable proof of how much the team had grown. And Trevor wasn’t blind to the fact that the driving force behind this transformation was the now 16-year-old prodigy, David Jones.
Trevor had been quick to change his tune once he realized just how talented the kid really was. He wasn’t too proud to admit when he was wrong, and this time, it was easier than ever to own up to it. After all, being wrong about David Jones meant one glorious thing: his beloved football club was finally good again.
Derby County’s resurgence under Rooney’s leadership and Jones’s brilliance had reignited Trevor’s hope. The team was playing so well that he began to dream of something he hadn’t dared to imagine in years—a genuine fight for a Premier League spot next season. For the first time in ages, optimism coursed through him as he envisioned a brighter future for the Rams.