[FM 22] Fortis Atque Fidelis

[Narrator C]

Hello, again.

I'm going to take another shot at writing a Football Manager story.  I've had fun with FM 22 so far, and next thing I knew, the urge to write had returned. 

This tale will be completely fictional, based on a made-up manager who takes a job at a created club in Denmark, in a world filled with players with made-up names.  I hope the lack of familiar names won't make the story less fun to follow.  I'm choosing Denmark as my setting as a tribute to my mom, whose parents were both born in Denmark.  

And, just like last time, my daughter Zoe will be a big part of the process.  She's 12, and she loves contributing her talents as a kit designer, tactical advisor, recruitment specialist, club motto researcher, and just about any other aspect of Dad's Football Manager experience.  

I'll be back shortly with the first chapter of the story.  

[Narrator C]

Prologue

When Tobias Mathiesen wasn't kicking a football, he was reading a book.  Sometimes he tried to do both at the same time.  

He was good at both; good enough to play in Odense Boldklub's youth team and earn high marks at one of the city's best schools.  A tall, powerful center back, Toby debuted in OB's first team at seventeen, and within three years he was a regular starter.  While he put his formal studies on hold as he pursued his football career, his desire to learn never lessened.  Toby was more likely to visit a museum than a nightclub, and while most of his teammates passed the time by staring at their phones as they traveled to away matches, he usually chose to read.

Toby became a star.  He was among the few Danish internationals who played their club football at home, passing up several lucrative opportunities with larger teams to remain in Odense. 

Then came the event that sent his life careening along another path.

Toby and Danielle Hansen fell in love when they were fifteen years old.  Toby proposed to her on Christmas Eve 2011, and they planned to marry in late summer, right before Toby's season began.  Danielle was visiting her sister in Copenhagen when, on a brilliant July morning, she was riding her bicycle along a busy street.  The driver of the car, momentarily blinded by the sun, never saw her.  Danielle was gone before the ambulance arrived.

Stunned and grief-stricken, Toby would have retired from football had Niels Hansen not reminded him that his daughter would want her fiancé to leave the game with his head held high.  Toby also faced the hard reality that football is a business when OB, needing an infusion of cash, accepted a seven-figure offer from Ajax for his services.  

Toby liked playing and living in Amsterdam.  He learned Dutch, and while he was at it, picked up German, too.  He quickly became a favorite at the Johann Cruiyff ArenA; a mature player, polished, confident, and authoritative.  And, to the surprise of nobody who knew him, he began to study for his coaching badges.  "Toby was a natural," remembered the director of his coaching course.  "But he also out-worked everyone in the class."

After four years at Ajax, Toby moved across the Atlantic for two seasons in MLS, with New England Revolution.  He played his final match a few weeks before his 35th birthday, closing the books on an 18-year professional career.  He played 30 times for his country and established warm relationships everywhere he went.  And, while he was at it, he developed his ideas about how football was supposed to be played.

Toby didn't know it at the time, but he was about to take the next steps in his footballing journey.

[Narrator C]

December 2018-May 2021

Toby had never spent money recklessly, so he was in the enviable position of never having to work again unless he wanted to.  He left Boston in early December, 2018, and spent the holidays with his family in Copenhagen.  He took courses in philosophy and history at the University of Copenhagen that spring.  And he spent time reconnecting with former teammates all around Denmark.

Jacob Skov had lined up beside Toby the day he made his debut, way back in April 2000.  Jacob appeared over 400 times for OB, mostly at left back, and few players had worn the blue and white stripes with more distinction.  He now served the club he loved at assistant manager.  

On a cool evening in March, 2019, Toby watched his old club and joined Jacob for a post-match drink.  "I'm not sure if I'm supposed to tell you this, but we're going to lose our Under 19s manager at the end of the season," Jacob confided.

Tobias smiled.  "So why are you telling me?"

"You know as well as I do.  As soon as it becomes official, you should send your CV over."

Two weeks later, Toby was announced as OB's new U19 manager.  

He'd had an idea he would enjoy coaching, but he was still unprepared for how much he loved it.  His young players knew and respected him from his playing days, and they responded well to his training.  Toby impressed his fellow coaches, too.  The first team manager, a gruff, no-nonsense Swede called Kenny Arvidsson, began inviting him to join the team's tactical briefings.  And, although Toby didn't like Arvidsson's overly defensive style of football, he was smart enough to keep his mouth shut, and he found himself learning a bit in the process.

As it turned out, the most important thing he learned was that Arvidsson had played eleven seasons for IFK Norrköping.  Among his teammates was Mikkel Jeppesen, a Danish midfielder from the city of Svendborg.  They were an odd pair of buddies:  Arvidsson was a star, and Jeppesen was not;  Arvidsson was grumpy, and Jeppesen could charm apples off a tree.  Jeppesen lasted only one season with Norrköping, but he turned out to be an unqualified success as a businessman.  He returned to his home town and became one of its most dynamic young leaders, a tireless promoter of Svendborg's charms.

Several smaller clubs called Svendborg home, but Jeppesen believed the city deserved a top-flight team.  He also believed he was just the man to bring it there.  Once Mikkel Jeppesen decided on a course of action, things tended to happen, and Project Football Club was no exception.  Svendborg FC had to start out small; they made their debut in Denmark's Series, the fifth level of Danish football, in 2015.  But the people of Svendborg began to support their new club, and Jeppesen's pockets were nice and deep.  By 2018, Svendborg FC had been promoted twice, had gained semi-professional status, and appeared to be well on their way to making Jeppesen's dreams come true.

One of the reasons for Svendborg's success was the skill of its manager, Søren Henriksen. Jeppesen had opened lots of eyes with Henriksen's appointment; he was nearly seventy and had been out of football for seven years, but he had managed in Denmark's top flight for over a decade.  The wily veteran had promised Jeppesen two years when he was hired.  He ended up giving him six.  Finally, on 9 March 2021--Henriksen's 73rd birthday--he informed his boss he would be retiring at the end of the season.  That would give Jeppesen several months to find his replacement.

Jeppesen, as per usual, wasted no time.  He wanted a manager who could build on the successful foundation Henriksen had put in place.  Surely his old pal, Kenny Arvidsson, would know someone.  He gave Kenny a call.

"Sure, I know someone," Kenny told him.  "You ought to give Tobias Mathiasen a call."

Jeppesen paused.  "Toby Mathiasen?  The center back?  Played for Ajax, right?  He's a manager?  Where?"

"He's our Under 19 manager," Arvidsson explained.

Jeppesen paused again.  "And you're telling me to try to lure a coach away from your club?  Are you afraid he'll take your job?"  Jeppesen laughed.  Arvidsson didn't.

"He's good.  Very smart.  Very good with young players.  Works hard.  He's ready for a team of his own, honestly."  

When Jeppesen hung up, he knew he'd found his man.  And when Arvidsson hung up, he went down the hall to the small office where Toby worked.  

"I think you're about to get a big opportunity," the gaffer explained.  "Your contract's up at the end of the season.  If I were you, I'd wait to renew it.  Something better might just come along."

Jeppesen did things the right way. He called OB's chairman and technical director, and received their permission to talk to Toby about a job.  Then, one rainy May morning, he surprised Toby with a phone call.

Three days later, Toby was meeting with Jeppesen at his office in Svendborg.

"I don't want to play the kind of football they're playing at OB," Toby confessed.  

"I don't want you to play that kind of football, either," Jeppesen quickly replied.

Toby explained his vision of how he wanted his team to play.  "I want my team to set a higher defensive line than we do at OB.  I want us to keep the ball, and press to win it back when we lose it.  I don't want to pass for passing's sake, but I don't want to simply whack it up the pitch, either."

Jeppesen nodded.  "Like Christiaan Hartog plays at Ajax."

"If we can," Toby admitted.  "Let's just say that's an aspiration."

Jeppesen took Toby on a tour of the club's facilities.  The Birkelund stadium wasn't new, but it was in very good shape.  Toby was pleasantly surprised by the quality of the training facilities, especially the setup that was available to Svendborg's youth players.  It wasn't Ajax, or even OB, but for a third-tier club, it was more than adequate.

As he was leaving the stadium, Toby looked up at the large club badge mounted above the entrance.  He noticed the club's Latin motto.

"Fortes atque fidelis," he read.  "Strong and faithful."

Jeppesen stopped in his tracks, his eyes widening.  "I wonder how many managers can read Latin," he mused.  "Some of them can't read Danish."  

They continued to talk on their way back to the chairman's office.  "You understand I can't pay you much," Jeppesen told him.  "Managers in this league don't make €100 a week."

Toby smiled.  He'd earned €14,500/week at Ajax, and pocketed a million dollars more for two years in the United States.  Even OB were paying him €475/week.  But while a high salary would be nice, he didn't need it.  "I understand," he replied, very simply.

The two men shook hands.  "I will be in touch," Jeppesen said.  

The offer became official the next day.  Toby was surprised when he saw Jeppesen was offering him only €55 per week.  He wasn't kidding, he thought.  

Toby made two phone calls that afternoon. The first was to Jacob Skov.  

"You have to give this a go," Jacob told him.  "You're ready.  You've been ready.  

The second call went to Emil Hansen.  Toby had been partnered with Emil at the center of the Denmark defense nearly a decade ago.  Now Emil was plying his trade with AC Milan.  Emil considered Toby to be a mentor, even though he was only a few years younger and, even then, a more talented player.  "I learned a lot about how to be a professional from Toby Mathiasen," Emil had once told an interviewer.  Now Toby was asking for Emil's advice.

"Congratulations!" was Emil's response when Toby told him about the offer.

"You sound like I've already taken the job."

"That's because you should take it." Emil replied.  "You've always understood the game at a deeper level.  You helped me so much when we were playing together.  You're a good motivator, too.  You should have been captain of Denmark."

Those words made Toby smile softly.  He had been OB's captain for three years and New England Revs' for both his seasons there.  He'd even captained Ajax a handful of times.  But he'd always wanted to lead his national team onto the pitch, and he'd never had the chance.  Emil Hansen was Denmark's captain now, and to hear from him that he deserved that honor warmed Toby's heart.  

"The contract is for only one year," Toby told him.  "I'm not sure about that."

"This contract is for one year.  I'm betting you'll get another one.  And another. And they won't be one-year deals."

The next morning, Toby called Mikkel Jeppesen.  When he hung up, he was the manager of Svendborg FC. 

Edited December 7, 2021 by Narrator C

[Mandy42]

good start. Nice to see you back and wanting to write again. Hope you enjoy it

[Narrator C]

On 30/11/2021 at 08:14, Mandy42 said:

good start. Nice to see you back and wanting to write again. Hope you enjoy it

Thank you, Mandy. It's good to be back. Reading the stories here--including yours--helped put me in the mood to try again. I'm glad I did. 

 

June 2021

The manager’s office at Birkelund stadium was not elegantly appointed, but it was comfortable.  It took Tobias very little time to unpack his things and settle in.  A humble man, the only evidence of his distinguished playing career on display was a framed Denmark shirt, the one he had worn in his first international game, signed by his teammates and manager.  

His first official meeting with Mikkel Jeppesen as Svendborg’s manager went well.  The chairman made it clear that a top-half finish in the 2. Division was a requirement, and although Toby had not seen the players in person, he had watched enough video to realize Jeppesen’s expectations were reasonable.

Toby spent most of the rest of his first day getting to know the staff the club had assembled around him.   Two of the three first-team staff members had international experience.  Assistant manager Theis Petersen had won 10 Denmark caps in the 1980s and 1990s. Foday Njie, who would be working with the goalkeepers, represented The Gambia 25 times before retiring three years ago.  Njie, in particular, was a terrific hire for a growing club.  The final member of the team, Emil Lorentzen, was a well-rounded coach who could fill a variety of roles.  

Jonas Møller Nielsen would manage the B team, and Jan Jeppesen (no relation to the chairman) took the Under 19s.  Jeppesen would be assisted by Christian Kirchner.  All three coaches were especially adept at working with young players.  

Toby also had a chance to chat with Bjørn Lauritsen, his Head of Youth Development.  Bjørn seemed competent and professional.  In fact, Toby was pleased with every member of his staff.  The only thing that concerned him was the fact that, apart from Theis Petersen, all of them were working on a volunteer basis.  They could come and go as they chose, and Toby hoped he would be able to keep them on board.

The next day, Toby met with the team.  The reputation he had acquired as a player preceded him, and his expectations of a top-half finish seemed reasonable to the team.  Toby left the meeting feeling good about his relationship with his players.  

Preseason training began in earnest that day, too.  It would be two weeks before the team played its first pre-season match, so Toby arranged for a closed-door friendly on the last weekend of June.  

That gave him several days to put his squad through their paces, and several evenings to compare notes with the other members of his staff.

Peter Rasmussen would wear the number one shirt.  A veteran at the top of his game, Peter possessed the savvy that comes with years of experience while he retained most of the athleticism of his youth.  Promising Bo Nødgaard was a backup for now, but he showed signs of a future first choice ‘keeper.  Mads Madsen, a unicorn who could play in goal one day and do a credible job as a wide defender the next, was also in the team. 

Toby was delighted to discover he had the personnel to play his favored 5-2-3 shape.  The best of his three center halves was Magnus Ipsen, already a commanding presence at age 21 due to his strength and speed. Ipsen liked to drift wide when his team were in possession, often venturing deeper than the midfielders on his side.  Christian Kristiansen was a more traditional center half.  He was less mobile than Ipsen, but he was brave and tough.  The final member of the trio was Dennis Søndergaard.  Toby liked Dennis’s leadership qualities as well as his composure.  He modeled his game after that of Porto’s imperious Inácio Moreno.  Magnus, Christian, and Dennis were at least 6’2”, and all of them were comfortable on the ball.  Hulking Tommy Larsen, who was bigger still, was the best option among the reserve center backs.  

Wing backs Oliver Vilfort and Kim Teilmann were similar players from very different backgrounds.  Vilfort was 28, born in Copenhagen to Gambian parents.  Teilmann was nine years younger, and his ancestors had lived in Denmark for centuries.  Both had been trained at big clubs:  Vilfort at FC Nordsjælland and Teilmann at FC København.  Both men had warm, engaging personalities and enjoyed speaking with the media.  On the pitch, both Oliver and Kim were fast, physical players who enjoyed making marauding runs up the flanks. Lasse Rasmussen was the best of the backups here, but young Søren Truelsen’s promise made him well worth watching, too.  

Toby set up his central midfield with an all-purpose player and a ball-winner, who was given a more defensive brief.  Simon Jensen served as the team’s heartbeat, a tireless worker whose fitness and savvy more than made up for his almost complete lack of flair.  Even his attire was rather bland and unexciting. Rangy Anders Nielsen brought the requisite aggression and bravery to his role, but he was more than merely a destroyer.  Anders saw the pitch well, and was a solid, efficient passer.  The third man who would see significant playing time in the middle of the park was American Aaron Castellanos, whom Toby knew from his years in the United States.  His veteran presence and leadership were his greatest assets; any young player would benefit from watching the way Aaron went about his business.

Søren Secher was first in line to start on the left wing.  He liked to cut in on his stronger right foot, and his pace enabled him to gain an advantage on all but the fleetest defenders.  Søren was also particularly dangerous on free kicks.  Peter Skibsted lined up on the right; he wasn’t as quick as Secher, but he was more technically skilled, and he was an especially unselfish player. Shifty Torben Tønnesen was able to deputize on both flanks. 

The center forward would be Lasse Frederiksen, who had been with OB while Toby was on their staff.  Big clubs had tended to look at what Lasse couldn't do–despite being over six feet tall, he wasn’t good in the air and he lacked strength–rather than focusing on his quickness and finesse.  This would not be the case with Svendborg.  Frederiksen was also Toby’s choice for club captain.  Mikkel Henriksen and youngster Nicolai Hansen were also available, and Skibsted or Secher could lead the line if necessary. 

The 2. Division programme began in early August, so Toby and his staff would have several weeks to become better acquainted with their players and prepare them for the season.  In the meantime, Toby began to settle into his new life, too.  He rented a flat on a quiet street, not far from  Svendborg’s town center.  He could bike to Birkelund and back if he wanted to, and he often did.  

There was something about his surroundings, about the place he was in at that moment, that invited him to breathe.  That’s just what he did, knowing the unknown, unknowable pressures of his first season as a manager were about to begin. 

Edited December 3, 2021 by Narrator C

[tenthreeleader]

Really, really well done. Looking forward to seeing you develop this tale.

[Narrator C]

19 hours ago, tenthreeleader said:

Really, really well done. Looking forward to seeing you develop this tale.

Thank you very much!  I appreciate the encouragement. I've had a lot of fun so far. Much of the story will be driven by events within the game, and since I'm writing as I play, I can't tell where things might lead right now.  I suppose we will all find out together. 

1 August 2021

Toby had always enjoyed a cup of good coffee before a match, and now that he was a manager, he was discovering a second pregame cup tasted even better.  As he finished his second cup, seated on a bench in the visitor's changing room at the Semca Ground in Hillerød, he looked at the team sheet he had prepared for his first game as the manager of Svendborg FC.

The journey to this day had truly begun six weeks earlier.  A semiprofessional club like Svendborg trained, at most, three days a week.  It was therefore important for Toby and his staff to make the most of each session, and he was pleased with the way he and they had prepared.

Each coach had his own areas of responsibility.  Emil Lorentzen took most of the defensive training.  To some, that choice might seem surprising, since Toby had himself been an international-calibre defender who had played in a World Cup.  But Lorentzen was an innovative, highly competent mentor of young defenders, and Toby took advantage of the knowledge of fitness he'd gained, especially at Ajax, to coach his players in that aspect of the game.  Toby did provide specialized technical instruction to the defenders. Theis Petersen was the staff's resident tactician. B team manager Jonas Møller Nielsen tutored the attackers, and Foday Nije trained the goalkeepers.  The team worked well together, and the players responded positively.  Kim Teilmann, in particular, earned praise for the dedication with which he applied himself to training.

Toby also kept a close eye on the way the team was coming together.  They seemed happy with their training, and most of them seemed to get along well.  Lasse Frederiksen had the captain's armband, but he was not the only squad member who commanded his teammates' respect.  Peter Rasmussen and Peter Skibsted, two of the older players, fit into this category. So did the talented Simon Jensen.  When Frederiksen twisted his ankle in training, these three men had the opportunity to take more visible leadership roles, and each grasped the opportunity eagerly.

The preseason schedule offered a mixture of small clubs with whom Svendborg should have little trouble and bigger clubs, usually a level higher on the pyramid, who would give Mathiasen's men a stiffer challenge.  The results were, by and large, predictable.  Svendborg handled the minnows, outscoring them 10-0 in aggregate.  They lost to AC Horsens and Fremad Amager, 0-3 and 0-2,  but  Toby was quite satisfied with how his team responded--especially against the latter opponent, who played in Denmark's top flight.  The highlight of the preseason was an 0-2 victory away to HB Køge, a bigger club whom they outplayed decisively.

Toby knew Køge's manager very well. Magnus Jakobsen had been one of three players who saw regular duty in the middle of Denmark's defense during the late 'Aughts; Toby and Emil Hansen were the others.  Now Magnus was transitioning from player to manager in the second tier Liga.  His pace was completely gone, but his awareness of the game was so refined that, at this level, it didn't matter. And he could put a pass anywhere he wanted it.  Magnus wrote his own name on the team sheet for the Svendborg match, mostly because he wanted to play against a team managed by his former teammate.  He played the first half, pulled on a tracksuit during the intermission, and spent the rest of the game on the touchline.  Afterwards, he approached Toby, a smile on his face, his hand outstretched.

"Well done, gaffer," he said as he clasped Toby's hand tightly.

Toby pulled him into a warm embrace.  "I appreciate it."

"You have those boys playing some nice football."  Svendborg had played crisply and decisively, placing six shots on target while keeping Køge at bay so well that Rasmussen was only challenged once.  

"They are coming along well," Toby agreed.  

"I'm honestly glad I don't have to face you in the league," Magnus admitted.

"Maybe we'll see you in the Pokalen."

The Pokalen was the Danish cup competition. Svendborg drew Ringsted, a fourth division club, as its first round opponent.  That match wouldn't take place until early September, by which time league play would be well underway.

Two weeks ago, the club released their shirt numbers for the season. 

NO NAME			POS	HT	WT	AGE
 1 Peter Rasmussen	GK	6'2"	171	31	
 2 Oliver Vilfort	D	5'11"	165	28	
 3 Magnus Ipsen		D	6'2"	174	21
 4 Kim Teilmann		D	5'9"	141	19
 5 Dennis Søndergaard	D	6'3"	167	24
 6 Simon Jensen		M	5'11"	165	25
 7 Søren Secher		M	5'9"	145	25
 8 Lasse Jørgensen	M	5'10"	163	28
 9 Lasse Frederiksen	F	6'1"	176	25
10 Peter Skibsted	M	6'0"	165	28
12 Omar Ndizeye		D/F	5'7"	143	27	
13 Marius Christensen	GK	5'3"	121	17
14 Anders Nielsen	M	6'1"	176	20
15 Lasse Rasmussen	M/D	6'1"	156	23
16 Bo Nødgaard		GK	6'0"	156	24
17 Mads Madsen		GK/D	6'2"	176	25
18 Torben Tønnesen	M	6'0"	169	26
19 Aaron Castellanos	M	5'11"	158	34
20 Oliver Madsen	D	6'3"	189	29
21 Asger Jørgensen	D	6'1"	165	22
22 Tommy Larsen		D	6'4"	196	21
23 Mads Andersen	M	5'10"	152	19
24 Mikkel Henriksen	F	6'0"	169	23
25 Nicolai Hansen	F	5'10"	149	18
26 Søren Truelsen	D	6'4"	178	18
30 Chris Kristiansen	D	6'3"	182	28

Skibsted, Ipsen, and Peter Rasmussen were the only players who requested particular shirt numbers, and Toby was happy to oblige them.  Christensen, the pocket-sized goalkeeper, and towering defender Truelsen were particulary thrilled to receive first team squad numbers.  While both teenagers would see more regular duty with the B team or the Under 19s, the pair--who had become almost inseparable--were proud to be picked out as future stars.  So was Nicolai Hansen, whose place in the senior team had been secured, at least for the time being, when Frederiksen rolled his ankle. 

Today, the captain was suiting up, cleared for action by physio Andreas Laursen.  Even if Frederiksen couldn't last ninety minutes, his presence would be welcomed.  So Toby was able to field the team he wanted:  P. Rasmussen; Teilmann, Søndegaard, Ipsen, Kristiansen, Vilfort; Nielsen, Jensen; Skibsted, Frederiksen, Secher. 

Despite the fact they were playing away, Svendborg wore their home strip:  a rich dark green shirt with two horizontal stripes, navy and white; white shorts and, today, white socks.  Their manager wore a sharp navy blazer over his crisp light blue dress shirt and khaki trousers.  More than one of the club's supporters commented on social media about how fine a figure their new manager cut as he patrolled his technical area.  

Toby later admitted his nerves jangled the most in the moments before kickoff. "Once the match began, I was too busy thinking about it to feel any nervousness," he told his father when they spoke on the phone after the match.  

Four minutes in, his club had its first scoring chance, as Skibsted stood over a corner kick.  Svendborg had demonstrated a real knack for scoring from set pieces during the preseason.  Dennis Søndergaard had, in fact, led the team with three goals, all scored from corners.  No wonder Toby thought something might come of this opportunity.

Skibsted's delivery was well-placed, and so was Magnus Ipsen's header...but the Hillerød goalkeeper got a glove to it and parried it out of danger. 

Rasmussen was tested soon after, but he tipped a rasping free kick from Green over the bar. He made an even more impressive save five minutes later, when Peter Lund set Christensen free with a perfect long pass.  Rasmussen went down and directed Christensen's shot past the post. 

In the 39th minute, referee Jonathan Garcia Nilton showed Anders Nielsen a yellow card for a sliding challenge on Green.  

"That didn't look so bad," Toby pointed out.

"Let's hope we don't pay for that one," Niels Petersen warned.

At the intermission, Toby told Nielsen and Oliver Vilfort, who had also been booked, to play it cool in the second half.  He also checked with Frederiksen, who told him he felt good enough to return for the second half. 

"Fifteen minutes, at most," the manager declared.  Frederiksen nodded his assent. 

As the hour mark approached, Toby had Mikkel Henriksen stood behind him ready to come on for Frederiksen. As he leaned over to say something to Mikkel, Toby he heard the whistle blow. 

Just inside the center circle, Birkedal took a pass when, suddenly, Nielsen clattered into him from behind.  To his credit, the Hillerød man didn't crumple to the turf. He didn't need to.  Garcia Nilton reached for a yellow card and then, as the home crowd hooted, a red.  Nielsen trudged off the pitch, afraid to meet his manager's eye. 

The manager folded his arms and shook his head.  "We didn't need that, Anders..."

Toby brought Henriksen on, as planned, and instructed Simon Jensen to play deeper, shielding the Svendborg defense.  As Hillerød prepared to pour on the pressure, Toby began to think that escaping with a point would be a positive outcome.

That was exactly what happened, as Svendborg's back line held firm.  Rasmussen made two more fine stops.  Ipsen, who accounted for six interceptions and won all six of his aerial duels, was named Man of the Match.  Nielsen, on the other hand, earned a one-match ban for his sending off.  He'd also forfeit a day's wages, according to the Code of Conduct the players had helped Toby create.  

But, as the team's coach rolled back down the E20 toward Svendborg, just over two hours away, Toby couldn't help feeling somewhat satisfied with the way things had gone.  His team had played with energy. They had shown more than a little bit of steel.  And while one of Nielsen's yellow cards--the second--had been well-earned, the first seemed to Toby to be a bit harsh.  He'd rather see his players get stuck in, especially away from Birkelund, than play tentatively.  

"We were a bit lucky to come away with a draw today," Niels admitted.

Toby nodded. "We were, but we also responded well when we went a man down.  They had each other's backs out there."

At the end of the first matchday, the 2. Division table showed something Toby had never seen before.  All twelve teams had one point.  FA 2000 and AB finished 1-1...but the other five games were all goalless draws!

It was an unpredictable ending to a memorable day, and to say Toby would never forget it would be dangerously close to cliché.

Then, again, who cared?