10.01   Dragon Till I Die

written by Lewis Georgeson

Sunday 29th October 2006

It's all kicking off at Harchester United in the final season of the original and best football drama, Dream Team. After nine turbulent years, the gates of the Dragons' Lair are closing for the final time and this is a season not to be missed.

Despite a triumphant FA Cup victory, the future for the winning team is uncertain. Will the troubles of last season come back to haunt the Dragons in their testimonial year? Can Liam MacKay return from a threatened lifetime ban? How will Eugene Rose cope without his murdered brother Casper? There are also secrets and relationships to protect. Will Lynda Block and the squad be able to put Casper's death behind them and unite for the season ahead?

There are exciting new arrivals at Harchester: Jason Porter, a lifetime Dragons fan who criticised the team, now finds himself challenged to get on the pitch with his heroes. Miguel Lopez, a handsome Spanish striker with a great talent and an ego to match, causes a sensation, especially among the female fans. Plus, Harchester United's very own WAGs look set to cause a stir. Led by Cindi Marshall and some sexy new faces, will they prove too much of a distraction for the players? It's a new season in Dream Team and there's everything to play for... one final time.

Jason Porter is a life long fan of Harchester, his room is almost a shrine to the club with HUFC posters on his wall and tickets to most games. He wakes up on one ordinary morning and switches on his computer and signs on to the website Harchester.net, to find Ryan Naysmith and Hector have been sold. At the Garage where he works, he hears on the radio that former Harchester fitness instructor, Ashleigh King is set to be sent down for Casper Rose's murder or sent to a psychiatric home. Back at the Dragons Lair, Alex is watching the report on the news, feeling guilty, as he knows he did it. Lynda comes and visits him, clearly pregnant with his child. She makes him go off to the new training facilities, where the team is waiting.

While waiting for Alex, Liam predicts that Harchester will win every game this season; after all, he dreamt it! Much to Gavin and the rest of the lad's amusement. Eugene looks as if he would rather be somewhere else and at training he reveals that that place he would rather be is Australia, with his daughter Lucy, as he has nothing left in England. Alex laughs it off, but then realises he isn't joking. He signs his share of the club over to Alex and they bid farewell to each other.

Jason and his two best mates make their way to a small urban league game, but Deano says that Jason is going to be dropped as he is taking the game far too seriously, much to his displeasure. There, his team are playing badly, and there is nothing he can do about it.

At the weekend Harchester play a pre-season friendly against Southend. Jason, his girlfriend Katy and his two mates Deano and Big Phil make their way down south for the game. Jason is clearly worked up about the club letting go of some of Harchester's best players.

Alex and Lynda receive a letter, in the same handwriting as all the mysterious letters last year. It just states 'Don't get too comfortable.' Lynda asks where the letter came from, and Amy tells her that it must have been with Ashleigh's solicitor's letters. Lynda is convinced this is all Ashleigh's doing. She goes to meet her at prison. Ashleigh reveals that she can plead guilty and go down for life, or plead diminished responsibility. Where she would stay at a psychiatric home until she's "better". Lynda sees that Ashleigh isn't behind this and returns to The Grange.

The team are making their way to Southend, and as usual, Alex's mind isn’t on the job. Sully has no confidence in him and tells him what he thinks. Alex snaps and sends him back to his seat, to Sully's annoyance. At the Stadium, Jason hears that Harchester are playing 4-5-1, with Tyson on his own up front, an interesting choice since until last season, Tyson was a defender! The game starts and Harchester are poor, with not one player impressing. Jason hurls abuse at Alex as he is clearly in his own little land. The whistle goes for half time and the players wait for Alex's team talk but it never comes. They are sent back out there for the next 45 minutes. There is no improvement and Jason is still shouting at Alex, he eventually boils over when Jason throws the ball at him. To everyone's surprise, Alex signals for Jason to come down! He is lead to the dressing room and given a kit and boots. He emerges from the tunnel and is set to be subbed on for the captain, Sully. He begs Alex not to go on, but Alex isn't listening. Within a few minutes he seems part of the set up and plays a few neat touches. A corner is forced, and as luck would have it, he pops up to score the winner. As the fans give him a standing ovation, Alex realises he needs to bring him off. Sully lets Alex know what he thinks of him and his tactics, while back in the dressing room, Jason is hoping to get his shirt signed. The game ends and Alex receives abuse from the players, although it soon calms down.

After the game, Alex and Jason shake hands; Jason says he is available for a trial jokingly, although Alex seems to take his offer serious. Jason is over the moon and is seen celebrating with his girlfriend and friends.

Lynda returns to the Grange, and is told someone was in her hotel room earlier. She goes in to find another letter on her table saying "Guess Again".

#388

Music Tracks

Three Lions: Badiel Skinner and the Lighning seeds
Bloc Party: Helicopter (remix)
Razorlight: Back to the start
The Kooks: Sofa Song
Coldplay: What If
Bloc Party: The Pioneers
William Orbit: Sea Green

Foot Notes

First appearances of Jason Porter, Katy Irwin.
Final appearances of Eugene Rose & Ashleigh King.
Season 10: Sunday nights at 21:00.