Football Card System

Gao Bo's office bed now belonged to Lin Sen. This young Chinese scout rarely stayed with the team. His job required him to travel across England to watch games live and, at times, record game footage himself.

This meant Gao Bo now had to return to his apartment to sleep every night. Fortunately, the apartment was not far from the office, connected by a tree-lined path leading to the back gate of the training base. Compared to the bustling city of London, Luton's public safety was much better. The town hadn't experienced any major security incidents for years, and Gao Bo had become somewhat of a local celebrity. Luton had only one professional team, and Gao Bo's success had brought pride to the town.

As usual, Gao Bo retrieved the newspaper from his apartment's mailbox. It was 2008, but traditional English habits like reading the morning paper still persisted.

Like clockwork, Roy would return from his morning jog every day, his movements fluid and confident. Under the bright sun and in rare good weather, Gao Bo stretched lazily and soaked in the moment.

The local newspapers were filled with praise for Luton Town. The team had been in great form, and after their victory in the 14th-round makeup game against Bournemouth, they had climbed two spots in the standings. Now sitting 13th with 20 points, they were 13 points behind seventh-placed Brentford. However, the gap to the league leaders, Wycombe Wanderers, was still significant, with Wycombe at 40 points.

Local media had even begun discussing Luton's potential to qualify for the promotion playoffs. Although the gap was 13 points, the season was far from over, and Luton's strong form made this goal seem plausible. Ambitions always grew with progress. Initially, Gao Bo's target was merely to reach the playoffs. But with the team firing on all cylinders, his aspirations had shifted—he now aimed to skip the playoffs altogether and secure automatic promotion or even the league title.

The team had a day off today. Despite the busy December schedule, with their next match three days away against Barnet, Gao Bo decided his players deserved some rest. Players weren't machines, and a well-timed break could do wonders for morale and performance.

Gao Bo's own day off was simple. After breakfast, he went for a walk, followed by lunch and a two-hour nap. In the afternoon, he watched classic game footage. Dinner was usually eaten out, but one thing Gao Bo lamented was the lack of Chinese restaurants in Luton. As a bachelor, he had to endure England's less-than-flattering cuisine daily.

In the evening, Gao Bo visited a nearby bar.

The bar, a modest establishment without a sign, catered mostly to local residents. Gao Bo's arrival was met with cheers, as he was now a regular and a familiar face in the community. Many of the locals, who had initially jeered him after his first game, had since become fans, thanks to Luton's winning streak.

The bar owner, Arthur, a rotund, balding man, greeted him warmly. Despite his unassuming appearance, his name, Arthur, was a source of amusement for Gao Bo, as it evoked images of King Arthur's legendary stature.

"Whiskey," Gao Bo ordered. Over time, he had developed a taste for strong drinks, from whiskey to traditional Chinese liquors like Moutai and Erguotou.

The bar was unusually lively that evening because the FA Cup third-round draw was about to take place.

"Hey, it's Lineker!" someone shouted, pointing to the TV. Gary Lineker, the legendary English footballer and 1986 World Cup Golden Boot winner, was hosting the draw. His popularity in England was evident, with patrons sharing nostalgic stories about watching him play.

As Lineker began speaking, the room buzzed with anticipation. The bar's patrons, mostly Luton fans, debated potential opponents for their team.

"I hope we draw Manchester United!" one said.

"No, Manchester City—they're not as strong yet. We might stand a chance," another chimed in.

"How about a lower-league team? That way, we could actually make it to the fourth round," someone suggested pragmatically.

The debates quieted as Lineker announced the draw. Arsenal was matched with Leeds United, eliciting groans from fans hoping to draw a Premier League giant. Manchester United was paired with Southampton, and Liverpool with Preston.

The atmosphere shifted—many now hoped for a weaker opponent to increase Luton's chances of advancing.

Finally, Lineker announced:

"Chelsea…" followed by a pause, "…Luton Town."

For a moment, the bar fell silent. Then, all eyes turned to Gao Bo. Everyone knew he had previously worked at Chelsea, adding an extra layer of intrigue to the matchup.

Gao Bo remained composed, raising his glass to the crowd with a faint smile.

The draw couldn't have been better.