Day Two

A morning photo-shoot at a car-park is briefly hijacked by a UK celeb. As she squeezes her generous frame past us on a car-park walkway, dead-pan UK comedienne Jo Brand asks with a chuckle if these lads in front of her "are a boy band?" Must be the hair...

A light kick-about at a park in Shepherd's Bush is next. Light the operative word with injuries still a worry. Back to the hotel for spas and saunas and a quick check on the midweek A-League results (Mariners fans' Matic and Rogic - who's been training with the Gosford club - are delighted with a win in Perth).

Time for lunch, then we go our separate ways. The players head off with their Nike chaperone Shelley to Sopwell House. They settle in to the lush country manor before that night's guests Rafael Van Der Vaart and Ghanaian powerhouse Michael Essien address the 100 'Chancers' (actually 99; one player from Ukraine wasn't able to secure a visa in time). The Dutchman says football is a lot about luck.

Meanwhile, the almost 90-strong world media assemble at a hotel near Watford. All is set for the kick-off to The Chance trials the following morning.


Day Three

Up early, the media are ferried to Sopwell House. Introductions and protocols explained, we're back on the coach heading for "The Hive" - Barnet FC's (the Bees? Geddit?) impressive training centre which has been co-opted by The Chance for the week.

The players are already out on the track knocking out some shooting drills as the cold morning air hits home. In the afternoon eight v eight games are another chance for the coaches to assess technical ability. It's not a bad time to turn it on, as Arsene Wenger and Guus Hiddink make an appearance.

The two coaching luminaries observe for a couple of hours and offer their views to the coaches. It's a huge moment for many of the lads - and the media - to just see these two greats (and a former Socceroo boss for whom we still have great affection).

That evening at Sopwell House, Premiership players front up for interviews (Nicklas Bendtner and Clint Dempsey to name just two). Amongst the media madness we catch our four lads in the hallway and although tired, they say they're happy with how day one went.

Later that night, the official scouting report reveals Rogic is one who has caught the eye. It's an encouraging start.

Day Four

We're back at the Hive on another icy morning and immediately it's good news. A super-human effort from Blumgart sees him triumph over his group in the unforgiving SPARQ testing (like a beep test). And Rogic wins a skills drill called 'Ronaldo'.

Nike Academy head coach Hugh Jennings briefs the media at lunchtime and assures FourFourTwo that the perception of English players coming through their development system is changing for the better. Jack Wilshire and Kieran Gibbs are evidence of a new ethos working its way through, he says.

The afternoon features more eight v eights, where Blumgart does a very good job of starring, while Matic - with a heavily bandaged left knee - battles through the pain. 

It's difficult for players from across the world who have been thrown together. A South Korean tries to communicate with a Brazilian; a Turk and a Frenchman strike up a defensive combination; and an Aussie and a Japanese link up for an attack. But they find a way. The standard is excellent.

The 100 players now have an agonising wait to find out who's made it to the final 32, the decision to be announced in a few hours at a fancy dinner at Wembley Stadium.

The media are herded back onto the coach. Driving along Wembley Way, it's the stuff of dreams. Seeing the stadium come into view, you experience what hundreds of footballers must have felt on seeing the iconic structure.

The press are given a tour of Wembley's dressing rooms, then Luis Figo arrives for a press conference. Figo interview done and dinner is served in Wembley's function room but no-one seems too interested. It's a nervous wait for all concerned.

In a stunning result for this part of the world, all four of our boys are named in the last 32. Seeing them brought up on-stage by Figo, you sense they'll never forget this moment - all unsigned hopefuls with a dream. Who would've believed it? Cameras flash, mics are thrust forward but the post-announcement excitement is over in a moment. All players are whisked away back to Sopwell House.

The final 32 only have a few hours to digest what's happened. They'll be woken at 6.30am the next day for their final test.

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