Nath’s Totti blog came to a close last week but he’s an ideas man and as such, we go again this week. But where?

Hello All. Welcome to my brand new blog which will be a little bit different to usual. This will be more of a story than a blog with Benidorm FC (Newly formed in the DB). We will follow certain characters throughout the blog. In this intro blog we will start the adventure and meet some of those characters.

Intro

Touchdown at last! It’s been 2 years since we’d been back to Benidorm but finally we arrive for a week in the sun. I swear the bus ride from Alicante to Benidorm gets longer and longer every time. We pass our hotel about 3 times before eventual we get off and check in.

The bags are unpacked and it’s straight down to the pool for the day. Our child only has two rules. Stay where we can see you. Don’t make friends. I can’t stand those awkward, forced conversations with other families on holidays because the kids have become friends. Naturally within the hour this happens. A big bloke comes over to me at the bar, He’s wearing a suit which is popping round the waist and he is also sweating profusely. I feel sorry him because I’m in shorts and a t-shirt and I look like I’ve had a shower. The man introduces himself as Brian McEwan. His grand daughter has made friends with my kid and he wants to invite us all out for a meal at his restaurant tonight. I can’t really say no.

At 7pm we get a call from reception saying a car is here to pick us up. This guy clearly has money so I decide to google him on the way to the restaurant. Turns out he’s a multi millionaire and owns Benidorm FC amongst other ventures. I’m a bit nervous now I won’t lie. The evening is fantastic. The food is amazing and drinks are flowing and top quality. The staff are falling over themselves for Brian. He asks if I have any coaching experience, i tell him I’ve done some Non League gigs but nothing serious. He tells me about his purchase of Benidorm FC and how they’ve risen to the Segunda Division but have lost a lot of players. The evening ends with my Mrs and Brian’s exchanging numbers and Brian pulls me to one side. He asks me to meet him tomorrow afternoon in the explorers bar.

I arrive at Explorers and Brian is there waiting with a bucket of Estrella’s in front of him. He gets straight to the point. He wants me to be the new Benidorm manager. I’m flabbergasted! I’ve got zero experience which i explain to Brian but he’s not interested. Within 2 hours we’ve agreed a contract and it’s a done deal.

The rest of the week is spent at the training ground with the very few players and youth players still at the club.

Paul is a very angry guy. He got injured in his youth days and that cost him a glittering career. He got arrested in Benidorm and never left. If we can keep his temper in check he will be a good leader.

Sean has class! He is also notorious all round Benidorm for being out all night. In the first training session i took he was throwing up coming out the changing rooms. He proceeded to meg two players then curl a beauty in the top corner from 25 yards like it was the easiest thing in the world. He will be a handful!

Little Micky is the quietest person i’ve ever met. He sits in the corner of room looking a bit lost and scared. On the pitch he’s a dream. A defenders worst nightmare!

Juan is the son of a local bar man. I got chatting to his dad one night and he told me he had trials at Valencia but had to come home to help with the family bar. He’ eager for a chance and we are desperate so he joins us.

I give my mate Pete a call. He played for Man United when he was younger and then got let go and played a lot of Non League football. I met him working in telecoms back home. He has a wealth of knowledge and agrees to be my assistant manager. He joins me and Santi, the kit man, on the staff. Santi has been around forever. He was here before even Brian was and does everything at the training ground.

So this is home. Hope you’ve enjoyed the intro. Join me next week as we meet an agent who can help put a squad together.