The Climb #1: The Meeting
The train arrived in London just after eight.
Kat pressed her forehead against the window and tried not to think too hard about what she was doing.
The building was impossible to miss – black glass, silver letters:
THE ASSOCIATION.
Inside, it smelled faintly of coffee and leaky pens.
RECEPTIONIST: Name?
KAT: Kat Roberts. I’m here about… something called The Climb?
RECEPTIONIST: Sixth floor.
The lift was mirrored.
She caught sight of herself – hair just about behaving, nerves not hiding at all.
You look fine. Totally fine. Not like someone who’s about to join a secret football cult.
The doors opened and Kat was greeting by a woman in a cream suit.
She was holding a coffee and a clipboard.
She looked like she meant businesses and made Kat even more nervous.
VERUCA: Kat Roberts. Good. You came.
KAT: You’re from The Association?
VERUCA: Head of Development. Veruca Salt.
KAT: As in the chocolate one?
VERUCA: Sadly, yes. No golden ticket, no factory – just football.
They walked down a corridor lined with framed photos.
Girls’ teams, women’s clubs, faces full of joy and triumph.
Inside the office was beautiful chaos: maps, notes, and a whiteboard that read:
THE CLIMB – PHASE ONE.
Veruca gestured for her to sit, sliding a folder across the desk.
BARRY TOWN UNITED – ASSIGNMENT ONE
Kat turned the folder around to face her.
Wales?
Veruca nodded.
Barry Town. Small club, big heart. Bit seaside, bit stubborn. The fans are basically living inside Gavin & Stacey – you’ll hear “What’s occurrin?” more than you’ll hear tactical advice.
Veruca handed her another sheet – a single page titled The Climb Rules.
A few bullet points, clear but blunt:
The Climb Rules
- • Two objectives per league.
- • No shortcuts.
- • Progress must be earned.
Each manager’s journey is tracked on the Official Climb Hub.
Kat read through the sheet twice.
Simple rules, but they carried meaning.
VERUCA: Every stage is different, but the rules keep us honest.
VERUCA: You’ll find the rest on The Hub — Jenna manages the updates.
KAT: She’s still part of this?
VERUCA: Always. When everything got forgotten, she tried to keep the stories alive.
KAT: Jenner Park and Jenna. She’d call that fate.
VERUCA: She already did.
KAT: Then I’d better give her something worth writing.
KAT: When do I start?
VERUCA: Tomorrow. Bring a coat.
Outside, London had turned to drizzle.
Kat walked toward the station, phone buzzing with a new email.
Welcome to Phase One.
See you in Wales.
Jenner Park awaits.
– The Association
Kat stared at the screen and sighed.
I just hope this ends up more climb than wrecking ball.
