When You Grow Into Yourself

The team won another match, away, resoundingly. Tom did not play. His dad called him afterwards and said that he wanted to come down and see him, or for Tom to come and spend a few days at home. Tom lied and told him that neither would be possible, because the manager was making them do extra, and longer, training sessions. His dad told him again to be patient and keep his sleeves rolled up, that his chance would come, eventually.

Photo by Tim Kavanagh / Millenium Images.

This is an extract from ‘When You Grow Into Yourself’ by Ross Raisin in Granta 119: Britain. You can pre-order a copy or subscribe and receive four issues a year of the best new writing.