ALANA'S POV

"Goodbye, I love you all" I said as I took my last look at all of my close friends who had come to farewell me. I walked out the door to meet my mum waiting for me with my bags. 

Today is the day I have been waiting for, my past has depended on this day. I worked tirelessly everyday to reach this moment. I honestly never thought I would get here, but that kept me striving. Football was my escape from school and my cure when I was sad. Football was my way of life. Nothing will ever change that.

I left Guernsey at the age of 6 with only my mum. I left behind my father and siblings who I was too young to remember. Growing up was a struggle for my mum and I. I never had the best boots or fanciest clothes because mum was earning a low wage working at the local primary school. Mum was upset and wanted a fresh start, and a fresh start it what she got. I was supposedly the youngest child at the time, so mum thought it was best I came with her. That's what she tells me anyway. I started playing football when I was 7. It was originally a distraction from my family sistuation. But then I fell in love with the game and realised that this is what I wanted to do.

Abandoning my thoughts, as I approach the car, while walking along side my mum. She loads the boot with my baggage and we enter the light grey Subaru Forester. She starts the engine and slowly pulls out of our steep driveway.

On the way to the airport, mum and I made little talk. I think she was a little uneasy that I would be going so far away, for what might be ages. As I was the only family she had over here, she would be lonely and unoccupied.

I will be taking approximately a 23 hour flight to London to pursue my dreams as a professional footballer.

I have been an avid Arsenal supporter since I can remember and it has always been my dream to play for the Arsenal ladies. My obsession with Arsenal began the first year I started playing which was when I was four. In Tiny tots all of the teams in my competition were called premier league teams and mine was Arsenal. I started watching them play and I fell in love. As I got older, at maybe the age of 13 I would wake up at 3am to watch Arsenal play.

In my football team, all the girls wanted to play for The local women's teams. It would be a great achievemt, but I didn't want to stop there. I wanted big goals and to go as far as I could. So of course I had to dream big. As I was in love with Arsenal, I wanted to go all the way and play for the Arsenal Ladies. It was to be a big goal if I ever achieved it. At school, the teachers would always tell us to set realistic goals, my teachers doubted me and said I couldn't. I was not arrogant, I probably didn't know what that word meant when I was younger, but I did believe in myself. And that was all that mattered.

I told myself I could do it. I worked hard. And here I am. About to say goodbye to my mum and persue my childhood dream.

I got a phone call about a month ago informing me that a scout came and watched my game over here in Australia and they have offered me a trial. I was totally oblivious that anyone had watched me so it was the biggest shock wave that had ever hit my system. There was no hesitation what so ever, if I could have, I would have caught the soonest flight. Obviously my mum sat me down and had a long discussion because if I happen to have made it then I would be living there for the seasons. As much as mum would miss me and be lonely, she agreed. And that's where I'm at now.

We pull into the airport drop off area and I get out of the car. I'm already in tears and I haven't even said goodbye yet. I engulf mum in a hug that I never want to let go of, but I know I must.

Once we unloaded all of my luggage, I said my final goodbye to mum. By now I was nervous because I would be leaving all of this behind. But then that would be to start something new. Something I had been dedicating all of my training and hard work to.

My whole journey toward the check in area, I had the urge to turn around and run back to my mum, but there was no turning back now.

I am flying with Emirates today, and lucky me, gets to travel business class. Arsenal had payed for my flight and all of my accomodation which was great considering my family situation.

"Hello Miss Lewis, may I please see your passport?" The lady asked

"Yeah sure, just let me find it..." I open my carry on puma back pack in search of my passport. I quickly locate it and hand it to the lady at the counter, whose name badge reads 'Marlene'. "here you are."she thanks me and continues to my luggage. I let her check my bags and put the labels on so they could load them onto the plane.

"Great. Thank you, you are all set." she states with a smile. I swing my puma bag, back around my shoulders and take a step intending to make my way to customs, when I hear Marlene shout my name again. I turn back around, confused as to what she wants. Have I forgotten something?

"Sorry Alana, just for warning, I hope you don't mind but your flight is a charted flight which means you will be on the same plane as a football team."she exclaimed. Shock wave number two. This is sick, must be some sort of professional team. I'm damn hoping it's a good one. Maybe I could get some signatures, or these days, selfies.

"No problem, I play football myself. That should be quite alright." I said.
"That's great, have a nice flight" she replied, before attending to her next impatient customer.

I brought a lot of luggage. It contains almost every single outfit and football boots I own because if I make Arsenal then I will be staying for the season. If not then I just go home. My bags were making their way to the plane so I decided to go to the gate and wait for my flight.

I walk over to my gate and take out my phone, I scroll through Instagram and see the first photo in my feed. Mesut Özil, my favourite player, posted a photo of him walking to his gate to soon board a plane.

It makes me so excited to know that just a week ago on arsenals break, I got to see them play in my home country. I don't actually know where in Australia they are at the moment, but It crossed my mind that I might see them when I land in London.

But just as I was about to scroll down even further, I froze...

There I sat. In the background of his photo.

"No way" I said "this is not real, oh my gosh", I turn around and to my surprise, I see the Arsenal squad lounged on the couches behind me, also waiting for their flight. Which only means, they are on my flight. They are the team that the lady warned me about.

"Flight EK421 ready for boarding. Business class passengers you may board" I heard front the loud speaker.

Right that's me, I stand up and head over to the queue, just then I realised that I was standing amongst the squad waiting.

Shit, this can not be real. I faint and fall into a pair of arms