At 9:50 am, the coach blew his whistle, and the session ended. I took a deep breath and walked towards the main building, my nerves returning with a vengeance.
"Danny Walsh?" the receptionist said, a warm smile on her face. "They're ready for you."
I was shown to a meeting room, a professional, intimidating space with a long, polished table and a view of the first-team training pitches.
Three men were sitting at the table. I recognized Gary Issott immediately from our meeting at St. George's Park. He greeted me with a warm smile and a firm handshake. The other two men I recognized from my research were Richard Shaw, the Academy Director, and Steve Parish, the Chairman.
"Good morning," I said, my voice surprisingly steady. "Thank you for the opportunity."
"Danny, good to see you again," Gary said warmly. "Thanks for coming down. You've met Richard Shaw, our Academy Director, and this is our Chairman, Steve Parish."
