This year, Droylsden had entered the Premier Division of the Northern Premier League after signing several strong players from New Manchester United.
David Pace was clearly confident that Droylsden could reach the National League and eventually enter the professional leagues.
As always, New Manchester United had not forgotten to arrange a preseason friendly against Droylsden.
Ethan was even considering turning the match into an annual cup competition to be held before the start of every season.
All of New Manchester United's ticket revenue from preseason friendlies at the Butcher's Arms Ground went directly to Droylsden, with New Manchester United taking nothing. It was their way of expressing gratitude for Droylsden's help during the club's early days.
At the same time, Ethan hoped this gesture would teach the players that the club should not only remember those who had helped it, but that they themselves should also understand gratitude and loyalty.
Of course, Ethan was neither Edwards nor Peter Kenyon. He did not face the financial pressure that came with being listed on the stock market.
As Ethan had always said, he had no intention of making a profit from New Manchester United.
Every penny the club earned would be reinvested in the team and its players.
Ethan already had a comprehensive plan for this, but the club was still competing at too low a level for many of those measures to be implemented. In the future, however, he would gradually put his plans into action.
Whenever New Manchester United came to the Butcher's Arms Ground, Market Street was always packed with people.
In the eyes of the local community, New Manchester United had been born there and was considered one of Market Street's own.
Even though the club had since moved to Newton Heath, within the city of Manchester, nothing could change the affection the local people felt for New Manchester United.
So when the supporters saw New Manchester United's team bus slowly enter Market Street, enthusiastic applause and cheers immediately erupted.
It was as though they were welcoming home someone who had been away for a long time.
Mourinho was the first to step off the bus.
When he saw the passionate supporters, a faint smile appeared on his usually stern face, and he raised a hand to wave at them.
Schmeichel, who followed him off the bus, was clearly more famous and popular with the supporters than the head coach. After all, he had once been a star player for Manchester United.
When the supporters erupted into even louder cheers for him, Schmeichel shrugged at Mourinho, who had turned to look at him, as though to say there was nothing he could do about it.
Both men smiled.
The players stepped off the bus one after another, while the cheers from the supporters never stopped.
"Gareth, isn't this Droylsden's home ground? Why are the supporters so welcoming toward us?" Terry, who had joined the club that year, asked in confusion.
As someone from London, he naturally knew little about what had happened in Manchester.
"We were founded here," Gareth Turner said nostalgically as he recalled that day.
The other players in the dressing room heard him and immediately gathered around, eagerly asking Gareth about what had happened back then.
The founding of New Manchester United had become a legendary story, especially among Manchester United supporters.
"Two years ago, media tycoon Rupert Murdoch wanted to buy Manchester United.
"The chairman at the time, Edwards, and the others agreed to the deal, but we supporters refused to accept it.
"Mr. Yu owned a supermarket back then and was also the leader of a supporters' group.
"He led the members of the group all across Manchester, hoping to stop Murdoch from buying Manchester United.
"He even led everyone in protests outside Old Trafford."
The dressing room fell silent as the players listened to this part of New Manchester United's history.
Even Mourinho and his assistant coaches, who were standing near the door, listened intently, although they did not crowd around like the players.
"But it was useless.
"We protested outside Old Trafford for several days, but the club's board still decided to accept Murdoch's offer.
"Under those circumstances, everyone understood that the club's officials had chosen money and abandoned the supporters.
"The boss was heartbroken.
"He was completely disillusioned. Then he walked over to the statue of Sir Matt Busby, took off his Manchester United shirt with his own hands, tore it into pieces, and declared that he would establish a brand-new club.
"It would be a Manchester United club that truly represented the supporters, represented Newton Heath, and carried on the spirit of the green and gold.
"That club is New Manchester United!"
Everyone remained silent.
Clearly, they had never heard this history before, even though it had happened only two years earlier.
In truth, the players who had joined later had simply come to play football. They had never understood that the club possessed such a history.
Now that they had heard Gareth describe it, they finally realized just how remarkable the club they represented truly was. It filled them with pride and excitement.
"Do you know what everyone thought at the time? They thought the boss had lost his mind.
"He had no money, no players, and no influence, yet he wanted to build a football club. It seemed like nothing more than a fantasy.
"But what actually happened?
"I still remember that I was playing for a small club near Wigan at the time.
"As soon as I heard the news, I travelled to Manchester a day early so I could prepare for the trial.
"I thought I had arrived early enough, but it turned out I hadn't."
"Someone arrived even earlier than you?" Terry asked in surprise.
Gareth looked toward the dressing-room door, where Darren Lyons and Karl Marginson were standing beside Mourinho, and pointed at them.
"They arrived before me.
"I was the third. Not long afterward, several more players joined us, including Jonathan Mitten.
"He was a key player for a National League club at the time, but he gave up his salary and contract to join New Manchester United.
"He is also someone worthy of great respect."
"Can you guess how many players took part in that trial?" Darren Lyons asked as he walked over with a smile.
The players thought for a moment before offering their guesses, most ranging from a few dozen to one or two hundred.
"More than a thousand players took part in that trial.
"Many of them came from clubs in higher divisions, but they were all willing to join New Manchester United.
"It was right here, on this very pitch, that we took part in the club's first trial.
"The coach who oversaw it was Droylsden's current manager.
"We selected seventeen players from among them. There was also a youngster named Curtis Davies, who is now in our academy. He joined the club back then as well."
"To show his gratitude to Droylsden and Mr. David Pace, the boss chose Droylsden as New Manchester United's opponent for the club's first match, and all the ticket revenue went to this club that had helped us.
"The same thing happened last year, and it is happening again this year.
"The boss once said that every New Manchester United player should know that Droylsden gave us selfless help when we needed it most. We should always be grateful and repay them as much as we can.
"That is why Jonathan Mitten, Richie Wellens, and several others joined Droylsden on free transfers this year."
As he spoke, Gareth's eyes gradually filled with tears.
"I thought I would leave this year as well, but the boss told me that he wanted me to stay and continue playing for the club.
"I agreed without hesitation.
"I know I'm not talented enough, and perhaps I won't be able to start, but I promised the boss that I would always remain loyal to New Manchester United.
"I will always be a Red Rebel.
"If the day comes when the club no longer needs me, then I will leave, but my heart will always remain with this team!"
After saying that, Gareth could no longer hold back his tears.
Everyone in the dressing room was deeply moved because they had never witnessed such heartfelt loyalty between a supporter and a football club.
"Don't worry, Gareth. This club will always need you, even after you can no longer play," Mourinho said as he walked over.
Unusually moved, he handed Gareth a tissue to comfort him.
Gareth was an exceptionally loyal player. Karl Marginson and Darren Lyons were the same. They were all devoted servants of New Manchester United.
"I'm sorry, everyone. I lost control of my emotions.
"But I hope that many, many years from now, this story will still be told in this dressing room at Droylsden.
"This is where New Manchester United began, and I hope it will also become part of our club's tradition!"
All the players in the dressing room nodded in agreement.
Perhaps many of them would attract interest from bigger clubs after the season and eventually leave New Manchester United, but at that moment, each of them felt proud to have represented such a club.
At the same time, they silently promised themselves that no matter where they went in the future, they would always carry with them the moving football story they had heard that day.
Seeing that the players had mostly regained control of their emotions and that kickoff was approaching, Mourinho clapped his hands forcefully.
"All right, lads, the match is about to begin.
"Today, I'm not going to tell you that this is a life-or-death battle because our opponents are our brothers and the people who helped us when we needed it most.
"So I hope all of you show proper sportsmanship on the pitch and give the supporters who came here today an entertaining football match!"
The players loudly voiced their agreement.
At that moment, they did not carry the determination of men preparing for a desperate battle. They carried only hearts filled with gratitude.
...
At one side of the main stand, Ethan had no idea what was happening in the dressing room.
He was simply waiting for the players to emerge, while beside him, Droylsden owner David Pace was engaged in a heated discussion with Walsh.
By tradition, all the revenue from the match belonged to Droylsden.
Although it amounted to only tens of thousands of pounds, it was still a considerable sum. Droylsden had accepted it in each of the previous two years.
This year, however, David Pace had earned some money through Umbro, and financing the club was no longer a major problem. As a result, he wanted the two clubs to split the revenue equally.
Walsh refused.
The two men could be seen arguing animatedly at the side of the stand, while Ethan watched them with an amused expression.
He already had an idea.
(To be continued.)