I remember it well. The buzz and excitement that seemed to capture the imagination of a whole city every Saturday. It’s what got me into supporting the team I support now. My mates used to talk about it at school all week and then go to the game together. At first I never understood it, having grown up at another end of the country.

I was born in Plymouth in 1972, and spent 12 years there. Unfortunately, I never knew my father and my stepdad was a bit of a prick, abusive most of the time. One night in 1984, my Mum had had enough, and we moved to Leeds, now the second most populous UK city outside of London. I was the butt of the jokes not being a Leeds United fan and with Plymouth Argyle being the only team I had followed in any particular capacity.

Truth is, I’d never really followed football much. I went to see Plymouth occasionally but I was more a player than a follower. There were nowhere near as many opportunities as there are now to get involved in a local side so I just had kickabouts in the park with my friends.

I will admit though, once I moved to Leeds it grew on me. Even as a Division Two side fallen from grace, Leeds United still provoked excitement around the city. I liked the whole buzz and I started to follow football more often as a result. More importantly, it sparked my love affair with the boys in white.

Before long, I was a season ticket holder even though the club were hitting rock bottom, ravaged by ill fortune on the pitch and a serious hooligan problem. Nothing beat the buzz whenever we scored, and everyone packed in like sardines would go beserk, with the little men dancing on the scoreboard.

Even my PE teacher was a keen Leeds United fan, and he took a shine to my footballing ability. It’s just as well, given that I was slacking in my other subjects and had disciplinary issues at school in general. He made me captain of the football team at the age of 14, and probably inspired me in improving my behaviour at school and sorting out my attitude in lessons. He encouraged me to go along to Leeds United trials, and from there I never looked back.

I was a strapping 6 foot 2 centre-back, and didn’t take shit from anyone. Not that I was a dirty player, I often won the ball fair and square, but the strikers always knew I was there. I signed on to my newly beloved Leeds United aged 17, with new manager Howard Wilkinson looking to build a legacy of youth players. There were already plans in place for a state-of-the-art academy and training ground which I couldn’t wait to see in action.

I met my wife of twenty years (and counting) at the age of 22 in 1994. That same year we were married and in February 1995 along came our first born child, along with our second born in February 1999. The family were quite settled in Leeds as I spent my career there, before my retirement in 2007 aged 35.

When I retired in 2007, I knew I wanted to stay in the game, so I spent the following four years earning my coaching badges. I eventually came away with a UEFA A Licence, the second highest badge available to coaches in Europe.

Although over-qualified, I went on to volunteer as a coach for my youngest son’s school team. He’s certainly no athlete, but he’s a big lad, a young Mark Viduka in that he is quite lethargic off the ball but when he gets it he can hold players off and do good things with it.

I spent three years there before I decided in summer 2014 that I had to get a paid job at a professional club. I wanted to be a manager but not in this country. I don’t have anything against the UK and living in it, but I felt that as a budding football manager, the world was my oyster. Football management is a universal job, which basically means the concept is the same but in a different language.

Speaking of which (no pun intended), I was quite the linguist. I have a curiosity for languages and this showed during my time at Leeds. When we were in Europe, I took the time to learn Spanish and German, purely because I wanted to be able to communicate with natives in Spain and Germany. Shortly before the shit hit the fan and the club fell on its arse, I started courses in Italian and French but I could never quite grasp them, and my willingness to learn declined as the club fell out of Europe.

I knew I couldn’t get a foreign job alone, so I got onto a football agency. I came across Full Contact and their top agent Lee Payne, whose clientele includes Paddy Kenny, Grant Holt, Ben Foster and Glenn Whelan amongst others. I was ready to challenge him working for a manager as he’d only dealt with players so far.

After a conversation on the phone and having outlined the fact that I want to go abroad, Lee got on the case, and the next day I was faced with job interviews across the world from Romania to Singapore and South Africa to France. Of course I attended them all (details of each single interview would be too extensive to be included in the story) and before long, I had offers on the table.

“Alright Bill how’s this for a deal, you find an English area in Chongqing and I’ll come to China with you”

I had a feeling Leanne wouldn’t be psyched about the idea of upping sticks and moving to China. Ever since I said I wanted to manage abroad she wanted somewhere that preferably wasn’t too far away and had communities that spoke English. She was obviously going to be a little pissed off that I went and took a job at Chongqing.

But there was something about the club that had whet my appetite. A club in the promotion race with reasonable financial backing. Not to mention the size of the stadium. The Chongqing Olympic Stadium is a huge venue capable of holding approximately 58,000 spectators and was built in 2004 to host seven matches in the 2004 AFC Asia Cup.

I packed my bags into the boot of my car and set off on the lonely 4-hour journey to Heathrow. Of course it upset me to be leaving my family to go to China, but it was only going to be temporary as I was planning on finding them somewhere to live with me at the end of the season which was only three months away.

A four hour car journey, two hour airport wait and a 17-hour flight later, I was in Chongqing. I knew what I was set to endure for the next year and a half as soon as I stepped off the plane. It was overcast but the temperature was 40 degrees Celsius and I was sweating like a pig. The unbearable heat stuck with me until I got into the terminal building.

“Mr Bill Hartley?” said a scrawny looking middle aged Chinese man holding a sign with my name on it.

“Yes, I’m Bill” I replied

“I’m your taxi driver, Chao Wan” Chao took the lead and I followed him to his taxi. It had no air conditioning and I was roasting my bollocks off sat in the back. I put my window down briefly, but it was just hot air blowing straight in my face so I put the window back up again.

Luckily, I’d been putting a few grand aside each week for my retirement when I was playing, so I had a bit to throw around, and could afford a plush air-conditioned hotel in town until I could find an apartment. The bed was king-sized and definitely fit for a king. I sank into the bed, just to relax and take stock of my jet-lagged body for a moment before I set about getting ready to start work. Kick-off for my first game was in six hours and I had to be at the ground for the usual first day pleasantries. I was knackered but it had to be done.

You're off to a flying start here. I like the time you have taken to develop a character instead of simply posting pictures and screenshots. There's an art to writing, and I'm glad you're digging deep. Keep it up!

2015-07-15 03:11#216297 tenthreeleader : You're off to a flying start here. I like the time you have taken to develop a character instead of simply posting pictures and screenshots. There's an art to writing, and I'm glad you're digging deep. Keep it up!

Cheers mate

I headed towards an impressive looking dressing room. The Chongqing Olympic Centre is considered to be Olympic standard so I guess the dressing room was always going to be quite plush. In the dressing room I found my players getting prepared for the game and talking to my assistant manager, Liu Jingbiao presumably discussing the opposition and Liu telling them what to expect from me.

Interpreter by my side, I was ready to address the team.

“Right lads, I’m not going to pretend to be a footballing encyclopaedia, I know nothing about Chinese football and Chinese tactics and the way the game is generally played here. With that in mind, we’ll set out in a universal 4-4-2, just so I can have a look at you and what you can bring to the table. We’re playing a short passing game with a high tempo. I want the ball to be going out to the wingers and we’ll work our way into the box from wide positions. I’ve noticed we struggle for aerial presence up front so let’s keep it on the ground” I gave my interpreter a moment to explain what I just said in Chinese.

“I have a report here that breaks down the positions you can all play and what type of player you all are” I then went on to explain where everyone will play as my interpreter translated along the way.

“I’m aware you lot lost the last game so I want to see much better performances out there this afternoon. I know you can do it because you’ve been doing it all season so let’s give this a good go”

After further translation, the referee knocked and popped his head around the door and said what was translated to me as “We’re ready to kick-off”

Although it may seem underwhelming to walk out in front of a crowd of 11,000 given the size of the stadium, I was still in awe. Almost straight after landing I was set to manage in a country I’d never been to or watched its football in front of an 11,000-strong home crowd.

And not even sixty seconds in, that feeling escalated when- after some good build-up play straight from kick-off- Cui Yongzhe laid in a lovely through ball for Wang Dong who fired into the bottom corner. It was the perfect start and just what I asked for in the way we moved the ball about.

We had another couple of good attacks but after finally finding their feet in the game, Hainiu pulled level after the keeper Sui Weijie failed to keep a hold of the ball and Yang Yun’s well intended but poorly executed attempt to clear up rolled over the line. It was an unfortunate mistake and I pulled both of them to one side telling them to keep their chins up.

The rest of the first half was an even contest, I went down the tunnel at half-time pleased with our solid performance.

“Right lads that was a good effort out there. I’m generally pleased with what you’re showing me out there. I reckon we can win this. Play as you have been, work hard at it and we will get the three points today. I want to see us pushing up now, defenders I want to see you executing the offside trap as well. That’s all I have to say”. After my interpreter translated once more, I headed back to my comfy dugout on pitch side ready for the second half.

They came at us for a good fifteen minutes in the second half and we had to hold firm to keep them out. Eventually, I told the lads we need to be getting in their faces and pushing forward and the game became more balanced.

I was beginning to become satisfied with the draw when Wang Dong who had played out of his skin played a beautiful ball for Wu Qing. Well he just had to score, he was on side and in acres of space and he blasted that ball home for 2-1. It was brilliant to witness such great play and the players all of a sudden found a belief that we could win this.

The lads had to be reminded to stay switch on at the end as Hainiu started to come at us again but we saw the game out and ran out winners. The first thing I did was check my phone to see where that put us and we were up in 3rd, a point behind 2nd and three points behind 3rd. I went into the dressing room with the widest smile in Asia and couldn’t wait to congratulate the team.

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(Apologies to tenthreeleader for selling out the image-free style of the story but no one really knows players in the Chinese First Division)

“Do you have identification with you Mr Hartley?” wasn’t what the bank manager asked. Being with HSBC, all I had to do was have my savings converted and my card would still be valid. Instead, I was with an estate agent, looking around an apartment to stay in until the family come over.

The apartment was in a skyscraper by the river, offering stunning panoramic views across the city from the window wall in the living room (with curtains for privacy of course) and I could even see the stadium. Otherwise, there was a very prominent marble theme, the walls were marble, the floors were marble and even the surfaces were marble. The kitchen was in one room with the living room, and there was a space for a dining table in between. The bedroom was spacious, in keeping with the rest of the property. Included in the lease was a sofa, a dishwasher, a washing machine, a tumble dryer and a large king-sized bed; all of which were very stylish, well maintained and modern.

“The landlord of this property is looking for 7000 Yuan per calendar month. Is that an affordable rent for you Mr Hartley?” the agent asked. Rounded to the nearest whole number, £1 is worth 10 Yuan. £700 per calendar month was still quite expensive, but as I was on nearly £50,000 a year this was an expense I could comfortably afford.

“7000 is just fine” I replied.

“The tenancy is on a payment-by-payment basis. Pay the rent, and you stay for another month. At least two weeks’ notice must be given if you’re moving out or else you’ll have to pay rent for the following month. Failure to do so will land you with an eviction notice which will affect your credit report. Do you understand these terms Mr Hartley?”

“Yes, I understand. I’m more than happy to take on the property. How do I get started?”

“I’m going to give you the account details of the agency, and you will be required to pay a deposit of 15,000 Yuan. You will be able to move into the property as soon as the first month’s rent has been received. We will email you when this has happened. Just send us an email back with a time you’re moving in and we’ll have a tenancy agreement for you to sign as well as the keys”

***

Deposit and rent paid, keys received and tenancy signed, I was ready to move in.

Lovely piece of writing and personally I enjoy words rather than pictures in things like this, so it's perfect!

A week had already passed since I stepped into the unknown. In that time I had made my first signing.

Adriano is a 34-year-old Brazilian centre back. He was a part of the AA Gent side that won the Belgian double in 2010, but had recently found himself without a club. He is a slow player, but he has great aerial ability and can mark as well as anyone. After drawn out negotiations, we tied him down to a deal until the end of 2015 on 260,000 Yuan per year.

We were ready to take to the field in our second consecutive home game, against Songjiang who were a point and a place behind us, laying in 4th. I headed into the dressing room, armed with my notes taken during our win against Hainiu. There’s some rotation as I announce the team sheet, and Adriano gets his debut.

“Right lads, I’m expecting you to win this one. We played very well last week so I want to see us play the same as we did against Hainiu, 4-4-2, getting the ball into wide positions, working it into the box and keeping it on the floor”

After translation, we head out onto the pitch and the feeling of last week returns. I look towards a block at one end to find a miniscule but pleasing gathering of Leeds fans- there must have been about 10-15 of them- bearing a Leeds United flag that read “Good luck Hartley MOT”. I listened closely and could hear a rendition of Leeds Leeds Leeds (Marching On Together) coming from that small gathering.

It inspired me and comforted me knowing that I had support from my own people, and made the frustration of a 0-0 draw hurt slightly less. Neither team dominated and overall it was a very nervy affair, but if you had offered me four points from my first two games in an alien league against two promotion rivals, I would have taken it all day long.

It’s stupid to assume that you can do a job in a foreign land with no familiar company from your own country. So that’s what I set out for, I needed to sign a British player to give a familiar feel to the job, so that I had someone in my side I could connect with on and off the pitch.

Obviously we were running a football club so I couldn’t just spend money on a British player for the sake of my sanity, so I set about looking for someone who would add something to my team. I looked at the size of clubs in the Chinese First Division compared with those back home. With the nearest match in England being the Vanarama Conference, I looked to Scotland in search of something closer to their top flight. With that in mind, I found the Scottish League One.

I needed the league’s best talent in order to compete, so I took a gander at the favourites to win it in 2014/15, Morton. They had a 21-year-old left-back named Thomas O’Ware. With scouting restricted to East Asia, I had to look at him myself. I watched videos of him from last season and seasons gone by, and then compared it with footage of my current left back of choice Liu Yu.

I came to the conclusion that O’Ware had potential, and was fractionally better than Liu Yu. I got on the phone to the club as soon as possible to arrange for a Morton representative to negotiate with via video conferencing i.e. Skype. I was given the Skype username of manager Jim Duffy and we negotiated face-to-face (kind of).

In the end we came to an agreement. With xe.com aiding me with currency conversion, we agreed a deal worth 310,000 Yuan (approximately £30,000) and Jim said he’d arrange for Thomas to fly out to Chongqing with his agent to sort out a contract. Accompanied by chairman Yin Mingshan, I met Thomas and his agent at a 4* restaurant in downtown Chongqing. After agreeing a contract worth 850,000 Yuan p/a (approx. £90,000 p/a, £1,800 p/w), we took him to see the stadium and training facilities.

Thomas seemed pretty enthusiastic, and two days later I received an email from his agent notifying me that all the necessary paperwork had been done in Scotland, we just needed to do our share. I couldn’t have signed the deal soon enough, and 24 hours later, I was meeting him outside the Chongqing Olympic Centre.

There was a fair bit of grandeur surrounding the signing, considering this was a small-money move from a small Scottish club to a Chinese second tier outfit with an average attendance five times smaller than its stadium. We did the clichéd photo shoot where we stood on touchline holding his shirt, adorned with the number 15 on the back accompanied by his name at the top “O’Ware”.