Godfather Of Champio Chapter 158: The Curse of the South Changing Room

Chapter 158: The Curse of the South Changing Room

Translator: Nyoi-Bo Studio Editor: Nyoi-Bo Studio

When Nottingham Forest was in the midst of training hard for their first EFL Cup championship title in twelve years, an absolutely disadvantageous piece of news was heard from the EFL Cup mittee. The mittee had announced the allocation results of the two teams' changing rooms.

According to the rule, "Northern teams will use the North changing room, while Southern teams will use the South changing room". Middlesbrough, which was located even more to the North than Nottingham Forest, obtained the right to use the North changing room. Nottingham Forest, on the other hand, could only helplessly accept what fate had arranged for them — to use the "cursed" South changing room at Cardiff Millennium Stadium.

Once this news was announced, Nottingham's local press erupted with plaints. The majority of them lamented about fate not being fair, and placed much emphasis on fatalism.

There were also a minority of them, who felt that this new rule of changing rooms was not logical. And that, instead, it should be abolished, and the allocation of rooms should be decided the "old-fashioned" way, via balloting.

Of contrary opinion, Middlesbrough's side was overjoyed. Aside from the local media's advocating strongly that fate had treated its team well, they also did not forget to seize the opportunity to strike at their opponent's confidence.

They were opposed to the idea of changing this rule, because Middlesbrough City was one of the most northern cities in England. The only two teams, which were located even more to the North than Middlesbrough, and that also had the abilities to advance into this kind of Cup final, were probably only Newcastle and Sunderland.

The evidence, which they had provided to refute Nottingham's press, appeared to be extremely convincing. Before the 2002 FA Cup finals match, Chelsea and Arsenal had both advanced into the finals. Although both teams were based in London City, which was located in the south of England, Arsenal was based in North London, while Chelsea was based in West London. Hence, with Chelsea being located closer to the south, they had to use that south changing room.

It was noteworthy to know that, in the eighteen months prior to this, Cardiff Millennium Stadium, which replaced the under-construction Wembley Stadium, had hosted finals of various petitions (including FA Cup, FA munity Shield, EFL Cup, League One and below playoffs and elimination matches). Among these, all of the teams that used the south changing room had, without exception, lost in each of their respective matches. Cardiff Millennium Stadium's south changing room was, therefore, deemed to be a cursed changing room.

Chelsea was naturally dissatisfied with losing such an important match, as a result of what was dubbed the "North-South fate