|
|
|
Youth team (1998-1999) / Defender (#5) (1999-2000) / (#19) (2000-2001)
Dion Osbourne arrived in Harchester United's youth team at the start of the 1998-99 season, lodging at the hostel alongside Leon Richards, Gary Pascoe, Billy O'Neill and Alex Wilkinson. On the pitch, he was in the defence position under Frank Patcham, and was in Helen Jensen's classes. At the end of the season, Dion joined the other youth teamers at Wembley to watch Leon play in the first team's historical FA Cup final. With Billy and Simon Coggan, Dion gains a professional contract and becomes part of the Harchester squad from 1999-00.
Dion gets his biggest moment when he travels to Amsterdam for the club's UEFA Cup First Round Second Leg tie with Ajax, a 2-2 draw. This is immediately followed by Dion being caught up in the grief of the club losing three of his new team mates, plus old friend Leon, in a plane crash on the way home, and Dion stands with Billy making the final decision as to whether the team be made to play Chelsea only two days later. When the team are about to fly for the first time since the crash, this time for the Second Round First Leg against Rangers, Dion throws up on the coach, and sitting next to him, Billy has a panic attack after calling him Leon. There are times of great responsibility for Dion as the season goes on, and for the Third Round Second Leg at West Ham, Ray informs him that he and Luis would like him to be the backbone of the defence, with Didier not registered to play for UEFA.
Harchester survive relegation (just) for Dion to begin his second Premier League season with the club. Dion is in the side for the crucial end-of-season match that could see Harchester qualify for their first Champions League. Paolo Di Canio fouls Dion leading to a goal which is allowed, and a furious Ray has to be held back remonstrating with the official. A win of 3-2 sees the return of European football for the Lair, and Dion ends his time as a Dragon with a move to Coventry City.
|