Over and out

It started with a goal in 2-1 defeat away to Valley Gardens Middle School back in September 1983. On Sunday, 23 years on, it all came to an end with another goal as we went down 4-2 to Choppington Bomar at the Foxhunters field in Whitley Bay. In all honesty I shouldn't have played. My groin injury has all but disappeared but there are still a few worrying twinges now and again. For us the game was meaningless, but for the opposition only a win would suffice if they were to clinch the league championship. If ever I needed convincing that it was time to retire then the first half provided the goods. A frustrating 45 minutes played in a howling gale on an awful pitch with a poor referee. We'd been no worse than the opposition but somehow had gifted them a three goal lead. Things got better in the second period and Mason pulled one back with a great strike from the edge of the penalty box. The Bomar started to look nervous, but a goalkeeping howler restored their three goal advantage. As the game wore on we started to play some decent football and I was desperate to get on the scoresheet one last time. Then as we entered the last ten minutes the ball was played up to Tate, who nodded it in the air and lined up a volley. However, before he could get himself into position I swooped in taking the ball off his toe. The defence were left standing and I advanced into the box before smashing the ball past the helpless keeper. The champions elect began to look edgy again. Things could have got even more interesting a couple of minutes later but after jinking past two defenders my shot went high and wide. And that was that, Choppington lifted the league title and my football career came to an end. After rejecting a couple of efforts to make me change my mind on retirement I headed home to prepare for the start of a 15-week training plan that will hopefully culminate in a sub-3 hour marathon in Nottingham on the 10th September. Injuries not withstanding I'm optimistic of success but only time will tell. It’s going to be an interesting summer.

Mixed month of May

It’s been a bit of a strange month so far, packed with ups and downs including this blog disappearing for a few weeks. My groin injury kept me out of action for a week. I was immediately back into it the following week, running on Monday, Tuesday & Wednesday. This included a new 7.5 mile route up through the path by Whitley Bay Golf Club and on into Holywell Dene. A great route away from traffic although there was almost an incident when a mother cow and her calf blocked my path. I followed this up the next night running home from Benton for another 7 miles. No reaction from the injury although I seemed to have noticeably slowed my average pace. For some reason I didn't run again that week but rounded it off with a goal in our 2-0 win over the Cullercoats Piper.

Last week was poor on the running front with just one run. This was a rain soaked effort home from Benton, squelching home in around 7:30 min per mile pace. A combination of events kept me from running again not least the Champions League final and the impending arrival of my in-laws from Maine. Back in action on the Sunday we visited South Beach attempting to deny them promotion. Things didn't look good when we kicked off with only 10 men and then went a goal behind in the opening five minutes. We may have been a man short for most of the half but the lads played some decent stuff and I rather fortuitously equalised just before half time. A shot from 35 yards headed straight to the keeper who generously let it slip through his grasp and into the net. Then as half time approached I felt a sharp twinge in my groin. The injury was back. It hadn't gone completely but I immediately knew that if I tried to sprint or even jump it would go. We had eleven players by this point but still no substitute, so I had to soldier on and played the second half almost as a passenger. I jogged around half-heartedly trying to give as much as I could without injuring myself any further. It was rather a difficult experience with the natural urge being to play to my full capacity. Although we lost 4-2 I just about managed to make it through the game without further problems even though a couple of goalscoring chances were almost too difficult to resist. Now the big question is whether I should play in my last ever game this Sunday. It’s a meaningless end of season match for us and the Blaydon Race is just two weeks away. Common sense would dictate that I don't risk it, but since when have I had any common sense? Just three days after the injury and it seems to have calmed down. The urge is there to play and I must admit I'll find it hard to resist pulling the shirt on just one more time.

A 48 hours from hell

It just had to come, things were going too smoothly. I was running well, increasing mileage, maintaining my speed and introducing new routes into the schedule. On the football front we were still in the promotion hunt and in a cup semi final. Then out of nowhere an injury gatecrashes the party and things take a dive. The week had begun well. I usually give myself the day off after a match to let my muscles recover. However, I was feeling good and decided to get some extra miles in early in the week. On the way home I took the train to Palmersville and then ran up through Killingworth Village and Backworth. It worked out at just under seven miles and although the pace was slower than normal it was a decent workout. The following night I ran the whole way home and for the second week in a row averaged less than seven minute miles (62:22).

I felt great after the run but the following night we had football training and I was lethargic. I made it through the session with the minimum of effort and decided to rest on Thursday and Friday ahead of our upcoming games that would define our season. As it turns out I missed my scheduled run on Saturday as well and should have been well rested for Sunday’s promotion clash against the Earsdon Red Lion. As I warmed up I felt some tightness in my left groin muscle. Not sure what had brought this on I tried to stretch out as well as possible. Then I got up and kicked the ball with my right foot. “Ow!” a pain shot through my right ankle. The ball came back to me and I kicked it with my left foot and the same pain shot through my left ankle. Maybe my body was trying to tell me this season is the right time to hang up the boots after all.

Anyway, the game kicked off the pains subsided. We didn’t play particularly well, but then neither did the opposition. We gifted them a goal after about fifteen minutes and then they proceeded to present us with chance after chance to equalise. It took the gilt-edged chances but we eventually levelled it up five minutes before half time with a goal from Tatey. Then with half time approaching I picked the ball up in midfield and ran past two defenders. As it turned past the second one a shooting pain went through my groin. It had gone and the pain was pretty bad. The immediate problem was that I was still standing up and in possession of the ball. I looked to lay it off but no-one was available and eventually decided on a shot which turned out to be pathetically weak. I went down for a few seconds but against my better judgement got up and tried to last the two minutes until half time. Moments later we were defending a corner and the ball came to me on the edge of the six-yard box. I swung my leg to clear the ball, and my groin screamed with pain as I completely missed the ball. Fortunately the ref blew for half time and I hobbled off the pitch. The game was over for me and soon after the restart it was over for the rest of the lads as well. Two sloppy goals gave the Red Lion a 3-1 lead. Our promotion hopes were in need of an unlikely three goal comeback and it never looked likely. Craig Blackburn pulled one back from the penalty spot but that was all we could manage. The Red Lion had been poor and if we’d played well it should’ve been an easy three points.

I’ve never had a groin strain before but I can tell you it was pretty painful on Sunday afternoon. The pain subsided by Tuesday but every time I tried to bound up the stairs or jog across the road it came back reminding me I was out of action for a while. I’ve no idea how long it will take to recover but I’d like to play again this season and my first race is pencilled in for 24th May. Meanwhile, two days after the Red Lion defeat the rest of the lads were faced with keeping our season alive in the cup semi final against Choppington Bomar. Although we’d beaten the Bomar 6-3 back in September they are undoubtedly the best team in the division. And with a squad depleted by injuries we never really stood a chance. I stood and watched from the sidelines as we got tonked 5-1. The subs bench was pretty thin and even some of the lads who were playing were carrying injuries. So all in all, not a good 48 hours for any of us. Struck down with an injury that I don’t know how long will take to recover, promotion dreams out the window and then dumped out of the cup. What was that song the played when Tony Blair won the lection in 1997 … “Things can only get better”. Let’s bloody hope so. Stay positive.