After 12 or 13 years, I’ve put back on my football socks and my shin pads. It is really strange, and I am a bit anxious about how my body will deal with a 5 a side match that is taking place in 59 mins from now.
Thrifty FC are playing in Division 6 of the Astro Leagues, having been promoted from Division 7 last month. The standard wil be ok I imagine… and I’m sure I’ll catch up and get used to it all very quickly, but this is a pretty big step into the unknown. Squash and even the few jogs I do will be nothing compared to this…
AFTERWARDS
I made it through playing over an hour of competitive football. The standard is actually very good, and while I’m off the pace, and will be for a while, I’m happy enough. I had a few good passes, and a few good saves (rotating goalie), and while I did drift out of the game for a while, I’m happy enough.
The first match is on next Tuesday. I’m going to be well down the pecking order, but I’m sure I’ll get a run out if not in this game, soon enough. I’m really surprised how the body took the physical activities, and it was my concentration and the fact I’m rusty with a ball at my feet were my problems.
I know people reading this may / will be thinking, what is he on about. This is only a kick around on a small pitch. I can see their point, but for me this was a big step . It’s like a squash, I’m ranked near the bottom in my club, very near, but I don’t care because I love it, and because I’m just happy to be able to do it and just push myself.
THE NEXT DAY
I woke up at about 3am with awful pain in my wrist. With the help of some pain killers I was able to get some sleep. At lunch time the next day Ais made me go to casualty to get it looked at. As it turns out I have a suspected broken sceptoid. I won’t know more till next Saturday because this bone is very difficult to diagnose, but right now I’m in a half cast. The first competitive game of the season is on tonight, but I won’t be able to play.