Worst Spectator in the World
Credit:
Last Wednesday evening, just finished work and I'm making my way to training. At this stage in the week you are looking forward to Friday’s match, you start thinking about the opposition and who you will be marking.
As I headed out onto the training pitch, the spirits are high in the group after recent results. Suddenly, out of nowhere, you feel something go in the back of your calf, the physio says it’s a slight strain and you are out for ten days. Gutted!
Since I began playing professionally in 1996, I have had my fair share of injuries. Seven operations in two years was my introduction to full-time football in the UK.
On one occasion in particular I thought my football career may have been a thing of the past. During the recovery period of my fifth groin operation, I woke up one morning in excruciating pain and was unable to move my legs. Crippled, was the phrase that my Dad used when he came into my room to see what all the shouting was about. Luckily for me, he was over visiting for a few days and managed to pick me up, off to Leeds General Infirmary.
Thankfully after a long and slow rehabilitation period I managed to get back on the training pitch and get playing again. One thing I did learn from that episode was, without the right support systems such as my parents and now wife, Janet, I would have been unable to get through that period. Having experienced what I have, on the injuries front, the mental toughness I developed is vital for how I cope with injuries today.
Due to the calf injury, I was an interested spectator in a packed Oriel Park on Friday. Watching is not for me, I am the world’s worst spectator. Nerves are never an issue for me when I am playing in the most high profile of matches, but put me in the stand to watch my team mates and I am a nervous wreck.
I find it very hard to get my head around the fact that you can’t do anything to influence the game. I have to hand it to Pats fans for putting up with this, week in week out. I can only imagine what last season was like for them.
When you hear of a 0-0 scoreline, first impressions are normally that it's a snooze fest. In actual fact, it was one of the best games of football I have seen in this league for some time. Both sides tried to get the ball down and had a real go to win the game. The draw was probably the fair result in the end with both Liam Burns and Alex ‘The Jock’ Williams missing sitters in the last ten minutes.
One incident in the game which I was very disappointed to see was Ian Foster’s reaction to Dave Mulcahy's tackle in the first half. Dave is one of the most committed players I have ever played with, but he is one of the fairest. He made a strong tackle, which was a little high in the first half on a Dundalk player. Foster decided to jump up from the bench, screaming for him to be shown a red card.
For me, any manger or player for that matter, who tries to get a member of the opposition sent-off is out of order. Referees have come in for some criticism over the last few weeks, but Anthony Buttimer's handling of the situation was excellent and he had a great game overall.
Just as I am finishing writing this week’s column I have found out Richmond Park has failed a pitch inspection. So another match called off this early in the season, no doubt that will add to our awaiting fixture congestion. On a personal note, I am not too disappointed, hopefully the calf will have healed up for the rescheduled match.
As I headed out onto the training pitch, the spirits are high in the group after recent results. Suddenly, out of nowhere, you feel something go in the back of your calf, the physio says it’s a slight strain and you are out for ten days. Gutted!
Since I began playing professionally in 1996, I have had my fair share of injuries. Seven operations in two years was my introduction to full-time football in the UK.
On one occasion in particular I thought my football career may have been a thing of the past. During the recovery period of my fifth groin operation, I woke up one morning in excruciating pain and was unable to move my legs. Crippled, was the phrase that my Dad used when he came into my room to see what all the shouting was about. Luckily for me, he was over visiting for a few days and managed to pick me up, off to Leeds General Infirmary.
Thankfully after a long and slow rehabilitation period I managed to get back on the training pitch and get playing again. One thing I did learn from that episode was, without the right support systems such as my parents and now wife, Janet, I would have been unable to get through that period. Having experienced what I have, on the injuries front, the mental toughness I developed is vital for how I cope with injuries today.
Due to the calf injury, I was an interested spectator in a packed Oriel Park on Friday. Watching is not for me, I am the world’s worst spectator. Nerves are never an issue for me when I am playing in the most high profile of matches, but put me in the stand to watch my team mates and I am a nervous wreck.
I find it very hard to get my head around the fact that you can’t do anything to influence the game. I have to hand it to Pats fans for putting up with this, week in week out. I can only imagine what last season was like for them.
When you hear of a 0-0 scoreline, first impressions are normally that it's a snooze fest. In actual fact, it was one of the best games of football I have seen in this league for some time. Both sides tried to get the ball down and had a real go to win the game. The draw was probably the fair result in the end with both Liam Burns and Alex ‘The Jock’ Williams missing sitters in the last ten minutes.
One incident in the game which I was very disappointed to see was Ian Foster’s reaction to Dave Mulcahy's tackle in the first half. Dave is one of the most committed players I have ever played with, but he is one of the fairest. He made a strong tackle, which was a little high in the first half on a Dundalk player. Foster decided to jump up from the bench, screaming for him to be shown a red card.
For me, any manger or player for that matter, who tries to get a member of the opposition sent-off is out of order. Referees have come in for some criticism over the last few weeks, but Anthony Buttimer's handling of the situation was excellent and he had a great game overall.
Just as I am finishing writing this week’s column I have found out Richmond Park has failed a pitch inspection. So another match called off this early in the season, no doubt that will add to our awaiting fixture congestion. On a personal note, I am not too disappointed, hopefully the calf will have healed up for the rescheduled match.
About Damian Lynch
Premier Perspective: Damian Lynch is an extratime.ie columnist giving his views on the current state of the league as well as his own personal performance with St. Patricks Athletic. The Saints' skipper will give his … View Full Profile