Comley hopeful of kicking off World Cup qualifiers in March
Magpies’ number 8 reflects on playing international football for Emerald Boys
A robust and reliable player, James Comley is best known locally as Maidenhead United’s stalwart number 8. But, perhaps unbeknownst to some, the 30-year-old doubles up as Montserrat’s vice-captain.
Called up in 2015, Comley made his debut in a 3-4 aggregate defeat to Curaçao – a side managed at the time by Patrick Kluivert – and has since gone on to tally up 10 caps for the country.
He’s also scored once 'so far' for the Emerald Boys in a 2-1 victory against Dominican Republic back in 2019, notably a game in which he also assisted ex-Magpie Adrian Clifton for the winning goal.
It’s a different ball game overseas and one the Magpies player has had to learn considering the style of football the National League demands. Comley says it’s a challenge that has enhanced his game, however, with the player able to utilise his international experience back at York Road.
“It’s been great in all honesty. To go abroad and play in some new countries and new climates has been a really rewarding experience,” he said. “I played my first game for Montserrat before I came to Maidenhead. It was against Curaçao in a World Cup qualifier. We played against Cuco Martina, who went to Everton at the end of that season, and Juninho Bacuna who plays for Huddersfield.
“Internationally, you come up against some players of real quality so it’s good to test yourself against them. When you play in the National League or even the Football League, like I have done, you come up against the same type of players quite regularly. Every so often you’ll come up against a new player but by the following season, you know what they’re about. Whereas, when you play internationally, especially against teams like Antigua or St Lucia, you don’t know anything about them.
“It’s quite refreshing to go and play against players you know nothing about. Before you step onto the pitch, you don’t really know too much about the player in front of you but once you leave the pitch, you definitely do.
“There’s always a lesson to learn, whether it’s from the result or the opponents you’re facing, and that’s a mentality I’ve been able to carry back on the plane with me.”
Comley is hopeful it won’t be too long before he can jet off again however, and he’s keeping his fingers crossed he will be able to compete in the first round of the Qatar 2022 World Cup qualifying matches next month.
The Emerald Boys were due to play their fixtures in October and November last year but were rescheduled for this March due to the pandemic. If the competition is deemed safe to go ahead, Montserrat will tangle with Grenada and Antigua & Barbuda away, and El Salvador and the US Virgin Islands at home.
“I’ve no doubt it will be tough, these are some strong nations we have played before,” said Comley.
“I believe the matches are going to be played in a neutral venue but, truthfully, I don’t know too much about what’s going on just yet with the fine details. We’re all just keeping our fingers crossed the games will go ahead. I’m really grateful for the opportunity I’ve been given so far and it would be great to get back out there,” he added.
Before their campaign was officially declared null and void last week, Slough Town boss Jon Underwood had scoffed at the idea of potentially continuing the season with the club’s u23s players.
As a ‘safer and financially viable’ means to carrying on, teams in the National League North and National League South proposed to play their younger members of the club to fulfil their remaining fixtures.
For Underwood, this wasn’t something Slough were prepared to do, with the Rebels boss affirming how negative the decision could have been to the integrity of the competition.
“As a way for us to carry the season on, there were all sorts of arguments thrown out there,” he said.
“People were suggesting we furlough all our players and just put a load of kids out for free.
“But this is supposed to be elite football, and elite football is not about putting together a scratch team of kids who will play for nothing, just to complete a season in front of no supporters.
“Personally, I just don’t see that is an acceptable way to finish a season.
“I think the clubs that were shouting the loudest for that were those at the top of the league who would welcome playing against an u23 team every week and walk their way to promotion.
“Well, why would we have done that?
“The phrase that gets used a lot is ‘the integrity of the competition’ and I think putting a team of kids out damages that.”
“The sad thing is there’s been a fair bit of fighting between clubs,” added Underwood.
“It’s a real shame because none of us knew we would ever be in this situation.
“Every club is different in terms of financial stability, the backing you have, and what you can and can’t do.
“Unfortunately some clubs, or some people within clubs, have not respected some of the other teams' decisions.
“I think we all have a duty to respect every club's opinion and, at the end of the day, the most important thing is that all clubs survive.”
Underwood and joint boss Neil Baker will now turn their attention to next season after Prime Minister Boris Johnson announced all COVID-19 restrictions in England will end on June 21.
The Rebels management have said they will return to training with the players 'at the appropriate time', and are hopeful fans, of some capacity, will be allowed to fill Arbour Park's terraces in the new campaign.
“It's going to be a long gap until we play again now which isn't good for anyone involved in football,” said Underwood.
“But we''re just going to have to get our heads around that and look forward to next season.
“The big question we want answering now is, 'how soon can fans get back into football grounds?'.
“We're hoping things go smoothly over the coming months and we can get them back in for next season which is what we desperately want and need.”
Underwood added: “We've got four months until we'd normally start pre-season.
“We have said to the players that we will let the dust settle for a couple of weeks and assess what our next step is.
“Neil and I will have a proper planning session next week and then have a Zoom call with all the players.
“There's plenty to think about ahead of next season.
“Do you give the squad a break when they haven't been playing that much?
“Do you train more frequently, maybe once or twice a week?
“It's all very difficult and it's going to be an unusual few months.”