JAMIE IS NO LONGER PLAYING CATCH-UP

TIME may well have been called on the season at Brewery Field – but the home of Spennymoor Town still witnessed a significant on-field moment last week. After months of painstaking treatment and rehabilitation following a serious injury to his anterior cruciate ligament, Moors midfielder Jamie Chandler stepped up his recovery with a light session on the Brewery Field pitch. With club physio Andy Oates and strength and conditioning coach Gavin Cogdon looking on, Chandler returned to the scene of the injury he sustained in a goalless draw with Brackley Town in February last year. The former Gateshead and Darlington midfielder made tentative steps with a ball at his feet and progressed into a light jog as he racked up a notable milestone in his attempts to return to full fitness. Chandler admitted that he had experienced some “dark days” over the last year but revealed his determination to resume his playing career as soon as possible. He told The NLP: “Getting back on the pitch was a surreal feeling, I had a bit of stick from the video but to be back on there, even just for 20 minutes, was absolutely amazing. “It’s all about the milestones and that is what Andy (Oates) and Gav (Cogdon) have reminded me about constantly over the last year “The rehabilitation has been intense, it’s been six days a week, and there are probably not many footballers training as much as that – even in the fulltime game. “There have been some dark days when you wake up and feel a bit down and achy. “You are questioning if you are going to get back but then you hit a milestone, get through a barrier, and the mood changes. “There is still work to be done, a lot of work, but I am feeling positive.” To continue that positive theme, Chandler’s extended absence from the game has coincided with a period of inaction in the Non-League game. With the Covid-19 epidemic continuing to cause havoc with the fixture list and bringing about the premature end of consecutive National League North campaigns, the Moors midfielder has not missed as many games as he would have across two “normal” seasons. Chandler joked that he could be the only player in history that has been ruled out for a season without actually missing a league fixture and set his sights on returning to fitness in time to play a part in the Moors pre-season schedule. “I went through a complete anterior cruciate ligament reconstruction, but I haven’t really missed a lot of games because of everything going on,” he said. “Andy and Gav have joked that I might be the only footballer in history to miss a season without actually missing a season. “I am looking forward to trying to get playing and training again as soon as possible – although that might get me in trouble with Andy. “He doesn’t like setting dates on a comeback, he’s always going on about that fact. “But pre-season is my aim, that is what I am working towards in my head. “It will be strange coming back, but hopefully, come August, I can be back out at Brewery Field and helping repay the club for the support they have given me over the last year.”