Reflections on a year like no other

WELL, what a year. I’m not sure where to start really, other than to say if you are safe and healthy, and you have a roof over your head, that’s a good start.

First and foremost, I want to say a big well done to everyone for trying to keep the stiff upper lip. Of course that’s what us ‘Brits’ do, along with moaning about the weather. We do both of these in equally brilliant measures, but as a nation, we have shown some pretty epic resilience over the last 12 months.

What I have realised over the last year is that we had it damn good before all of this started. Several lockdowns, Netfilx series, bubbles, and self-isolations later and it’s just a little bit too uncertain for all of us. I think, for everyone, the first couple of weeks was a bit of a novelty being ‘stuck’ at home, every social media posting of a toilet roll or a Joe Wicks workout went down a storm. Most of us now come out in a rash at the words, Zoom or Challenge.

This has been a year like no other and we have all had to adapt. Almost all of us are now accustomed to regular Zoom meetings, quizzes, and the odd homemade family videos – in our case I will make certain a very long Queen medley will never ever see the light of day! We are also all probably a bit better at baking and cooking, and our ‘to do’ lists around the house job are now a lot smaller.

Communities, cities, towns, have been tested to the absolute maximum, this is before we even get to talk about the challenges that the football world has faced.

Football eventually returned, which was a godsend, and fans could at least support from afar. I have to say we have seen some fantastic loyalty from fans of clubs up and down the country, at every level.

Our local clubs have been brilliant at communicating to fans and, in return, we have seen season tickets sales supported, academies supported, iFollow supported and, to be honest, for the South West clubs in the main, the season so far has been very good on the pitch.

Going forward, I still maintain that we will need some serious help from ‘above’ to keep clubs in existence. Organisations that have the power and, critically, the finances must help lower league clubs survive. This is for the good of the game, for the lad that grows up dreaming of playing for his local club, and for the man or woman who cheer from the terraces, not year after year but decade after decade.

Over and above football, now more than ever, we have to be aware of our own, and our friends and family’s mental health. If anyone reads this article, other than my mum, and one person benefits from what I’m about to say then I will be delighted.

You are allowed to feel annoyed and a bit low, it’s normal, and you are allowed to do absolutely nothing some days and not feel bad. But as a member of the glass half-full club, believe me when I say you can achieve more than you think. You can do something different, and you can really help others with a call, a text, or a Covid secure wave from a car. A bit of that magical support dust. You have the ability to do all of these things.

Today’s article will be short and sweet, but I will leave you with some unique stories associated with this brilliant, frustrating, painful, and sometimes astonishing game. Not stories about woe, stories that are built on camaraderie and trust.

My son, who is forging his own career in the game, took the ‘honorary’ cakes in last month for his birthday, this being the modern tradition when it’s your birthday, to share amongst the lads.

It has to be a half decent selection, or you will be paying a fine, or getting them in twice. Not the worst of punishments, however, when I recall some of the eye-watering birthday ‘celebrations’ I had to endure; it certainly wasn’t French fancies you would be enjoying after training.

I will not go into graphic detail, let’s just say it involved some or all of the following: Deep heat, scissors, floodlights, boot skips, dubbin, team baths and fairy liquid, along with the worst of all, which was having to call the manager/gaffer at some point in training by his first name! Dangerous and painful in equal proportion. It makes buying the cakes or singing a song look too easy.

The second and final story is one that restored my faith in the game – and in life really. I saw a couple of young children interviewed recently and they were asked what they would like for Christmas. One of them reeled off a list that would have only been possible had you won on the Price is Right, while the other young lad replied with: “Just a new football, really”. Brilliant.

Finally, I doff my cap to the boys up the road at the Chiefs, what an incredible season, and an incredible group of players and staff.

Stay safe, best wishes and a Happy New Year.

Laurence Griffiths > Most football since the spring has been played behind cosed doors