14th
I Can’t Stop Myself.
I just love to play football. I really do. Its been well over 24 hours since I played on Sunday morning and there are still places that hurt (shin splits, bruised rib, sliced open knee, sliced open hip, bruised bicep). It’s nearly always like this after I have played - I really put my body into the game and I always end up with some minor gripe that lasts for a few days. It doesn’t help I get fouled a lot, and I am beginning to get a reputation as a diver, even though I always try and stay on my feet. I like to think its because I’m too quick footed, but more likely it’s because I dally on the ball too long. Either way, when I have to go to work (in a job that only lets me sit down in the car on the way there and back) and my body aches in 5 different places I think ‘why do I bother?’. I sometimes think that next week I’ll just take it easy, and avoid all the crunching tackles that end a 30 yard sprint. But these thoughts generally only last about 10 seconds because I know that as soon as the whistle goes I won’t stop running and I won’t care that their right back is about to two foot me in the ankle because if i just get a nick on the ball, I’ll get the free kick.
I know I will only be able to play football for a limited period of time, and that many people can’t play at all (due to disabilities / weight problems / gender) so I really try and play and enjoy it as much as I can. And besides, if somethings worth doing, it’s worth doing right. Although in truth, I’m not even that great.
