JJ O'Donnell

Corona Virus – What next for Non-League football?

A virus out of nowhere. A virus sweeping the globe, leaving people fearing for their lives and those of loved ones. Corona virus began in Wuhan, China, but a few weeks on is now a worldwide pandemic!

Football takes a back seat in times like these but what will happen when The Beautiful Game begins again?

The Non-League Paper announced yesterday that Steps 5 and 6 seasons are to end ‘immediately’ while Steps 3 and 4 have ‘commenced the process to terminate the season’.

Non League paper picture

But what now for teams fighting for promotion and those trying to steer clear of the drop? Will the National League follow suit and too terminate the season?

In a quite bizarre ending to a season, a lot is going to have to be decided on what will happen with Non-League football and quickly.

For me, you have got to try and complete the season at every level of football. How can one team be given promotion when they are only ahead at the top because they have played more games? What about when a team are only in the relegation zone because they have played all the ‘top teams’ and have still got them ‘massive games’ against teams who are just above them?

All leagues should find a way of completing the season. How about having now as the ‘off season’ and then we finish the season when were able to? Then we move straight onto the next season. Surely that is the logical way and fairest way to do things.

2020-03-25 (1)

You can’t finish the season with the table looking like The National League North Table does above. Their has to be a fair an concise way of either completing the season or bringing it to a sensible end to find which teams finish in which position.

The only other logically fair way of doing things would be to have final league positions decided on an ‘Average Points-Per-Game Ratio’. Average out how many games played to how many points won and then see what the average is. Multiply that by the scheduled 42 league games. Yes, some teams might still need to play teams at the top or near the bottom of the league but without the season completing this is the only fair way of doing it.

It’s a sad and desperate time for the world as a whole and life without football doesn’t seem right. Health far outweighs being able to play and watch the sport that so many love but football will be back soon and the grimace of Corona Virus shall be gone.

Stay safe, stay at home and look after those around you.

For the latest help and advice on the Corona Virus please click here.

The Coach – February Soccer School

It can be a pretty heavy schedule playing National League North football. You know, not much time other than to play games and then recover and then repeat weekly.

Coaching has been a big part of my life over the last year and nothing I enjoy more than getting the local boys and girls off of Fortnite during the school half-term and playing football.

This week we had our February Soccer School. 24 children for two days from ages 6-14 having fun and burning off some of the vast amount of energy that kids have now a days (I’m sure I never I had that much energy as a kid).

Everyone leaves with the minimum of a small trophy but when the competitions start on Day 2 then the better prizes aren ready to be won. Here is what was on offer this week:

Soccer School Prizes February Half Term 2020 — Competition Prizes

Day one is kind of like the ‘warm-up’ really. A few fun games in the morning giving the budding footballers the taste of what competition’s on day two will be like. An afternoon tournament across three pitches sees them battle for day one champions.

Day two – The World Cup Final day. Competitions start from Bulldog first game. Crossbar challenge, penalty shoot-out and target practice normally make up the trio of competitions in the morning. Re-fuel with lunch and then it is the afternoon session. The tournament! Like the World Cup, similar to the Champions League but to the kids of Gateshead it is bigger. 6-year-old’s and 14-year-old’s on the same team, 6 teams. Group stages first then knockout football decides the ultimate champions. The youngest player on a team scores, it is 2 goals! 2-1 down in the last minute, get the youngest goal-hanging, you might just win it, it has happened before you know!

Kids shattered – well you would think they are but no they still want to go home and carry on playing football – it is presentation time. Everyone child gets a pack of sweets and a miniature trophy but the main prize and the main trophy goes to, The Player Of The Week!

That lad whose team maybe 3-0 down but still works hard. The lad who encourages. The lad who plays with a smile on his face and just loves playing football. Whittled down to one lad, deliberation over we have our winner.

Michael Dobby what a great two days you had, Sports Direct Voucher and the February Soccer School Trophy. He’ll be back next time with the same attitude and desire, could he win it again, he could do.

Micahel Dobby February Player Of The Week — Player Of The Week – Michael Dobby

How Day 2 looked from The Coach’s point of view:

Sesamoiditis – How it changed my life!

Do you know what Sesamoiditis is? Do you even know what your sesamoid bones are or on what part of the body they are found? Up until November 19th 2014 I didn’t either and I didn’t know you could injure or be in pain from them.

Sesamoid Picture

Well that is where they are, two miniature pea-sized like bones that sit underneath the big toe. The injury first began in Pre-Season of 2014. Back to training, the ground a bit harder from the summer sun and I thought at first it must have been that or somehow I may have received a kick to the bottom of my foot from one of my Gateshead FC teammates. Uncomfortable but not unbearable I battled through, it didn’t get any better but at the time no worse.

Saturday 27th September 2014 I was struggling though. Aldershot at home in the Conference Premier, we drew 1-1 but the disappointment of a draw was the least of my worries, that pain from pre-season in my foot was back after 70 minutes of the game. It felt like a bruise, a bruise would go away though eventually wouldn’t it?

Monday morning came and training started. A good warm-up ahead of a good session ahead of a massive game away the following evening at Lincoln City, it is always a game to look forward to at Sincil Bank. First part of warm-up done, foot a bit sore but you can’t not carry on for a bruise on your foot.

“Right lads, quick feet through the ladders and sprint to the cone after the last bit of the ladder.” Them the words of assistant manager Darren Caskey.

Second time through the ladders my left foot went down to the floor. WOW! The pain reverberated from the bottom of my foot through my body. “That is painful.” I said to myself. I knew that wasn’t right, I must have got another kick and have a big bruise under my foot. I couldn’t remember getting one, I couldn’t remember getting one in pre-season but the pain felt similar from then.

I couldn’t carry on training, I had to tell the physio, I had to tell the gaffer, I couldn’t play against Lincoln away the following night cause of what seemed like a bruise under my foot. I felt embarrassed!

What does sesamoiditis feel like, find out here.