Worksop Town goalkeeper coach missing normality

Coach Jon Hood is missing football and its normality. Pic by Mike Holmes.

With the hiatus of league football for Worksop due to the pandemic, the Tigers have not played competitively since the end of October and were playing friendlies ahead of proposed a Boxing Day restart.

However, this was postponed due to the tightening of the tiers, and with the third national lockdown being enforced, it is unsure when the season will resume.

“It has all been stop-start and for the lads,” said Hood.

“When had our last training, we were on our way back I said to Jake Picton that we had lost our sense of normality because for us to go to training and play football, it just brought back a little bit of normality to 2020.

“I’m 52 next, and I have been playing and involved since I was 10, so without football or to not be involved and watch it feels soul-destroying.

“Even though I don’t do a great deal physically on matchdays, I am there, and mentally it helps to get with the lads, have a bit of a laugh, and it gives you something to focus on, so it has been very, very frustrating.”

Hood also sympathised with supporters, who may have felt even more ostracised with them being unable to attend games due to government advice and rulings.

“It is similar to what I have just said, it is their football fix too,” he continued.

“I was speaking to one of the supporters when fans were allowed back into one of the friendlies, and he said: ‘I have come to watch a game of football and have a pint, and though we can’t drink, we come to see people,’ and it is that.

“If it is socially-distanced like it was in the beginning, then why can’t they allow 200-300 fans.

“The capacity of the ground is a lot higher, but to just have that many people in is bringing back some normality for everybody.

"That is the frustrations of the supporters because it is their outlet on a weekend.

"There’s no doubt that some of them will still be working and not furloughed, so they want to come to football for their escape.

“If you can go to a pub, why can’t you go to a socially distanced football match outside.”