Downy's Comeback.

With the "Saturday and no County" thread in full swing I thought I'd update this thread with the latest news to keep you in the loop.

After playing keeper for the first match of the season I decided to get fit(ter) in case a new keeper came in and took my place.

The plan was to cut down my sugar intake, smaller food portions and run 3km each night. The first two were easy but I struggle with running. I did the full 3km on the Monday but had to walk half of it. Same on the Tuesday but with more running. Training on Wednesday. 3km on the Thursday with even more running.

Friday and Saturday are for drinking.

Played in the 1-1 on the Sunday.

Did the running again on the Monday with even more running than the previous Thursday. Found that I had lost 1.5kg.

Struggled on the Tuesday and only did 1.5km. Trained hard on the Wednesday. Did my best running ever on the Thursday. I had been aching every morning since starting my new fitness plan but Friday morning was unbearable. Struggled at work but knew I had a four day weekend coming up. I didn't play on the Sunday as it was a cup game that we forfeited only to find out the other team forfeited first!

I booked in to see a physio on the Wednesday due to my back problem spreading to my hip and groin. She showed me a few excercises to relieve the pain but it all stems from having a weak left side and overcompensating causing the pain to spread.

Luckily the first team keeper filled in on the Sunday to allow me more time to recover.

By last Friday we had 12 players for the Sunday. That changed to 11 on Saturday due to injury. That changed to 10 by kick-off due to one player not being able to find the pitch until half-time.

Even with 10 men we found ourselves 2-0 up. A nightmare 5 minutes saw it 1-1 after half an hour. An injury to our left back 10 minutes before half-time meant that we had to swap places. I wasn't looking forward to playing 55 minutes outfield when my physio had warned me that my back, hip and groin problems would just keep coming back but what could I do?

We managed to go 3-2 up with a bit of a soft penalty early in the second half. We had 11 on the pitch by then. I felt like I was running in quicksand and every attack that we had to defend was murder. They equalised with about 10 minutes to go and it finished 3-3.

Woke up on Monday with not too much pain so happy with that. I've banned myself from running! Just did light training on Wednesday so really looking forward to tomorrow.

Bring it on!

Worry ye not, Downy - a classy piece of writing will always get noticed, whatever else is going on in Heaven!

Great update, and well played, cobber.

Excellent update, Downy, enjoyed reading that. You're one dedicated footballer, that's for sure!

Keep it up, mate!

Don't let the back pains ruin your golf swing ! (wish I could use that excuse).

Keep up the good work, Downey.

It's been a while.

I played another 90 minutes in goal in atrocious conditions in a narrow 2-1 defeat. We deserved more on chances created but it wasn't to be.

The injured left back has decided to stay in goal as long as I don't mind. The job is all his! He has been playing well there though.

That has meant the odd 10 minute appearance up front which have been nothing to write home about in two more defeats.

We finally got a 2-0 win last Sunday although I graciously stepped aside as we had 18 players (and my back had tweaked again in the week).

I managed to complete the full training session last Wednesday with no after effects apart from the usual aches which cleared up by yesterday. So I got my first outfield start of the season at left midfield. It was difficult but I got stuck in and did my best. I decided to come off at half-time to give other players a run but I was also mindful of not trying to overdo it again. We played well in fits and starts in a 3-1 defeat. I don't feel too bad this morning so I'm feeling positive for next week.

Definitely not! I'm a right-footed centre back but my confidence and fitness aren't up to throwing myself into the challenges I used to. The only left-footed player is now in goals and left midfield seems to be where the last name on the team sheet goes.