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Here we are at the end of May and the season not yet over. Seems quite bizarre when you scroll through social media and clubs are releasing the few who were in discussions, others are being announced elsewhere and pre-season friendlies are in your face.
It’s been a long season, it feels like a long season and when Step 5 kicked off at the end of July the last major game only comes on 1st June you can see why. Of course, it’s not every single club, fan, administrator, manager in that boat.
It’s an ever increasing time when football can engulf you 24/7 for 12 months of the year despite the season being nine months long but so much can make you feel like you’re drowning in information so how and where or when do you switch off? Or is it now impossible?
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Depending on who you are and what your skin is within the game will bring a different answer. Those in the game will most likely have already had their break as the National League play-off final kicks off on Sunday, both players and managers.
Work to be done securing players on new deals, players wanting to get a head start ahead of pre-season training beginning for some in a couple of weeks’ time and many following suit around 1st July. Others will be glued to their phone on a sunbed trying to relax whilst securing a new deal, a new club or the next summer signing for their club.
It really does never stop so it seems. I will be away in Turkey next week, the laptop stays at home always, you need that disconnect time. Despite that, the phone allows you to track everything even if you don’t want to write about it all the time.
Social media gives you that feel that it’s a constant source of things going on, even if your club is quiet, algorithm’s can send you in all sorts of directions.
Most of us will have sources and contacts within the game, lots at all levels too, this is predominantly why the game never sleeps there is always something going on.
Would we have it any other way? Well sometimes that could depend on what has happened during the season, positive outcomes and the flurry of information constantly coming your way doesn’t feel like a drag, more negative and then it can feel like constant weights dragging you down and the need to get off the roundabout and slow down.
Sometimes it’s wonderful to embrace and other times, the phone needs to be put down and a little detox in order. There’s no shame in it, some manage to survive by just ignoring all things for a day or two, others need the full treatment and give it a wide berth for a time.
I could easily have thrown out another National League piece on prices to watch the final streamed but the ticket fiasco was enough for reading material and no doubt there will be a flurry of work to pick from while I’m away and get out for you when I’m back.
Keep your eyes on the next few weeks, bound to be much more to get chatting about, not to mention there should be a podcast coming your way before the break begins. If you’re heading away yourself, enjoy the rest and for anyone else, there’s plenty in the archive to revisit if needed.
