After two and a half seasons of wandering and a total of 195 matches under my belt, it’s time to make a few decisions regarding the 25/26 season. Having experienced a little burn-out at the end of last season and currently being hampered by an ankle injury, it’ll be a later start than usual for me this season as I won’t be attending any pre-season matches or early FA Cup rounds. With this in mind I’ve also decided to change it up a little this year. I’ll be heading to fewer matches in 25/26, mainly due to the length of time spent travelling and the ever increasing public transport costs. Some of the fares I’ve seen for journeys I’d like to make this season are eye-watering!
So, my plan for 25/26 is to only take in one game per weekend (it’ll no doubt evolve as the season progresses so we’ll see how long that idea lasts!) although there will be exceptions to that rule which I’ll get into later. Last season’s figures included 85 matches attended, over 3,500 miles travelled, and with 95% of those miles using public transport, it all became very tiring as the season wore on and has forced this change of tack. I’m not getting any younger you know!
On the site, the blogging, match reporting and the food reviews on here will still continue as usual but I’ll be just be taking life a little easier which in turn will possibly give me the chance to look into a couple of new projects.
With the success of my four day Easter extravaganza in Eastbourne last season, one of my plans for this season is to have more two or three day breaks. Hopefully this will give me the chance to actually take a look around the places I’m visiting as well as take in a match, and reduce the train travel stress with its three to four hour journeys each way on the day! It’s doubtful I’ll be chasing around taking in five games in four days from my Easter break (again we’ll see about that!), but that’s where the exception to the one match at a weekend mentioned earlier comes in. The plan is once a month to take on a longer journey and, staying close by for the weekend, I’ll comfortably be able to take in both a men’s and a women’s game on the Saturday and Sunday.
Otherwise, it’ll be business as usual, continuing to cover local teams, picking out random non league and grassroots football matches while still concentrating on Steps 3 to 8 in men’s football and Tiers 4 to 7 in women’s football. More new teams to visit and of course, revisiting many of the clubs I’ve had the pleasure of getting to know over the last three years.
My plan for women’s football this season is to have three core teams I’ll cover regularly (looking likely to be Ashridge Park, Windsor & Eton and a third TBC) while still finding the time to visit new clubs and catch up with old friends throughout 25/26.
So here’s to a great season. I’m looking forward to catching up with many local sides, continuing to meet more of the fantastic people we have in non-league and grassroots football, taking in a few matches with groundhopping friends and all the while having a blast, trying in my own little way to help give clubs who don’t get a lot of media coverage, a little more exposure online.
Look forward to getting going whenever that may be, and hope to catch you on the sidelines soon!!!
