2026-08-09, 08:35 PM - Word count:
The final seconds counted on the clock and the whistle blew to end our final match of the season. After dramatically beating Hollywood FC to move into a tie for the championship, the last three matches had been anything but fun, dropping three straight to end the year in a tie for third place in the First Division. It had overall been a frustrating year for myself personally, putting up the worst offensive season of my career with just three goals and three assists. I was in the prime of my career, being just past 25, but I knew that age caught up to everyone eventually so I wanted to make the most of every opportunity I had to experience my life as a footballer while it lasted.
The offseason would bring about some change as two new organizations and affiliates would be joining the league for the upcoming season. I had hopefully shown enough to get named to the protected list, but having joined an expansion team to begin with I'd never been through this process from the other side. I'd be saying goodbye to some teammates this offseason, either with them leaving or myself leaving, but I hoped for the best wherever my next season would be. At home in the offseason, I spent several evenings just having a kick around with Caitlin, discussing our respective leagues and plans for the future. Caitlin had just put up the best season of her career and helped Calgary get to the playoffs, and it seemed like she was doing really well in her life with her partner and learning to balance her priorities. I was still somewhat in that stage of life of being very focused on my footballing abilities, but the time was starting to approach where I'd have to accept that this wouldn't be forever and figure out what I wanted to do with my life afterwards.
The offseason would bring about some change as two new organizations and affiliates would be joining the league for the upcoming season. I had hopefully shown enough to get named to the protected list, but having joined an expansion team to begin with I'd never been through this process from the other side. I'd be saying goodbye to some teammates this offseason, either with them leaving or myself leaving, but I hoped for the best wherever my next season would be. At home in the offseason, I spent several evenings just having a kick around with Caitlin, discussing our respective leagues and plans for the future. Caitlin had just put up the best season of her career and helped Calgary get to the playoffs, and it seemed like she was doing really well in her life with her partner and learning to balance her priorities. I was still somewhat in that stage of life of being very focused on my footballing abilities, but the time was starting to approach where I'd have to accept that this wouldn't be forever and figure out what I wanted to do with my life afterwards.
<center><img src='https://i.imgur.com/X6cSRMC.jpeg' border='0' alt='user posted image' /></center><br><center>Sig by Pandar</center>
