2026-07-12, 11:45 PM - Word count:
It was a few matches into the new season and Liffeyside were off to a somewhat middling start. I'd had a great campaign last year with 10 goals and 7 assists to help my team get promoted, but after my fortuitous goal in the season opener I hadn't been able to get much going on offense since then. The team had been okay through that stretch with a win, a loss and a draw, but I hadn't been on the scoresheet in those matches.
"It's gonna sort itself out eventually, after the season you had last year the momentum should carry through," Caitlin had told me on our regular catch-up call. "When I was in that first season up with Calgary and hadn't scored a goal for half the year, it took me a while to remember that I could do it, and I have you to think for that. Just wanted to repay the favour."
"Thanks," I smiled back. "Sorry I can't talk longer, have to leave for training soon. We've got a big match against Catalunya up next, and if I'm going to get out of this slump I need to take advantage of every moment to improve."
When I got to the training ground for the morning, my equipment bag slung over my shoulder, the walk to the dressing room seemed oddly silent, totally unlike the usual spirited environment before an important match. I turned the corner towards the room and was greeted with a wall of noise, my teammates and even the coaches mobbing me. "What's this about?" I asked, confused.
"Did you not hear?" one of my teammates called back. "You made Division 2 MVP and got Team of the Year at attacking mid!" My jaw hung open, perplexed, but soon the moment hit me and I was celebrating with everyone else. It felt like I had finally reached my dream of being a professional football player and excelling in the job, and I couldn't imagine doing it with anyone other than my hometown club, even though they hadn't existed at all when I was a kid. We jogged out to the pitch together and it was right back to all business, getting ready for a pivotal match that could determine the momentum of the rest of our season.
"It's gonna sort itself out eventually, after the season you had last year the momentum should carry through," Caitlin had told me on our regular catch-up call. "When I was in that first season up with Calgary and hadn't scored a goal for half the year, it took me a while to remember that I could do it, and I have you to think for that. Just wanted to repay the favour."
"Thanks," I smiled back. "Sorry I can't talk longer, have to leave for training soon. We've got a big match against Catalunya up next, and if I'm going to get out of this slump I need to take advantage of every moment to improve."
When I got to the training ground for the morning, my equipment bag slung over my shoulder, the walk to the dressing room seemed oddly silent, totally unlike the usual spirited environment before an important match. I turned the corner towards the room and was greeted with a wall of noise, my teammates and even the coaches mobbing me. "What's this about?" I asked, confused.
"Did you not hear?" one of my teammates called back. "You made Division 2 MVP and got Team of the Year at attacking mid!" My jaw hung open, perplexed, but soon the moment hit me and I was celebrating with everyone else. It felt like I had finally reached my dream of being a professional football player and excelling in the job, and I couldn't imagine doing it with anyone other than my hometown club, even though they hadn't existed at all when I was a kid. We jogged out to the pitch together and it was right back to all business, getting ready for a pivotal match that could determine the momentum of the rest of our season.
<center><img src='https://i.imgur.com/X6cSRMC.jpeg' border='0' alt='user posted image' /></center><br><center>Sig by Pandar</center>
