Forfar So Good
Forfar So Good • Published 18 Jan 2011 09:30
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EIGHT weeks of snow, ice and freezing temperatures have turned the majority of part-time players into footballers who don't play football.
The last time Forfar had a game was against East Fife in the Scottish Cup back in November.
Usually players might welcome a weekend break during the season due to the odd call-off but things have just become ridiculous.
Even the summer break doesn't produce as long a spell without any games and at least then there is the chance to do some hard training out in the sunshine.
During this period players are herded into whatever indoor pitch becomes available as clubs struggle to find their players training facilities.
We've been lucky in that we have managed to train indoors at Heriot Watt and at Dundee's Soccer World facility but nothing can make up for the fact that, like the majority of other clubs, we have been unable to play a full-sided game outside in almost two months.
The best that we have managed is competitive matches between ourselves on an indoor surface.
When there is nothing to look forward to on a Saturday it makes training difficult, not just for the players, but for coaches who have nothing to plan ahead for or to work on for a Saturday.
As a player the first game back is going to come as a shock to the system. No matter how much running you do yourself it's impossible to know how match fit you are until you play a full game.
Managers will also be sitting with their fingers crossed on that first match day, unsure as to what performance they can expect to get from their team.
The season has been literally split in two and now we are facing a run of Saturday-Tuesday fixtures that will stretch our squad to the very limit.
It makes it easier knowing that every team is in the same boat. Two years ago Forfar went through the same scenario, although at that time it was pretty much only our park that was affected constantly by a severe frost.
At least we'll know what to expect and how to prepare for the ensuing fixture backlog.
If nothing else, it will have players as fit as they've ever been in their lives. Or more exhausted.
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