Jonathan Liew’s piece at the end of his football career hits a chord, or maybe a tendon (Some guts, no glory: last my amateur football career brings painful realization, 20 May). His comment that the main players can count on “trophies and victories, medals and memorials” is true for some. But for most of us playing team sports, wins can still come trophies rarely do.
Many respects professionals, even if it is good to pay and always pick, retire without silverware. WE HAVE YOUR TRYING IN LIFE? I’m not like that, but they probably do. I’m glad to Harry Kane that at the end of a team who won something meaningful, as I am on my own team, West Ham, Took the League at the UEFA conference Trophy in 2023. A winner is a winner, whatever level is, and they can all retire at least one competition.
I understand that Jonathan felt that the only connection to elite athletes was “sacrifice” and “pain and punishment”. But I reason that the true link is the desire to play, compete, to give the best. After a 41-year rest, I also got trials at bicycling time. I’m slow, but as companions competitors focus, faster than all sitting at home. And post-race, I hobble around like 28mph riders; The same efforts, even if the results are very different.
Jonathan should celebrate his football days. She plays more, and better, than most of the armchairs. And now? Well, he can try biking: faster with knees and ankles, great cardio, and have another pint and funny at the end. Good luck!
Nigel Hoggart
Bradwell-on-sea, Essex
I, like Jonathan Liew, recently made peace with amateur “career” retirement. Going 25 years playing different levels of junior activity, the time feels right in the last hanging of the Copa Mudical in Nike).
Unfortunately, I did not walk a long note, suffering from the development of the dale premier division on the last day of time. I don’t have any doubt that my body will appreciate the decision. Like the younger members of our squad – that always rejected my choice of music dressing in the room. (The Prodigy’s Fat on earth Certainly still popular with young people, right?)
Park running, swimming and cycling can be my new physical conjecture. All nobility and worthy, but completely no substitute for the feeling of standing in boots and crossing the white line. It is emotional.
Colin McNicholas
Bunbeg, County Negimo, Ireland
My heart goes to Jonathan Liew, whose best article is beautifully captured the feelings experienced by the day you know you need to hang out with you your boots.
My “career”, played by Wensleydale Creamery League is less, shortened by damage to the tender age of 26, so Jonathan might think about a day.
And yet, I have a good news for him. There’s always football walks. I started with my 50s and still got a kid like Thursday night when I was my trainers and one hour pretend Colin Todd, suffering defense. As long as you can walk around artificial grass, and stay right, you can continue to dream what it needs to be good.
Ben Ruston
Richmond, North Yorkshire
Oh Jonathan, don’t despair! I was always playing a group from the age of 19 to 68 and, after the Pub, a sexagenarian fellow and toast the miracle of 60 we played six years old. Hell, we’re better than we are about six years old! Get yourself in some physios, some kinesiology tape, those funny knee guards and play with your own children until you fall in your perch, or they sell your pitch.
Mark Reid
London
