Fixtures
One of the best parts of the season is that moment when you receive the fixtures for the opening few games. I believe they can set the mood and give you that boost at the start of the year.
The great thing about the opening day is that at 3pm (or 12.30, 5.15pm, 4pm if your football league) everything is equal. All teams are on the same points and level on goal difference. Each team thinks they can win the league and starts the season expecting to. At the end of the 90 minutes reality has set in.
So it was with this anticipation I awaited my first fixtures of the year. I had received my Supply league fixtures and they do not start until the 19th. However I am out on the first two match days for the Leicestershire Senior League. The question is then will I be out on the 12th or will I have to start decorating on the Saturday instead of the Sunday.
Each day I rushed home from work thinking if they are out and where will I be in August, will It be Conference North, Unibond League? With the MFA losing contrib status it wouldn’t be on that.
Last night I get home and the fixtures are out and Im delighted. I have an opening day Conference North fixture of Nuneaton vs Workington. I was lucky enough to have gone to Nuneaton three times last season and was there towards the end of the season against Northwich. That was the game of the season for me and a superb atmosphere in a top of the table clash. I’ve never officiated Workington so don’t really know a great deal about them.
I also have a fixture at Bromgsrove vs Rothwell in the Southern League Midland Division. Again Bromsgrove are a team I have never officiated, although its allays nice to see new grounds and clubs. Rothwell I had a few years ago at home on the last game of the season and to be honest i don’t recall to much of the game.
