Behind The Scenes

Nerves, anxiety, anticipation….sink or swim. No matter how long I play for, I’ve learnt that these feelings never go away before a game. But now, nor would I want them to. I’ve come to realise that it’s how you interpret and use these feelings that matters most. 

You can let your anxieties consume you, even paralyse you if you’re not careful. Or, you can let them motivate you. I’ve learnt to channel these feelings and accept them as a ritual.

It would concern me if I didn’t have these feelings, and the day that they do disappear, may be the day to stop. For me, if you took these emotions away, the game would lose something.

It’s usually in the tunnel before a game that they’re at their most extreme. You sense the atmosphere and expectation from the crowd - something you need to manage individually and as a team. At times, you’re stood in the tunnel and it would be easier to go home, but the thought of letting people down for me is unbearable, and the shared experiences, knowing that you’re not going through this alone, drives you on.