Festive footy keeps Irish exiles busy
More than 100 players will forgo their turkey dinner and get an early night as they prepare for a bumper fixture schedule during this holiday period. So how do they deal with that each year? We caught up with three players to find out.
What are you most looking forward to over Christmas?
“It will be my little daughter Alexis’ first Christmas, so that will be quite special. Of course, she is too young to know what is really going on and won’t remember it, but it will be nice for us as a family. Other than that, I’m actually looking forward to playing in some games as we have a new manager and I want to impress.”
What is the worst thing about the Christmas period?
“Being away from Ireland and your loved ones. You tend to miss the whole day really — the food, the drink, the craic. As a footballer, you have to watch the amount of mince pies that you eat, but that doesn’t even come into it when you compare it with missing the chance of being around close family during a time when everyone gets together.”
What do you miss most about Christmas at home?
“Again, it is missing family back home. My younger brother Kevin is now at Yeovil Town and this will be his first Christmas away, so I know what he will be going through as I’ve been away since I was 16. It is probably easier this year with my little girl, but I’ll miss seeing my Nana, who is almost 90, and just being around all of the family.”
This year, all I want for Christmas is:
“To stay in the Championship. I know that might be asking a lot as we are bottom of the table right now, but it would mean a lot. If we stay up, and I get to play a part in that, then I might get a new deal and that is something I’m looking to work towards over the next few months.”
What are you most looking forward to over Christmas?
“Waking up on Christmas morning and seeing the excitement in my daughter Ava’s face as she goes down the stairs to get her presents under the tree. It makes such a difference when you have a kid around this time. We will have some family over this year though, so there should be a good atmosphere around the house.”
What is the worst thing about the Christmas period?
“It will probably be not playing as I have to serve a suspension then. There is just something different about the games at this time of the year, more bodies are in the stadiums, more people want to sing, and the atmosphere is electric. It will be tough to miss out on that, but I suppose it gives me more time to spend with my family, which is always a good thing.”
What do you miss most about Christmas at home?
“Going around to my Mam’s house, then all of the aunties and uncles that you haven’t seen in so long come over, and you usually have one house that is full of people all day long. You can really take that for granted and it can be a Catch 22 if they come over to visit you because then they are missing out on it too. But you definitely miss being around family — even just watching TV with them.”
This year, all I want for Christmas is:
“Another 15 goals. I have to aim high, don’t I? So far, this season has gone really well for me and I want to keep that going. If I can keep on scoring, help the team win promotion, then everything will be rosy by the end of the season and my Christmas wish will have come through.”
What are you most looking forward to over Christmas?
“The distraction of games, to be honest. People say that you’ve got the best job and you are doing something you love, and that’s fair enough but in a lot of ways I just want to get through Christmas because you don’t really get to enjoy it when you are a footballer. That is just something you signed up to when you got into this profession.”
What is the worst thing about the Christmas period?
“Missing family and friends is the worst thing. Some people might say that you have to play games over those days, but I can’t complain because when I was younger I loved watching games on TV during this time of the year. This will be my second Christmas away from home and I’m sure it will hit me when friends are sending snapchats and texts when they’re having a good time.”
What do you miss most about Christmas at home?
“The cooking is definitely up there. Last year, myself, Kevin Long and Danny Lafferty, who both play for Burnley, went to the Hilton Hotel for Christmas dinner and it just didn’t feel right. You can have the food, but the food without the family is the most difficult part. Christmas is a time when everyone should be with each other, so that is tough.”
This year, all I want for Christmas is:
“Getting 12 points over the Christmas period would be nice.
“Obviously, you hope for things like staying injury-free, keeping your form, and getting a few goals, but it would be nice to pick up a few wins and give us a good start going into the new year.”
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