Matty Brown column

In his latest column for the Halifax Courier, FC Halifax Town captain Matty Brown reflects on life as a footballer during the game’s enforced break.
Watch more of our videos on Shots! 
and live on Freeview channel 276
Visit Shots! now

It’s really, really strange. It’s foreign territory really.

You’re used to waking up, going to training, preparing for a midweek game or a weekend game, focusing on that end goal.

Preparing during the week to put it into practice on the weekend, and that hasn’t been there so we’ve literally had zero stimulus to aim towards and prepare for.

Actions from FC Halifax Town v  Barrow, at the MBI Shay Stadium. Matty BrownActions from FC Halifax Town v  Barrow, at the MBI Shay Stadium. Matty Brown
Actions from FC Halifax Town v Barrow, at the MBI Shay Stadium. Matty Brown
Hide Ad
Hide Ad

We’ve been given programmes by the physio to keep us fit and in good condition.

But we all love the game and we haven’t had that fix.

It’s really hard. We play football because we love it and we love the competitive side of it, the camaraderie, seeing the lads day-in, day-out and being part of a team.

We keep in contact on the group chat but it’s not the same. Those things are taken away from you.

But one thing it does do is it probably makes you realise how lucky you are to have people around you, good team-mates and friends, people you can turn to and rely on.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

I think that’s one good thing that’s come out of it. You appreciate how good people are, what they mean to you and things like that.

It does feel like a big hole in your life and you’re having to fill it with things you don’t really want to be doing.

You’ve got your missus pecking at your head to do jobs. I’ve spent all day the other week jet washing flagstones in the front and the back.

All I do at home is cook, I do all the cooking, my missus does everything else, fair play to her.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

But I find myself having to help out a bit. But that’s another thing I won’t take for granted anymore is how much you get done for you because I’ve had to start helping out a bit.

It was as boring as anything but it helped me get through the day because I didn’t sit down until about half seven, eight o’clock.

They’re just little things to keep you going because I think if you allow yourself to become bored and unoccupied, your brain’s going to run away with you and you’re going to start letting negative thoughts into your mind.

That’s something you don’t want to be doing at a time like this, you need to be positive and keep as healthy as possible.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Matty was speaking before the announcement of the club’s furlough of all but one member of staff last week.

A message from the Editor: 

Thank you for reading this story on our website. While I have your attention, I also have an important request to make of you.
In order for us to continue to provide high quality and trusted local news on this free-to-read site, I am asking you to also please purchase a copy of our newspaper. 
Our journalists are highly trained and our content is independently regulated by IPSO to some of the most rigorous standards in the world.  But being your eyes and ears comes at a price. So we need your support more than ever to buy our newspapers during this crisis.
With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our local valued advertisers - and consequently the advertising that we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you helping us to provide you with news and information by buying a copy of our newspaper.
Thank you

Related topics:

Comment Guidelines

National World encourages reader discussion on our stories. User feedback, insights and back-and-forth exchanges add a rich layer of context to reporting. Please review our Community Guidelines before commenting.