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Getting back into hockey the other day got me reminiscing about the highs and lows I've experienced in my time, and I started thinking about some of the absolute stinkers I had over the years.
As a goalkeeper you'll know these games all too well, where it seems that every shot or deflection finds a gap or sneaks in somehow. Strikers suddenly hit form and bang in worldy after worldy past you just for fun and, invariably, the opposition number 1 is having a stormer, making save after spectacular save, much to the adulation of his team.
A debut to forget
The worst match I can remember playing in was for my old club NPL in Teddington. Our first team keeper (who also happens to be a good friend of mine) had sustained a long term knee injury, so as 2nd team keeper, it naturally followed that I would be called up to the 1sts to replace him.
Playing for the 2nds was a pretty laid back affair. That's not to say we didn't have quality players, because we did. It was just a lot of fun, no one took it too seriously, and we'd all be guaranteed to be back in the pub on a Saturday evening.
Upon joining the 1sts, it suddenly became apparent that this was a lot more serious. I'd even been invited along to a pre-season meeting where the coach had talked tactics and shown us some video from a top level club match.
In my debut for the 1sts, we would be playing Merton at home. A team full of skilful, pacey South Africans.
Things didn't start well and we were 1 down within the first 10 minutes. My defence were playing a very high line - something I wasn't used to - and a quick ball into our half left me horribly exposed. The striker beat me to the ball in what should've been a 50:50 and took it past me to tap into the open goal.
We equalised, but soon enough I conceded again. This time I was a little unlucky as I saved the first shot, only for the rebound to fall kindly to the striker who made no mistake. I could feel my confidence ebbing away as one of the oppos strikers tapped my on the back of the helmet in an unlucky mate kind of way.
We went onto equalise again, but after yet another attack they got their 3rd which just happened to go straight through my legs. There were some disgruntled comments from my defence.
Looking back on it, as a team we capitulated easily, but the fact this was my debut and I was eager to impress meant I was taking all the responsibility heavily on my shoulders and by now my self confidence was completely shot away. As the second half went on, it didn't really matter anymore. All of their attacks would end in goals. 3 turned into a miserable 4, followed by a depressing 5th and, the final nail in the coffin, a 6th. We ended up losing 2-6. I don't recall anyone speaking to me after the match and, to be honest, I certainly didn't feel like chatting. However I was determined to put things right.
A chance for redemption? As it turned out, I didn't get that chance. The following week, I was told by the 2nd team captain that I'd be playing for them again. The 3rd team keeper had been selected for the 1st XI instead of me. Part of me was mightily relieved, but part of me was pretty angry. The 1st team captain was obviously not prepared to let me prove that this was simply a bad day at the office. I tossed up whether to argue my case, but in the end I decided against it, as I much preferred playing in the 2nd XI. In the end, the 1st XI decided even our 3rd XI keeper wasn't to their tastes and employed the services of our 4th XI keeper for the remainder of the season!
Later in the season, I was called upon once more to play for the 1sts and equipped myself much better, until again, I was exposed with the defence playing a high line. I was forced into sliding out of my circle to sweep the ball away with my stick, but mistimed the sweep and ended up simply trapping the ball on the ground beneath my right hand gauntlet. The umpire (wrongly) gave a penalty flick, which I actually saved and the match ended 2-2, but I could still see the 1st team captain rolling his eyes at me as if to say "what were you doing??". As it transpired, this experience made me a lot more determined. I was much happier playing in the 2nds and even won "man of the season", so I can't have been that bad!
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