‘Let’s try and win, it could be our last game of the season’

Tadcaster Albion captain Michael Ingham has spoken about the surreal experience of playing football at the weekend while most of the sporting world was on hold.
Tadcaster keeper Michael InghamTadcaster keeper Michael Ingham
Tadcaster keeper Michael Ingham

In keeping with most domestic leagues across Europe, the Premier League and Football League decided on Friday to postpone their matches – in the case of the top-flight, until at least April 4, with the Football League’s tentative target date for a resumption the day before. In both cases they will be led by health and governmental advice, and it is hard to imagine professional English football on either day.

The National League and the Northern Premier League, which Tadcaster play in, took the decision to proceed at the weekend, but have since suspended their matches.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

Tadcaster played out a 4-2 defeat at home to Workington in the North West division.

“I can understand why,” the former York City goalkeeper told the Belfast Telegraph.

“On a personal level I didn’t mind playing the game of football but my concern like a lot of footballers would be picking something up and then perhaps being in contact with an elderly family member or a young kid who is vulnerable. That would be very hard to deal with.

“There were questions about, ‘Why has it not been called off?’ and, ‘Should we still be playing?’ but then also everyone was saying, ‘Let’s try and get a win because it could be our last game of the season’.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“We didn’t really know what was going on not just with football, but with work, school for our kids and holidays.

“With me being captain I had to go and see the referee before the game and he was saying, ‘No handshakes’ and that we would do the line-up ahead of the kick-off and then just walk away instead of walking past each other.

“He also said that there would be no handshakes at the toss and at the end of the game to try and not shake hands.

“We did the elbow thing with each other and other stuff. It was crazy, something me and the other lads have never experienced.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

“There was one moment in the second half when a long ball was played through the middle of the pitch and I came out and clattered two or three people. You don’t think about that sort of contact or legislate for it at the time.”