Crossroads

Imurg said:
Good to hear you're on the up Matey!
Talk to Kid2 - he went back to footy after an injury (OK, not the same but..) and he crocked himself again.
You're no Spring Chicken any more and it's going to take a lot to get back to the level you played at in the past.
5 years out is a long time, especially with your condition. You'll have lost your pace and although you could get some back I doubt you'll get it all.
I had to pack up Cricket as my left knee went - kneecap tendons were splitting on the lower one and if it had gone my knee would have exploded (Syd Lawrence!). Once it healed, I missed a whole Summer, I tried to get back into it but couldn't trust the knee and so couldn't regain the standard I had before. My bowling pace was well down ( used to be pretty quick) and running wasn't as easy.
I didn't want to drop levels as I knew I wouldn't enjoy it so I drifted away from the game.
Took up Golf - the left knee didn't hinder me - and the rest, as they say, is hysterics...!
I didn't really miss Cricket, I kind of resigned myself to the fact I wasn't going to play it anymore and just moved on.
At the end of the day, it's your decision and ,Yes, Golf will be there in a few years time.
But you've invested a lot in Golf, leave it for 5 years and it could take that long to get back to where you are now.

Take your time on the choice......
Click to expand...

Tiger said:
Thank you all for your swift replies - one of the many reasons why this forum is amazing :) Definitely going to have a think over the next couple of months...
Click to expand...



Right,
Sit yourself down Pal and ill give it to you as iv seen it......
At 39 there's only 4 yrs between us...... I played football from the age of 8 yrs old.... Iv had sprains and ligament damage throughout my career but nothing i considered threatening..... Until i had a full rupture of my right Achilles Tendon at the grand ripe age of 34.... Up to this point i was serious injury free.... Iv never drank or smoked and always religiously used to train myself even in the off season.....
That injury kept me out of work for 4 and a half months.... Got back on the horse and started training again when i was able which was roughly 12 months after the initial injury....Now 35 yrs old and lasted 2 years playing ball before the i had a full rupture again of the Left Achilles Tendon.... Cue another 4 and a half months off work and a 12 month rehabilitation...... 5 yrs on after the first injury and 2 yrs on after the second and my Achilles are still very tight and the act up now and again.... Its a gentle reminder to me that there's no way i would last on a football pitch....

That really made up my mind for me and also i was loving my golf...

I wont lie... I have my days when if given the chance to grab the boots again i would jump at the chance but they are getting rarer and rarer.. I miss the banther in the dressing room... I miss the craic on the pitch... I miss the team makeup...... Iv accepted that ill never play ball again... And that even means not being able to kick a ball around the local park with my son..... instead now concentrate on my golf.....

What can you take from this?
Well at 35 you need to be honest and say that your prime years playing football are in the past... They were between the age of 27-33..Everyones are and thats even with looking after yourself and staying injury free.....
Even if you were to get back playing it would take at least 8-10 hard months of specific training to get your Anaerobic fitness up enough to last 90 minutes....

I really admire your thoughts to get back playing and i also sympathize with you.... But how would you feel say if you did get your fitness and the hunger and desire back to get playing only to find that your are a yard or 2 off the pace of most games.....
Its a frustration that iv went through and its not a nice feeling..... To go from being A very mobile, fast, centre back that had pace to match any centre forward i was marking to playing catch up.....

If you were to tell me you were only 25 i would say jump all over the opportunity..... But at 35 Pal you may just have to accept your just past the best before date...... Your still usable but someone will always go for the product thats in date.....

I know you say golf will always be there and i would hazard a guess that your a pretty competitive sod like me but what you may not want is to be just getting back to golf at 40 or 41 and then realizing that you'd like to work at your game and get as low as you can.....
You can still get the same buzz from golf as you get from the ball..... I play every Competition that i can and it keeps my competitive side quite....

Its a decision only you can make Pal... And your doing the first step right in seeking advise on here.... The only thing i can maybe say is make the decision for the right reasons.... Can you get back to a level where you once were?
Could you hold down your place on the team?
Are you going to be able to cope with the young legs of a 20 yr old skipping round you?
Is it worth the effort if you get injured?
Is it financially viable to be out of work if you get injured?

The thing is that we are in the age backet where injuries are at their highest and most frequent....

Whatever you decide Pal the best of luck to you... But give it your full commitment if your going down either road... That way you wont have time to think about the "What if's" of the decision that you didnt make.....:thup:
 
the thing is, i expect tiger has a similar to my sporting mind set to me, you go hard 110% all the time or nothing. If your thinking about getting injured going into a tackle, that's when you get nasties in sunday league. I never played football, but i used to referee a lot in sunday league for a light jog and a few pints after and have seen all sorts of horrible injuries.

I had the same decision as you 3 years ago with my rugby, i played a pretty good standard, then knackered my knee in my late twenties, had surgery, physio worked hard and came back playing within 4 months.

Did the same injury again, now i cant even jog more than a mile, have about 10% cartilage left in my knee. Foolishly played a couple of games a few years ago and came to pre match taking 4 nurofen and a concoction of rubs etc, was a buzz being on the pitch, but took me until the wednesday to be able to walk properly! so that meant i couldnt train and i wasnt happy so graciously threw in the towel and took up golf!

Not sure where i was going with this, suppose i am trying to say if you can do it properly (ie training) and stay healthy then go for it full bore. if its a half hearted attempt to come back, knock it on the head and stick to golf.

Only you will know the answer, good luck dude!
 
Tiger, go nomad and attend the odd meet as and when but deffo play footy. I gave up competitve football at 29 due to knackered ankles and work/kids, basically I would turn it over every weekend and either miss work or go in hobbling. Anyhow I played a 6 aside match last night with work, 1st time I have kicked a ball proper for about 8 years and boy do I want to start playing again. At 42 I am passed it but looking at vets teams locally. I can't get back those missed years but I can still play for a few years yet and at the same time get fitter. I still have a bit of pace aswell which shocked me hahaha.

Legs are killing me today mind you, I was hanging within 10 minutes, the next 40 were hard work but thorougly enjoyable (ish)

GO FOR IT
 
Like alot on here - kid2 etc I played football from the age of 7 until 34ish. Loved it, watched it, played it whenever I could and the buzz of playing on a sunday was amazing. Started from about 30 picking up knocks - achilles, ankle ligament damange, pulled groin, hamstring etc and it started to become a pain and time off work. Decided to jack it all when a new manager came in and due to my injuries, fitness, lack of game time and old players leaving I decided enough was enough and finished.

And then started playing golf again and haven't kicked a ball since. And haven't missed playing one bit. Still go to Bradford every home game but have not wanted a game since I hung up my boots which really suprised me and shocked me.

But it sounds like you still have the buzz for football so its a big decision. Depends how much you want to get back into it and are you phsically fit and injury free to be able to play fully.
 
Glad to hear things are improving.
Go back to football until your body tells you to stop. I'm thick into my 50's and still play just about every week.
Injuries definitely take longer to repair but the addiction still burns deep within me ................... but listen to your body!
If you're not fully fit, miss a week otherwise you'll never be fully fit. What little pace I had as a youngster has long since vacated, so I just have to use my brain & have learned how to read a game pretty well, that gives me enough of a head start to remain competitive ....................... and I love it!
Oh, and you can still play golf too!
I really hope it works out for you & keep us in the loop.

Slime.
 
I'd suggest you speak with your Doctor/Specialist!

Unless you are/were a Keeper, it's likely that the exercise is going to re-trigger the Uhthoff's - Meds will probably be able to say, or you may become the Guinea-Pig!

I'd suggest you discuss the situation with the Club. They may be able to put your membership on hold while you find out the viability of returning to Footie - and at least not charge you for the 3-4 months it takes you to find out. Most Clubs are pretty reasonable that way - hope it's not the same one as Woody69's though!

Good Luck whatever happens. Great to see some sort of improvement!
 
Played football at a fairly good standard until completely out of the blue I suffered a knee injury which needed surgery and kept me out of football for 6 months, but allowed me to play golf after just 2. (Was a cartilage injury but to the end of the femur and not the normal side of knee stuff so twisting caused no issue at all but bending/impact did) During that time I brought my handicap down from 10 to 8. Decided I was going to give myself one more go at football and if it went again then decision was made.

September last year and whilst playing football, heard the loudest crack I've heard come out of my body and feared the worst and was unable to walk etc for a good two weeks. During those 2 weeks found that I missed the golf more than the football and from then decision was made for me. Luckily (I say luckily, I'd rather know what was wrong) after 6 weeks and scans etc doctors decided they couldn't find anything wrong and it was a case of go back to normal.

The scare was enough though and I haven't even considered football since
 
I'd say 100% you should go for it and play even if it is only for the one season. Sounds to me the opportunity to play was taken away from you rather than being a conscious decision to just stop playing, so if that desire to pull on the boots for a last hurrah is there then it should be grabbed with both hands and enjoyed.

If fitness is the main concern then there is time to develop that before next season plus look into vets level football, i know there is a league near me where qualifying age is 35 and up, yes you would be the young whipper snapper of the team but it'd give you a chance to play the game and be competitive and trust me some of the games I've seen at that level are seriously good and its more about precision and ball control than the usual Sunday league kick and run.

We all only get one shot at life and to not do what it is that you enjoy is deny yourself happiness.
 
I'd stick with golf Tiger!

I'm 60+ and still involved with football! but! at 35 your chances of injury are greater and you are more likely to suffer a serious injury that will affect your sporting life when you cant play football anymore. I still yearn to play in a vets charity match, in fact would absolutely love to and am daft enough to kid myself I would be ok, but, my football days ended when I snapped my cruciate and subsequently had both hips replaced due to arthritis - how could I play and what injury would I put myself at risk of?

I seriously suggest that you think long and hard about the risks, you never properly recover from something like a snapped cruciate and it will impact on you life evermore. It's harsh but at 35 your not going to play pro football so why not channel all that desire into getting as low a handicap at golf as you can, a game you can play until you can't walk anymore!
,
 
Not sure of your age my friend but I know your 5.5 years older than the last time you played football. I played football until I was 45, the reason I stopped was I watched a game whilst injured (again), I had an epiphany moment. Old boys of 35+ simply look ridiculous trying to play! you might enjoy playing but believe me it's ugly and humiliating when you watch it.

I packed up football then and there after 40 years playing, do I miss it? Absolutely not, golf provides a more enjoyable sporting environment for me now, plus I still play tennis a couple of times a week (for now ! )
 
Only you can make this decision, just one thing. The world is full of people regretting something they did not do.
 
I broke my ankle at 28 (3 and a half years) ago and like you missed it after a while....60 mins in to a comeback in August put paid to any hopes of playing a full season. So am sticking to the golf!
 
Tiger said:
For those into tame gangsta rap I'm not going to bust into a rendition of the Bone Thugs N Harmony hit and for those of an older persuasion this isn't about Benny either....

Some of you are familiar with my story of why I took up golf but for those who aren't... About five and a half years ago I was diagnosed with MS. I suffer from something called Uhthoff's phenomenon which means when I get hot my symptoms come back. In my case issues with fatigue, coordination and numbness from the chest down.

Well fast forward to today and after some pretty aggressive treatment I'm back running consistently (three times a week) and for the first time in 5.5 years played football last week. Now physically I'm no where near how I was but I'm gradually improving.

So here's the thing. I've missed football massively and golf will still be there in a few years. I'm also hopeless at golf despite grooving a 'pretty swing' so when membership renewal comes in do I save the cash and try and get back on a footy pitch next season... thoughts welcome but particularly interested in hearing from anyone else that turned to golf when they could no longer play another sport

Cheers
Click to expand...


When I met you, I saw you tee off and I thought you looked like a golfer... When I talk to you, you sound like a golfer... but what I say matters not, if something else is calling and its calling louder (clearly your making a mistake as football is rubbish) your probably going to come running.

It sounds a little like playing football will also be an important mile stone for you and that is important.

Massive respect for the way you deal with your situation and the way you carry yourself.
 
I was a footballer too.

At 35, I would find a nice game of weekly 5 a side with a crowd of mates. Much better than weekend 11 a side league matches.

You will still play football and enjoy it but you will get the weekend for family time and are unlikely to get some studs through your knee from a park clogger.


Stick to golf. With your swing, it won't be long before you are half decent.
 
Firstly mate, just like to say its good that you're on the mend. Always good to hear.

Now, as far as the decision goes I reckon it's a pretty tough one - but ultimately only you can make it. It's true that it's often the case that one regrets the things they don't do, rather than regretting those things you actually do. That said I think you should read, re-read and then re-re-read Kids post. For me it's spot on, and he hits the nail on the head.

I am 35 too and as per my post a few weeks back I was diagnosed with coronary heart disease just before Christmas. I was as fit as a butchers dog up until the age of about 33. For me it was all about boxing. I lived it and loved it (still do love to watch it) I had to make the decision, however, that it's not a sport to play about with. Football was never my thing but I do see and hear a lot of the injures that go on (just reading through this thread is enough for that!). I am 100% committed to golf now, but it breaks my heart (no pun intended) when I see my old training gear in the back of the cupboard. I'd love to give it another go, but at what cost? I suppose I am slightly different by the doctor telling me that those days are indeed behind me now and any exercise has to be very moderate. Golf suits that at present so that's we're I am at.

It's a tough one mate, it really is. No one wants to grow old but it's ultimately the only thing certain in life.

If you know you have more to give, then give it a shot, but you've got to be 100% committed to that decision and know all the potential outcomes.

Good luck!
 
Good to hear your health has improved Tiger:thup:.

I gave up playing golf for years and since coming back to the game, have struggled to get back to any where near the standard I was as a kid. Probably why I play more for the social side, and am not as competitive as I used to be.

I took up tennis again about 15 years ago, and loved it. Soon improved to a much higher standard than I was as a kid, and became very competitive and actually managed to win a few competitions. I would never have taken up golf again if it hadn't been getting chronic tennis elbow.

You may not be like me, but I find playing a sport I am improving at my rewarding than one I am getting worse at. Your golf will improve, you have a lovely swing, and just need to keep practising and playing in competitions. Most footballers are retiring at 35 for a reason. Body is slowing down, injuries are more frequent and take longer to heal. Hang up your boots, live off your past memories and concentrate on a sport you could improve at for years to come. A mate of mine took up golf in his late 40's, and got to his lowest handicap of 3 when he was in his late 60's. He even won the English 65-69 scratch championship.

All the best whatever you decide old friend.
 
Thank you all for your comments really has helped me reflect on what to do. I guess as has been mentioned I never had a choice in stopping playing and that still bites. My last season I finished as the club top scorer and was in great form in pre season when the MS hit.

Rich your post really struck home in terms of focussing on something I could actually get better at (I surely can't get any worse ;) )...

I've been lucky in that I've never really had any major injuries so I think I'm going to stick with the golf and play the odd game of 5 a side. The real bonus is that this time it's my choice to make :)

Thank you all once again and hopefully see a fair few of you at a forum meet next season :)
 
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