Post by Res Match Day Sec on Oct 14, 2014 6:21:07 GMT
Retirement: Nicky Eyre. (copied from Heybridge Swifts forum) shared here as he is connected to Braintree.
Firstly I would like to go on record and state that my intentions have been made clear on a few occasions this season to the management.
Particularly after Mondays home game Vs Concord Rangers. At this point I was very certain about my decision they were both fully aware.
A culmination of reasons that I will go into below but for the last few weeks I have been battling niggling injuries and playing half fit is never good.
Having played under Mark and Steve for a couple of years I see them as friends but I must state now that, if their understanding of this situation, and my positive intentions for the football club are not seen then it is disappointing.
.Have I left the club in a good or bad position? Opinions will vary.
I however feel that having bring Freundy to the club I have given the club a top young prospect with lots of potential
Having coached him for 3 months I feel he has improved.
The games I have played in I have made important saves and won us points.
Am I the right man to keep goal for this club the way I feel? – Probably not.
I have to be honest with the club and particularly the fans.
It is a sad but also liberating day as I have battled long and hard with my career since I was around 14 years old.
I see it as the most fitting and appropriate situation and in particular club to end my playing days.
For anyone who has followed my career, even casually you will find a host of Non League clubs. Some of which I spent very limited time for various reasons.
I have continually battled with over analysing and constant ‘self doubt’ and although this can be linked to a few very specific circumstances I can also openly say that the football industry has beat me.
From being owed vast amounts of wages to being chewed up and spat out when new managers take over and in most cases just generally given a rough end of the deal.
I have made every effort on this particular occasion to give 100% to my hometown club with everything sitting perfectly for me to be a huge success.
Previously It had been suggested that I could not handle the pressure of playing for the club?
Perhaps to a few closed minds that would be the over all assumption made however there is a real and deep underlying factor here.
Success is what defines us once our careers are done. For those who have crossed my path will probably see a complete different side to me. Bubbly, encouraging, supremely confident and to those who I am not known by – possibly arrogant, rude and “difficult”
My cross to bear as with many goalkeepers is the fact of mistakes cost points, games, wins and ultimately jobs.
I have worked with top sports phycologists, I have strived tirelessly to find a better and calmer state of mind in order for me to consistently play to a steady 8/10 level.
Have I achieved this?
In the past yes. And frighteningly with little effort (limited training or preparation), limited resource but currently after 6-9 months of physical preparation training 3-5 times per week during the off season. Losing over 2 stone and grafting on the training pitch?
Currently my performances have been either very impressive or I have made game changing and defining errors.
Have they all been solely down to me?
Of course not but has it kept me awake at night, unfortunately the answer is yes.
I have a young family who must dread 5pm in a Saturday awaiting not only the score but the match report to see if they will have a happy husband and father coming home or someone who will be little or no use sitting “re living each perceived error”
I coach goalkeepers for a living and genuinely get encouraged when I see a temperament that is so far from mine.
Someone who is unnerved, who shows a calmness and awareness of being on an even keel come rain or shine. I admire those who can leave errors and not give them a second thought.
Take the Borehamwood game as an example
I go down in the annuals of history of scoring an OG on the way to getting sent off 5 minutes later.
Go back 3 days
Training I accidentally get my hand trodden on by one of the lads,
Heavy bruising and swelling to the point of struggling to get a glove on, add the calf strain from the previous week at Bromley and I already know I’m asking far too much of myself, even with heavy painkillers.
43 minutes on the clock and I make a decent full length save to keep it 0-0 just as ball spins up and under the bar. I call keepers loud enough for our subs to hear. Unfortunately after catching the ball – One of our players slams in to me and I end up behind the line and on the score sheet at the wrong end.
What goes through your head as a goalkeeper?
“I’ve let the lads down, why didn’t I punch it, why didn’t I tip it over the bar, have I lost too much body mass?, do I need to bulk up more, did I call loud enough? ”
All these things before the Kick off has even been taken.
My aim has always been to be the very best, to be talked about, to be admired, to be seen as a hero. (Perhaps goalkeeping was not a sensible career path)
When I fall under my high expectations my world is a miserable place. I can’t afford to put my family through it week in and week out.
In the past my reasons for taking a break or “retiring” have often been injuries or more frequently being knocked for wages.
On this occasion I simply feel I cannot be as good as I want to be. And I cannot achieve the desired results that my work and dedication perhaps deserve.
You will not find a harder trainer or someone more willing to try training techniques in order to improve. But I’m afraid it’s just not enough.
The Goalkeeping tightrope that we walk every game has finally snapped for me.
Having played for the last 4 weeks with injuries that have needed 3 heavy painkillers prior to each game I am simply not being fair to the lads and the club by playing on and add this to the above mentioned points I feel that I must now make the final break from playing.
At times the need to play financially far outweighs the right decision to play for the team. Being unavailable for selection due to injury meaning no pay is not a good place to be in.
I was professional and sensible before the WSM game allowing Freundy to make his debut before the FA Cup game that he had to play in due to my suspension. At 50% fit and encouraged to play by 25% of the management I had to do the right thing for the team and in particular Niklas. .
I’m proud to say that I will end my playing career for my hometown club and for a top set of passionate supporters (whom I did not always see eye to eye with when at previous clubs)
But I have to try to focus on what I do best
And that’s help the new era of goalkeepers achieve their potential
Hopefully by helping them fine tune their attitudes and temperaments to withstand the current football climates bombardment of criticism.
Lastly just a note to On Freundy
Having myself ,made the contact to Head of youth goalkeeping at Spurs Perry Suckling and requested if Niklas was available I am glad he has come in and shown his ability. In bringing Niklas to the club I provided myself with stiff completion
I have been able to realise that his enthusiasm and desire is what goalkeeping is all about and I hope he continues to shine.
The lad has a fantastic personality to enable him to progress and although I am 9 years his senior with over 400 games under my belt I feel with the right coaching and guidance which I hope I have given him in our brief spell together will go on to do very well.
I can also say that should I be able to assist the club in a coaching capacity such as last season I more than happy to do so.
Do as I say, Not as I do’ comes to mind
The initial ‘shock or hurt’ that will be felt my the certain areas of the club I can only apologise for but this article I hope will help clarify a few points.
‘Thanking everyone at the club for their time and support
I hope that I can continue to be of more use off the field than I perhaps can offer on it
Firstly I would like to go on record and state that my intentions have been made clear on a few occasions this season to the management.
Particularly after Mondays home game Vs Concord Rangers. At this point I was very certain about my decision they were both fully aware.
A culmination of reasons that I will go into below but for the last few weeks I have been battling niggling injuries and playing half fit is never good.
Having played under Mark and Steve for a couple of years I see them as friends but I must state now that, if their understanding of this situation, and my positive intentions for the football club are not seen then it is disappointing.
.Have I left the club in a good or bad position? Opinions will vary.
I however feel that having bring Freundy to the club I have given the club a top young prospect with lots of potential
Having coached him for 3 months I feel he has improved.
The games I have played in I have made important saves and won us points.
Am I the right man to keep goal for this club the way I feel? – Probably not.
I have to be honest with the club and particularly the fans.
It is a sad but also liberating day as I have battled long and hard with my career since I was around 14 years old.
I see it as the most fitting and appropriate situation and in particular club to end my playing days.
For anyone who has followed my career, even casually you will find a host of Non League clubs. Some of which I spent very limited time for various reasons.
I have continually battled with over analysing and constant ‘self doubt’ and although this can be linked to a few very specific circumstances I can also openly say that the football industry has beat me.
From being owed vast amounts of wages to being chewed up and spat out when new managers take over and in most cases just generally given a rough end of the deal.
I have made every effort on this particular occasion to give 100% to my hometown club with everything sitting perfectly for me to be a huge success.
Previously It had been suggested that I could not handle the pressure of playing for the club?
Perhaps to a few closed minds that would be the over all assumption made however there is a real and deep underlying factor here.
Success is what defines us once our careers are done. For those who have crossed my path will probably see a complete different side to me. Bubbly, encouraging, supremely confident and to those who I am not known by – possibly arrogant, rude and “difficult”
My cross to bear as with many goalkeepers is the fact of mistakes cost points, games, wins and ultimately jobs.
I have worked with top sports phycologists, I have strived tirelessly to find a better and calmer state of mind in order for me to consistently play to a steady 8/10 level.
Have I achieved this?
In the past yes. And frighteningly with little effort (limited training or preparation), limited resource but currently after 6-9 months of physical preparation training 3-5 times per week during the off season. Losing over 2 stone and grafting on the training pitch?
Currently my performances have been either very impressive or I have made game changing and defining errors.
Have they all been solely down to me?
Of course not but has it kept me awake at night, unfortunately the answer is yes.
I have a young family who must dread 5pm in a Saturday awaiting not only the score but the match report to see if they will have a happy husband and father coming home or someone who will be little or no use sitting “re living each perceived error”
I coach goalkeepers for a living and genuinely get encouraged when I see a temperament that is so far from mine.
Someone who is unnerved, who shows a calmness and awareness of being on an even keel come rain or shine. I admire those who can leave errors and not give them a second thought.
Take the Borehamwood game as an example
I go down in the annuals of history of scoring an OG on the way to getting sent off 5 minutes later.
Go back 3 days
Training I accidentally get my hand trodden on by one of the lads,
Heavy bruising and swelling to the point of struggling to get a glove on, add the calf strain from the previous week at Bromley and I already know I’m asking far too much of myself, even with heavy painkillers.
43 minutes on the clock and I make a decent full length save to keep it 0-0 just as ball spins up and under the bar. I call keepers loud enough for our subs to hear. Unfortunately after catching the ball – One of our players slams in to me and I end up behind the line and on the score sheet at the wrong end.
What goes through your head as a goalkeeper?
“I’ve let the lads down, why didn’t I punch it, why didn’t I tip it over the bar, have I lost too much body mass?, do I need to bulk up more, did I call loud enough? ”
All these things before the Kick off has even been taken.
My aim has always been to be the very best, to be talked about, to be admired, to be seen as a hero. (Perhaps goalkeeping was not a sensible career path)
When I fall under my high expectations my world is a miserable place. I can’t afford to put my family through it week in and week out.
In the past my reasons for taking a break or “retiring” have often been injuries or more frequently being knocked for wages.
On this occasion I simply feel I cannot be as good as I want to be. And I cannot achieve the desired results that my work and dedication perhaps deserve.
You will not find a harder trainer or someone more willing to try training techniques in order to improve. But I’m afraid it’s just not enough.
The Goalkeeping tightrope that we walk every game has finally snapped for me.
Having played for the last 4 weeks with injuries that have needed 3 heavy painkillers prior to each game I am simply not being fair to the lads and the club by playing on and add this to the above mentioned points I feel that I must now make the final break from playing.
At times the need to play financially far outweighs the right decision to play for the team. Being unavailable for selection due to injury meaning no pay is not a good place to be in.
I was professional and sensible before the WSM game allowing Freundy to make his debut before the FA Cup game that he had to play in due to my suspension. At 50% fit and encouraged to play by 25% of the management I had to do the right thing for the team and in particular Niklas. .
I’m proud to say that I will end my playing career for my hometown club and for a top set of passionate supporters (whom I did not always see eye to eye with when at previous clubs)
But I have to try to focus on what I do best
And that’s help the new era of goalkeepers achieve their potential
Hopefully by helping them fine tune their attitudes and temperaments to withstand the current football climates bombardment of criticism.
Lastly just a note to On Freundy
Having myself ,made the contact to Head of youth goalkeeping at Spurs Perry Suckling and requested if Niklas was available I am glad he has come in and shown his ability. In bringing Niklas to the club I provided myself with stiff completion
I have been able to realise that his enthusiasm and desire is what goalkeeping is all about and I hope he continues to shine.
The lad has a fantastic personality to enable him to progress and although I am 9 years his senior with over 400 games under my belt I feel with the right coaching and guidance which I hope I have given him in our brief spell together will go on to do very well.
I can also say that should I be able to assist the club in a coaching capacity such as last season I more than happy to do so.
Do as I say, Not as I do’ comes to mind
The initial ‘shock or hurt’ that will be felt my the certain areas of the club I can only apologise for but this article I hope will help clarify a few points.
‘Thanking everyone at the club for their time and support
I hope that I can continue to be of more use off the field than I perhaps can offer on it
