I think I did quite well, given how much sport was going on today, to find time to move 1,309 Days Later on. The story is now complete up to the end of the 2008/9 season, which leaves me two full seasons to write up. Which keeps me on target for a finish in time for July.
Time and time again I found myself writing about Grantham Hockey Club playing some lovely stuff but failing to find the incisive final pass or the clinical finish required, which was pretty much where Netherlands and Portugal were in their Euro 2012 matches tonight.
Next up, extensive checking through the last 6,000 words of copy to ensure I’m happy with it before moving on to cruciate ligaments, broken ankles and history making.
Here’s a couple of teasers from the end of the 2008/9 season:
Ashby took the lead and we missed a golden opportunity to equalise, Jem Hill ballooned a penalty stroke high over the bar. It might have scored a point in hurling but we still haven’t got round to organising a tour of Ireland…
…My acerbic opening to the match report on our website read: “Grantham completed their league programme with a stunning display of resilience that prevented their opponents Wellingborough achieving second place in the table. However, this Pyrrhic victory came at the cost of losing the match 15-1 to complete a 100% unsuccessful league season.”
It is fair to say I had not enjoyed the game.
1,309 Days Later, the story of how Grantham Men’s 1st XI went over three years without a league victory, is due to published later this year. A proportion of any royalties will go back into the club to support grass roots hockey.