If you are a regular reader of my blogs and some of my content on my website you will probably gather by now that I am fascinated by the subject of sporting primes and peak performances in sport, particularly from a physical and athletic point of view. Due to this interest of mine, I also record and analyse my own performances in competitive sport and just generally as a sports and fitness person from a physical and also a mental point of view.
In football, I feel I have been at my peak for the last four or five years and I feel I first really hit my footballing athletic physical peak at 25, I had a dip when I was 26 due to a bone injury on my right foot which took me a good 6 months to a year to get back to my highest standard of performances but at 27 I really hit my prime physically and I feel from there on, up until about half way through the age of 30 my all round game kept developing.
I feel I was at my all time best and most complete as a player at 28, I don't feel I could have got any better for the level of player I am, since then I feel I have been less consistent but still at my peak. Since around 30 and a half years old, I did however begin to realise I was not playing at the level I was a year or so a go and I have felt a steady decline and a change in my game. My blog will explain my reason's for feeling this way.
What feels missing from my game this last year? If I am honest, my legs don't feel as fresh as they did a couple of years ago. I even sometimes lose my man when marking in a game, but thankfully my pace usually gets me out of trouble, but other team-mates have noticed me losing my man a few times, which is probably because it is out of character for me on a football pitch, so team-mates notice. I am not sure whether it is a concentration level, complacency on my side or whether I genuinely am not as quick off the mark as I was. It's not a massive decline, or worry, but I definitely have noticed it, I guess only time will tell as this next year progresses.
My fitness however is probably the best it's been at times this last year and in particular right now, it's just I don't feel like my legs are as fresh as they were a couple of years ago, not that they don't still have the physical capabilities in them, because I really think they do and in glimpses in games I show that still.
I just think the most logical explanation to me is 'freshness', I've had a lot of wear and tear on my legs playing a ridiculous amount of football, both recreationally and in particular competitive games since the age of 8. Since I was 21, apart from when I've had a few injuries or had a break from playing due to my marathon training I've been playing football at least 3 times every week every year, at my peak of regularity of playing I was playing up to 4 competitive games a week in my early 20's, including 11 a side, so my legs have clearly had a lot of wear and tear when it comes to football, even now I play two to three games a week when I'm available.
At some point, especially with me now running the full marathon distance for the past five years, it is bound to take its toll eventually, that's part and parcel of the effects of sport on the physical human body. I feel that is why when you get older, it is important to understand you own body and how to look after it, how much rest you need and how long it takes your muscles, joints and tendons to recover from intense exercise - that way it will help prevent injury and help you stay fresh ready to perform when it really matters.
I have lost some of my speed and power:
I have definitely lost some explosive speed and power, which is what made me stand out from the rest, it's what made my style eye catching - always dribbling with the ball, taking players on and trying to create chances. At my fastest and when I started developing some power, when I was 27 / 28 I was just gliding past defenders for fun. I almost always every time could beat players on the outside left with pure pace, or shimmy to go left and explode right with a shoulder drop really quickly to get a shot off but I just don't have that same ability any more - I do, but not at the speed I could do it at then and I feel I sometimes telegraph it more now as I can't do it as quick.
I'm now trying to use my creative tricks a bit more using my quick feet rather than just relying on my change of pace and natural agility. I am enjoying it because I feel like now I am learning new things again and using my imagination. The trouble is, I got to a point where my speed and explosive runs were so effective (especially against players who didn't know me) that I didn't need to think outside the box, I maybe began to rely on my speed too much, but who can blame me, if you have it, use it, play to your strengths.
Despite the fact I feel I have lost some of that extreme speed and explosiveness, it is still very rare that I come up against another player who is faster than me or can out pace me, I'm still faster than most of these young 22,23 years old lads and even when I completely lose my pace I still believe I will be just as quick as them - it's just natural, when I'm fit I just have that natural pace, I'm lucky in that sense. I still produce these moments of dribbling skills and mazy runs but it's just not something I can do at will any more so I pick my moments, I think this maybe makes me a more sensible player than I was before. A few years ago I was so confident I could dribble past anyone when I was 100% fit that I would try it anywhere on the pitch, to be fair - that wasn't always the best idea - just ask two of my regular goalkeepers Jonny Roberts, James Hunt and Nathan Long - I think I scared the life out of them at times running across the front of the box dribbling.
WATCH MY FOOTBALL HIGHLIGHTS ON RJ SPORTS TV:
Another factor that I feel confirms I am past my best as a player is mistakes. When I was in my early to mid 20's, before I hit my peak years, I would do some amazing creative play in attack but could be very hit and miss in a game at times, probably depending on my confidence level at the time. I was never that comfortable with the ball in my own half and I was prone to making mistakes at the back. But when I really hit my peak at 27,28,29 - when I was 100% fit and on form I felt I had games where I was almost faultless, I was very consistent every game and very rarely made a mistake anywhere on the pitch, never lost the ball, never misplaced passes, most of my shots were on target, if in doubt I could keep possession at the back in dangerous areas, I felt I had become complete and I was brimming with confidence most of the time.
However, I noticed just before I approached 30 that mistakes began creeping back into my game again, up to the point that at 31 now, that air of vulnerability in my game has come back. I think that deep down I know that my physical attributes of the speed, athleticism and power a couple of years ago, where I would always be beating everyone to the ball, intercepting loose balls before anyone else and having the energy to be relentless in both attack and defensive duties is gradually fading now I am in my 30's, because of this, maybe psychologically that doubt has been creeping back into my mind? Thoughts such as:
'will I be able to keep up this level of relentless running all game?'
'will I definitely beat him to the ball and keep hold of it?'.
I've always been a confidence player - I can be sky high or low, especially when I was younger but now I feel I am much mentally stronger and if I have a few bad touches or I am having an off day I get over it easy - even if I am playing poorly I know because of my fitness and endurance I will always still be a threat or can make a big contribution on a game still, you never lose that ability to beat a man if it is naturally in you and if you play with passion like I do, you never give up just because your'e not having a great game, there is always some way you can still contribute in a game.
At a certain standard due to my speed and pace I can be more direct and just dribble or outpace someone, which maybe makes me look better than I actually am - I think there comes a time when you reach your level and I think I have, maybe deep down that is the reason I didn't take up the offer to play semi-professional when I was scouted at 27 years old. I believe that if you can only do produce your best moments in 'glimpses' but can cope with the attacks and competitiveness of the opposition, you have found your level in football - it's competitive and tough but you still have that confidence that you have the ability to impact the game in a positive way.
Anyway, I may feel I have peaked as a footballer and I am past my best but I've had 4 or 5 really good years of playing my best and I've thoroughly enjoyed it. Don't get me wrong, I have had a few injuries and there has been patches in form or the odd games where I have not being myself but I guess that happens in sport - but one thing I do know is when I was fully 100% fit I always played really well. The times I didn't play well, weren't very often and I can even remember every game and team that I didn't play well against and it still annoys me now - they were either due to playing injured or when my partying problems took its toll on me physically. That's why now - I only play competitively if I am 100% injury free or fit - I owe that to myself as I know how down I feel if I don't play well - I've always been like that. Football is my number one passion - always has been and always will be.
CHECKOUT MY CROSS-BAR CHALLENGE ON RJ SPORTS TV:
All in all, I still believe I am a really good player, I definitely don't think I'm hugely declining I just think I am now past my best footballing years that's all. I think I am still a much better player than when I was 22-24, when I felt I really started coming of age. I probably did some eye catching things in a game then that I may not be able to do as well now but all round I am a much more rounded player now and I have a lot of experience, so until my physical peak is over and I start losing all my pace and athleticism I think I will always be a better player than I was even then, when I feel I was really developing - I think a combination of good physical attributes and experience beats youthfulness and inexperience all day long in my personal opinion and feelings.
Peak ages - 25,27,28,29,30
I feel these were my peak years. I feel I was at my absolute all time best when I was 27 and 28. I think what made me at my best was my sheer speed and explosive dribbling, my ability to dribble past several players at speed is what I feel made me the player I was.
I think I started hitting my peak years at 25, I just felt a physical difference in my body. I became so athletic, started working on developing my body too with weight training and it made a difference. But more than anything I feel that it was just natural, my body naturally developed into a man's body, it was almost like it happened overnight when I hit 25.
I dropped down a level in this period of time which was very frustrating. I sprained and bruised my meter-tarsal joint to the big toe on my right foot when taking a shot (someone kicked my big toe all the way back instead of the ball), it was very painful but me being me I carried on playing all game, which made it a lot worse. I just thought it was a bad bruise but it turned out to be much worse. Looking back, I really should have gone to A & E as I now believe there was a hairline fracture, even now my foot is not 100% but it's the healthiest and strongest it will ever be. Due to the injury and how fragile it was every time I made a comeback it got kicked and I was back to square one.
I had to really rest it and let it heal so I must have taken about 6 months off football, which was killing me inside not being able to play but it was the best thing I could have done.
It took me a good year to get my confidence back as I was genuinely worried I would get kicked on the area of my foot again and it would break my foot. I had confidence issues for quite a lot time, I was scared of running at players (which is what I enjoyed most) and I actually questioned whether I had peaked, which would have mainly being due to the injury. In this time however I feel I developed another part of my game which I really lacked. My ability to keep possession and my first touch under pressure.
I studied the great Spanish player Iniesta, watched clips of him and tried to learn things from his game, I had to learn this due to my injury, as my game and style was having to change. I also started using my left foot to shoot as when I shot with my right I would get pain in my foot and I kind of liked the idea of being two footed. I didn't care whether it was easier to shoot on my right, I would use my left foot whenever possible, even in clear cut chances. I think at times it frustrated some team-mates if I missed with my left foot when they know my strongest foot is my right but it eventually paid off. I can honestly say I score more goals with my left foot now and I'm confident using both feet. I've scored several hat-tricks with my left foot which I am proud of - you can see I score several left footed goals on my highlights video.
Most complete as a footballer at 28:
I think I was maybe the most direct, eye catching and impact-full in terms of moments at 27, but at 28 I think I was the most complete ever as a player because I had a bit of everything, I feel I was at my maximum I could be for every attribute at the time.
Yorkshire AFC.
A lot of people won't know this but I was actually to my surprise at the time, scouted by the Yorkshire Amateurs F.C. who play semi-professionally. I was actually scouted whilst playing in a five a side league at Goals Soccer Centre, which I really didn't expect.
I did notice some guy watching most of the game but I didn't really think anything of it, I presumed he was waiting to play on another pitch or something. When I walked off the pitch the guy approached me and asked for a word. I won't say the details of what was said but he offered me the chance to go a long to training and see if I could get into their reserve team to begin with - one thing I remember is he said players get paid from £50 a game, which sounded interesting.
He gave me his number on his card (see above) and told me to have a think about it and let him know either way. After some thought I turned down his offer. I was 27, I didn't really want to have to go through the whole scenarios of having to 'prove myself' again and I was enjoying the level of football I was playing at, I also just really love competitive five a side too, always involved in the game. I was very flattered he thought I had something to offer at that standard of football but deep down I am not sure I believed I did.
He told me he thought I had a great engine and could see me as a full back and he said I passed the ball well. The ironic thing is, that particular game I didn't play my usual style of football. I was actually carrying an minor injury which I was worried about making worse by dribbling at players and running with the ball so that game I consciously played a conservative way, sat back a lot and passed about. If he had seen me any other week he may have thought I was too greedy or dribbled too much? Funny how things work out sometimes.
To be honest, another reason I wasn't sure about playing 11 a side at that level is the fact I had recently started taking my marathon running more seriously and I didn't want to get injured, especially when I am running for charities.
You can read my blog I wrote on this tournament and experience by clicking below:
ELLAND ROAD 2014 BLOG
I think you can see from my football statistics above that through the sheer amount of goals I scored between 500 and 1,000 goals that 2010 to 2014-15, they were my peak years, I went from being an okay goal scorer to a good maybe even prolific goal scorer at times. I was scoring at least 2 or 3 goals every game and 4 and 5 on regular occasions, it was and still is very rare that I would or will not score a goal.
Since I have hit 30 years old my goals scoring record has dropped quite a bit. It's not that often I score hat-tricks any more. For 5 or 6 years it was very rare that I would have a game where I wouldn't score and even if I did, I would go and score 3 or 4 the next game. My record is 7 in one game. Now, my record is no where near as good, this last year my shooting has been poor, I've been failing to hit the target a lot, it's something I'm trying to work on to improve, I create and get a lot of chances in games and I need to be hitting the target every shot really.
I'm not a natural goal scorer don't get me wrong but I should be doing better. Most games I get enough chances to be scoring at least a hat-trick maybe more and most games now I seem to pop up with one or two goals, and I'm having more goalless games than since I was 22, although it is still rare that happens. My goal scoring record this last year has probably been my worst since I was 21-22. It is something I have gone backwards on and I am trying to improve my timing again and accuracy. I'm doing some good strength and conditioning work to give me some power too - it's the main area I need to improve on right now.
Future Goals:
The future goals for me is to reach 1,000 assists and 1,000 appearances.
I reached 1,000 goals in 2014, you can view the bumper blog I wrote on that achievement by clicking below:
1,000 GOALS BLOG 2014
In the above picture I have indicated at what age I feel I have reached a physical peak for each physical athletic sporting attributes.
I feel that at 31, I am still in my physical peak sporting years and I truly believe these years began at 27, that's when I started developing my running and speed and I was actually amazed at myself. At 28, I didn't think I could get any stronger but I defied myself when I hit a new peak at 29. I feel my best all time natural physical peak in terms of athletic ability was definitely 28 and 29 but at 31, I can honestly say naturally, I feel stronger than ever. I feel I definitely have a year or two yet at my athletic peak but one physical ability I don't believe I will peak for another couple of years is 'endurance', it seems to be getting better with age.
I am not worried about declining when my peak years are over, I do believe if you work that extra bit harder and look after yourself, at 40 you can be just as fit as 30. It is just the simple fact that in your 'prime', your physical athletic prime - it is all natural to you, it's natural athletic power and ability, so maybe you don't have to work as hard on it as it is natural? But when you are older - I predict for myself anyway that I will have to dedicate myself more and train wiser to be at the same level of fitness, if all that makes sense?
predicted peak ages for all sports...
Below are a list of sports / fitness / attributes that are meaningful to me in my adult years and I have proposed at what age I think I peaked or which age I predict I will peak:
Football: 25,27,28,29,30
Fitness (cardio): 25-31 (present)
Endurance Sports: 37 (prediction)
Marathon / Half Marathon: 34 (prediction)
Short Distance Running: 28 - possibly 35 (prediction)
Athletics (track): 27-28
Physique - bodybuilding: 28-30
Strength and Conditioning: 30-31 (present)
Cross-Country Running: 27 (not reached any potential)
Sprinting / Raw Speed: 22, 25, 27
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