December 24, 2020 - 742 views
Colwyn Bay FC's manager Craig Hogg has published a Christmas message for fans of the club after a challenging number of months.
Usually at this time of year, and as part of my Christmas message to fans, I reflect on the football we've played during the last 12 months.
For obvious reasons that isn't really the case this Christmas Eve.
This cruel pandemic has robbed many of us of the opportunity to do what we enjoy and to be directly involved in what we all love most, week in week out
The year 2020 has been such a difficult and strange one for many different reasons.
Our return season to Welsh football was stopped in March and then curtailed soon thereafter.
We reported back for what became a very different way of football working in July, working hard for what transpired to be a three-month pre-season - only for then to not start the new campaign at all when other football leagues were able to.
As a result of that, we lost players to teams in England and to the Cymru Premier League before the transfer window closed, allowing people the opportunity to go and play football in leagues who were still allowed to compete.
After that we entered a regional lockdown within the county. followed by a second national lockdown, with news emerging that we would play a League Cup fixture in December and that a shortened league season would start in mid-January 2021.
As it stands today, we now find ourselves in a fourth lockdown of sorts and planning for a third pre-season schedule before a league ball has been kicked in anger.
Whatever happens to football in the Cymru North now is anybody's guess, but we are doing all we can to be ready for it.
There has, however, been some positive news, and for me that has reinforced a lot of what I think is special about this club.
We did actually play a game of football 'this season ' (away to Buckley in the Nathaniel MG Cup) and putting everything in context it was one of the happiest and proudest moments I have had in the time I've been manager.
I really feel that the game that day showed what is truly great about Colwyn Bay FC and the values we all stand for.
The game itself was genuine 'Roy of the Rovers' stuff.
We hadn't played a game of football of any sort for 281 days, when other teams had.
We had players, not fully match fit, being asked to perform on a really heavy pitch. We had lads out of position and young men still learning the game being asked to play against seasoned veterans.
We were 2-0 up with eight minutes to go, conceded two late goals, and went straight to a penalty shoot-out.
Our keeper Andy Coughlin made a big save and young man Morgan Ashworth from the Under-19s won the day for us with his excellent sudden death penalty.
It was a crazy end to the game and left me with many mixed emotions on the drive home afterwards.
All things said, I was immensely proud of what our players had achieved that day, but the biggest regret I had was that so many supporters were unable to be there to see it for themselves.
For me the performance reflected much of what I think is great about our club; having to overcome challenges, dealing with change and being there for each other when times are tough.
Through the last 18 months we have been through a lot together. We've changed league, the country we play football in, and we have put a new side together to be successful.
We have also lost people dear to us, along with living in unprecedented times in the middle of a global pandemic.
Dealing with change, overcoming challenges and being there for each other is something that now feels like second nature to Colwyn Bay people.
I feel that is something that should never change about our football club.
We all know that football isn't the same without fans, but please know from all in the dressing room, the support many of you continue to give us is something for which we are all very grateful.
Just because you are not seen in the now, doesn't for one minute mean you are not with us at all. We all know that and we know how lucky we are to have that support.
There will be more challenges ahead and more obstacles for us all to overcome in 2021, but we must stick together and we must find a way, because for us that is what this club is all about.
However you choose to spend Christmas this year, please do so safely, but please do everything you can to enjoy it!
On behalf of the players and staff at Colwyn Bay FC, Merry Christmas and a Happy New Year to all Seagulls near and far.
We can't wait to play in front of you again.
Reproduced with thanks to Colwyn Bay FC.
