While a player might think that he is playing a great game, but still finds himself being hooked to the bench by the manager, he often just has to bite his lip for the greater good. That is the position I find myself in this morning.
My clipping from this morning's paper follows below, but doesn't tell the full story of my post-match conversations with Stefan Stam and particularly Nathan Elder. So for the Hereford fans, here is a fuller version.
I initially met up with Nathan pitch side after the game - and then again in the car park - and he was obviously delighted to have scored. But the story didn't end there.
It was two years ago today that Nathan last found the back of the net in a League game for Shrewsbury and he said:
"I suffered a bad injury to my face close to the eye and needed surgery. Then when I came back from that, I had a cruciate ligament injury that kept me out evven longer. If you include the sumer break when I was doing rehab, I was out for about 21 months.
"There was a point when I really didn't think I'd play again and that goal was for all the people who have stuck by me and kept me going. My family, friends and mates in the game like Craig Disley (Bristol Rovers and Grimsby midfielder), the Shrewsbury physio and Dodge, the physio here at Hereford.
"At Shrewsbury I'd find myself in the physio's room before everyone had arrived and then the last to leave, but eveyone tried to keep my spirits up.
"It has been so long since I'd scored that I didn't even know how to celebrate and so just ran towards my 15 month son Kayden in the stands to give him a little wave. It was his first football game and so he's my lucky mascot now. Whether he likes it or not he'll be at every game from now on!"
Nathan went on:
"When I was subbed I just sat on the bench thinking about all of the people who had helped me and supported me. I thought of all of the bad times and how I thought it was all over. Kayden wasn't even born the last time I scored. It was quite emotional sitting there.No tears, but still emotional."
Last week I ran with a story about Tom Barkhuizen, Nathan and David Cornell playing with spiders in their shared house. It was a fun piece and frankly that's what football should be about. Smiling and having a laugh and a bit of banter.
On other occasions an individual's personal story can be more interesting. Those tales about battling back against the odds and winning through need telling because they are inspirational and uplifting. Especially when nice guys like Nathan Elder are involved. I look forward to seeing him adding to his tally and continuing his fightback whether it is with Hereford or elsewhere (his loan deal from Hayes & Yeadiong runs out at the end of this week). I'm sure Bulls' fans will agree his work rate certainly merits a change in fortune.
On a lighter note, I also bumped into Stefan Stam in the car park and made the point of congratulating him and the defence on a good solid show. Stefan nodded, but pointed to the addition of Andy Todd, 37, as a key reason why they have been looking a lot more solid at the back. He said:
"Andy's experience has definitely made a difference. He's played at the top level and knows what he's doing. The trouble is though, that at his age I need to help him out of the shower after a game!"
Ah, even when you have a lump in your throat, you can count on a footballer to bring you back down to earth with a smile.
My clipping from this morning's paper
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