Football writer's journey: 4

Ever felt like this?

That's me on a good day!

In case you joined me late. This is my story of how I got retired from teaching 18 months ago due to ill health. Now I'm off to cover the Socceroos for The Canberra Times at the Asia Cup. You can see previous episodes under the labels at the bottom of this post.

Football writer's journey: Part 4

Bill, my Netfa editor, challenged me to write a Grand Final diary. As luck would have it, I'd planned and got tickets to go to the Grand Final in AFL country. So I set off for Melbourne, met a few fans and wrote my Grand Final story. Then I wrote a weekly article, while my editor over in the South of France chopped and changed it. I learnt

After writing a weekly article for a few weeks, I perused the Net, and stumbled across the Asia Football Confederation.

Before I knew it I had applied for accreditation for the Asia Cup based on my http://www.netfa.com/ writings.

My health was hopeless. I could never do that. Go to Asia I mean, but the dream. It's nice to dream. Besides when I'm sitting I feel able and can do anything. Just the leg muscles don't friggin work much.

Okay, time for an interview I thought. My first ever interview. Can I do it? Nikolai Topor-Stanley then Sydney FC, now Perth Glory. An Olyroo, a man playing across Asia and, of course a Canberran.

A phone interview. You wait forever for the phone to ring, you ask a few questions, then write it up. Seemed easy enough for a bloke with nothing to do. And the Canberra Times published the story. Wow!

And suddenly I was able to get published on the FourFourTwo website. No money, but I was able to interview the Olyroos or Matildas in Canberra and get a story out. There are no other specialist football writers in Canberra. Which is great for me.

Bill, my Netfa editor, my mentor, suggested I start a blog.

Yeah good one Bill. So I researched blogs, found it was easy to set up. http://www.nearpost.blogspot.com/ With my media accreditation through from the AFC, and now from Sydney FC, Melbourne Victory and Football Federation Australia, I was suddenly up and running.

Three weeks later I pitched my idea to Capital Football. Pay me to write my blog, bring football knowledge and Canberra football stories to your website. CEO Heather Reid saw the vision. I'm employed again! See my nearpost blog linked at http://www.capitalfootball.com.au/ on the right hand side of the home page.

So now I'm a paid football writer. And The Asia Cup tickets came through. I'm getting the odd story in the Canberra Times.

I approach Carl Valeri, Sally Shipard, Matthew Kemp, Kaz Patafta, Shaun Ontong and Adam Casey to provide material for the nearpost blog. All Canberrans, all eager to help spread the football word in Canberra. All will assist with interviews or writing during the Asia Cup, Women's World Cup and A-League season.

The Canberra Times will take my analysis pieces for every Socceroos game in the Asia Cup.

I get my first story in the Melbourne Herald Sun and on to the SBS website!

Mx, a Melbourne, Sydney and Brisbane paper review my blog!

And tomorrow I fly, I fly to Bangkok.

It seems so easy now. It's happened so quick. And no you couldn't afford to eat on what people pay but it's the opportunity, the life experience that is vital for me.

Yes I'll have problems:

I went to get my Thai Baht yesterday. There were three people in the queue. Yes just three. (insert very bad word here!)

Having to wait in a queue, for how long, is one of the most difficult things I ever have to do in my life.

Stand and wait. Feel the pain rising and know that recovery could take days. my immune system can collapse quickly, headaches and sore throats can quickly appear, and my body shakes. It's not pretty. It's not dignified, and all the time trying desperately to present as normal.

I swallow my pride. Ask an assistant for a chair and wait. Of course the teller forgets me, others jump the queue. When I'm finally remembered, the next in line complains.

"I was here before him."

Sod off I think, but don't say it.

I feel the eyes in my back as I get my baht. I leave not concerned by the bank experience, but I am going to Bangkok tomorrow, where nothing is familiar. Am I mad?

Out of my comfort zone, with minimal walking ability. How the hell am I going to do it?

I don't know. I really don't

But I'm going poor health or not I'll be on that plane. Deep breath's and one day at a time.

Let the journey begin, but only after I have a good long lie down:)