By Matt Badcock,
JONATHAN HEDGE says Sheffield FC have given him the buzz for goalkeeping again – even the painful bits!
The former England C international hadn’t pulled on the gloves since leaving Gainsborough Trinity 18 months ago.
Having seen his love for playing wane, the ex-FC Halifax, Tamworth, Cambridge United, Grimsby and Telford stopper decided to take a break.
“I kind of stopped enjoying it and fell out of love with playing,” Hedge told The NLP. “I don’t know why, I just didn’t feel the enthusiasm or get the buzz when I stepped onto the pitch.
“That started before Gainsborough, if I’m honest. I had a good few years at Halifax, a good few years at Tamworth and after that it was good, Grimsby, Cambridge was hit and miss, but I just wasn’t getting the buzz.
“I wasn’t doing myself justice when I was playing and when you get to that stage it’s quite difficult. I just thought, ‘I need a break from this for a little bit’.
“So I decided to do something different and went down the coaching route. I stopped playing for 18 months.”
Hedge took a full-time role at Barnsley and concentrated on the goalkeeper school he set up in south Yorkshire as well as spent time with his young family.
“It’s been different,” Hedge said. “Time with family, going away on holiday at other times in the year to May and June and seeing different places.
“So it’s been good in that respect but you miss that dressing room. You can’t replace that.”
And when the chance to scratch the itch came at promotion-chasing NPL Division One East side Sheffield, the 30-year-old got back involved.
“It came out of the blue,” Hedge said. “I’ve always kept myself fit so I’ve never been out of shape. I got a call from a friend there who said, ‘We’re struggling for a keeper, our lad is injured and someone we had on loan is going back to Scunthorpe, what do you think? Come down and if you don’t enjoy it, you don’t have to sign.’
“I said I’d see how it went and it’s gone from there. I know a few of the lads from when I was coming through at Rotherham and a few lads from Gainsborough.
Excitement
“I’m really enjoying it. I played a game and had that buzz back stepping out onto the pitch – it felt completely different from 18 months previous.
“It’s the buzz and the thrill of getting out there and, as daft as it sounds, getting hurt by throwing yourself in front of shots – having the ball flying at me again.
“I do have a few regrets from before in terms of moves, but that’s gone. You make decisions on what you think is right. So it’s about enjoying it again at Sheffield.
“And they’re doing well. They’re fourth in the league, it’s the oldest club in the world, there’s lots of publicity around the club and if I can help them do well until the end of the season then great.”
