Global Sport Stories

Now then, time for something different. Regular readers (should there be any) have become accustomed to weekly updates, surrounding to all intents and purposes my personal life – specifically what I have done to keep myself fit and active.

To continue on that trend for this week, in reality just wouldn’t be possible. Yes, I have worked out in my bedroom having found myself with a spare half an hour now and then but no one wants to read about that – and I’m not sure how much content I could drag out of it to write about!

The hope is that by working as many hours as I do throughout the week, I’m saving funds for a summer of fun – and one that will lead to extraordinary weekly blog updates. So, in that regard, watch this space!

Instead, this week I want to talk about playoff football, having seen my side dumped out of the Championship play off semi finals by the cruelest and latest of last gasp goals – to eventual winners, Sunderland.

I wanted to write upon this topic before that even happened, having seen a debate online questioning whether the playoff format should still be in the game.

In said debate ex professional footballer, Gabby Agbonlahor, argued that Sheffield Utd, having finished 3rd on 90 points, should feel aggrieved with the toil and torment that is the playoff process; considering they hypothetically had the potential to lose out to Bristol City who snuck into 6th place with 22 points less.

(Teams who finish in the top two get promoted automatically. 3rd to 6th make up the playoffs with two semi finals proceeding the eventual winner-takes-all final.)

Yes, strictly speaking, the process means that potentially the three best teams in the division may well not be promoted, however, isn’t this what the English game is all about?

Bollocks to any Sheffield Utd fan feeling aggrieved for not being promoted automatically – you’ve never got anything for coming third!

In their defence, I haven’t actually seen any Blades fans arguing that point. I do believe it was a feeble attempt from the ex Villa poacher to generate some online views and interactions. Well done Gabby, I have seemingly fallen into your trap.

I’m not done though. As a man hailing from the fringes of the West Midlands, never did I envisage one of my favourite footballing experiences to come from Carlisle Utd’s Brunton Park, but that’s exactly the case thanks to play off football.

Maybe if Gabby was in and amongst the few thousand of us who stormed the pitch after Carlisle dramatically edged past Bradford City to make the League 2 2023 Playoff Final at Wembley, he would also share my love for the system.

Carlisle Utd are a team who both historically, and as we speak, have not much to shout about. But that season, a late charge into the playoffs, gave the Blues fans memories to last a life time. Just one moment amongst countless that the playoffs have given us.

Need I really have to mention more than Deeney, Zamora or now Tommy Watson.

Despite personal heartbreak (for the time being) for Cov, the playoffs kept our season fresh and competitive for the duration.

In a world where sport is becoming ever franchised, Americanised and down right ruined, let’s leave this little gem of an idea untouched shall we Gabby? And reap the countless lifelong memories to cherish as a result.

Next year Cov, next year.