FORMER Down ace Mark Poland says he has reached the stage where he doesn’t want to hear the word ‘coronavirus’ uttered - and still dreams of playing some football in the summer months.
The Longstone clubman paid a glowing tribute to courageous frontline staff in their efforts to fight the deadly disease – but hearing hourly news bulletins and the unfolding tragedies have weighed heavily on him.
“I said to my wife: ‘If it’s negative don’t tell me. I don’t want to know. I don’t want to hear about it. Unless there’s some light I don’t want to know.’”
Poland’s candid remarks will resonate with many families who are trying to adapt to a new way of living under the lockdown. Twenty-eight people have died in the north from Covid19.
While many people have written off the sporting calendar for the year – or at least until autumn – Poland remains hopeful that football can resume before then.
“I really do think there will be football this year,” he said.
“Right now, I can’t stand the negativity around the whole thing. I know it’s a very, very serious matter. I have friends whose siblings are in hospital and I’m thinking of them and the people who are on the frontline and what they’re doing for everybody. Whatever they’ve asked we’re sticking by.
“The more people stay at home the quicker the turnaround and people can get back to normality. I’d be hoping June/July time football will be back up and running. But who knows? But that’s what I hope.”
Poland, who was one of the best players of his generation during the ‘Noughties’, was looking forward to getting his hands dirty with the Down U17s and was back training to be fit for some club action with Longstone.
“We were just getting back with the U17s and played our first league game,” Poland explained.
“We were starting to build, we’d boys back from MacRory Cup and was probably the first time we had a full panel to work with. I was excited about that and the weeks ahead and the Down Leagues were starting to approach as well and I was training myself a bit as well.
“Everybody misses their sport and we’ll appreciate it a wee bit more once this passes.
“Over the past few weeks, I’ve realised how much I appreciate routine - work, coming home and spending time with Emer and the kids. We went a walk and you realise how strange things are when you’re talking to your neighbours from a distance... It was just good to have a conversation with someone.
“As a family I suppose we’ve gone into lockdown as soon as things started to get bad. We’ve been just going to the shop and back again. We’re actually building a house down in Longstone, we were down there a few weeks ago and that’s the last time we’ve actually seen anyone as such. We were hoping to move [from Newry] in the summer but that’ll obviously be put back a bit now.”
A county development officer, Poland is working from home and is in daily contact with Coaching & Games Development Officer Conor O’Toole along with the other coaches to try and plan a pathway through this lockdown period.
Aside from the WhatsApp and Skype calls with his colleagues, Poland said: “We’ve two wee ones to keep us entertained and there’s plenty to be doing around the house. It’s just frustrating not being able to get into the car and go places. But, fingers crossed, everybody gets through this and I’d say we’ll probably appreciate the simple things in life more when this is over.”
