By Lewis Mcleod

Football plays such a big role in people’s lives, whether they do it as a job or simply just love to watch it. The sport can be used as a method of helping people with their mental health issue’s but as of right now COVID-19 has changed how people tackle their mental and physical fitness. 

Dennistoun Thistle coach and referee Chris Irving spoke about how lockdown has had a positive impact on his body and mind. “During lockdown I’ve managed to run more or less four or five times a week”. For a lot of people lockdown meant binge watching Netflix and eating sweets and treats but for others it offered them the chance to get fit and go running whilst they had the time off work. 

For many people it will be a struggle to go from working and going to the gym to then doing nothing at all, “I struggled personally for about a month, I was working 7 days a week and was also training and going to the gym plus I was also playing on a Saturday, I would also then go ref a game on the Saturday and Sunday as well”. 

This can take a toll on the mind and the body but if you don’t have anything to look forward to some people may just give up and stop exercising all together due to their lack of motivation as you’re stuck in a lockdown.

Chris has recently just had his league postponed once again and when asked whether or not he feels his team will be currently doing any sort of running or fitness he responded “are our guys doing anything just now? I doubt it”.

It isn’t just having an impact on people partaking in football but the people who love to watch it and report on it as their job, Former Daily Record journalist Euan Mclean explains what it was like for his co-workers working during this tough time. 

“A lot of clubs were quick to go back to how it’s meant to be and I’m sure Hibs were one of them because there is no substitute for a face-to-face interview, in terms of reading the room and you can read it so much better when you are actually there face-to-face”.

Glasgow City Camera man Dale Eaton also opened up about the importance of getting back into working for the club and how it has helped him stay focused and motivated during this tough period. 

“it gives me something to focus on during this tough time, you know staying in the flat and only really having university classes once or twice a week, whereas the work I do for the club allows me to connect with my creative side and allows me to edit from home”.

The lockdown has been tough for everyone but there are always ways to make life easier and ways to keep yourself fit and healthy during this tough time but also it can be the time to relax especially if you are doing great mentally during the pandemic.