Horncastle Town have 'more important things to worry about' than chasing trophies - Stones

Manager says his squad have bigger worries than football
Mickey Stones.Mickey Stones.
Mickey Stones.

Horncastle Town’s squad have more important things to worry about than chasing trophies, according to manager Mickey Stones.

The Wongers were set to compete in back-to-back cup semi-finals before the Balcan Lighting Lincolnshire League was suspended due to the Coronavirus outbreak.

Now, as the realities of Covid-19 become more and more apparent each day, manager Stones believes that going in search of silverware has taken a back seat for the Wongers.

“We all have other priorities. People want to stay safe and healthy and a lot of our lads work for themselves,” he told The News.

“They have more important things to worry about.

“A lot of our players have families and they’re more worried about their jobs rather than football.”

Horncastle were due to face Gainsborough Trinity Reserves in the Supplementary Cup and host Immingham Town in the Challenge Cup.

However, with no indication whether the league will re-start or not, Stones believes interest in the competitions has waned.

“It’s sort of out of our mind now,” Stones added.

“Both games were semis so there was no guarantee we’d even make it to the finals.

“I think we’re all coming to terms with what’s happening and, if the season was cancelled I don’t think anybody would have any issue with it.

“These are unprecedented times and we have other things to think about.”

The Wongers had taken the decision to postpone training before the Government’ guidelines asked the public to stop gatherings of people.

Squad members took it upon themselves to keep fit, but that received a setback on Friday after more stringent action from Downing Street.

“Official government advice means we can’t train together,” Stones added.

“A lot of the lads do things on their own in the gym, but they’ve had to stop that now the gyms have been closed.

“That makes it difficult, but there are more important things

“I’m not sure if people are really worrying about football at the moment.

“Our team are mostly young lads so they’ll be ok (fitness wise). They can go for runs but that’s about it.”

If the league was to reconvene, Stones also questioned whether the appetite from clubs and players would remain the same.

“It’s a bit like the Christmas break,” Stones said of the lengthy lay-off from action.

“And we struggle to come back from that.

“People are talking about completing the Premier League and games at higher levels in June or July, but it’s harder at our level.

“Professionals are getting paid, but I think it will be tough to ask lads to give up their summer breaks.

“I’m not sure my wife would be happy if I told her we were going back to football in June, it’s a family time.

“Local football is different. It’s hard sometimes to keep putting a team out in the normal season.

"I’m not sure if there will be the same sort of interest in completing this season.

“There are more important things than football right now, and that’s the first time I’ve said that in 20 years in senior football.”