Chipping Away – Chris Lindsay’s Lockdown Survival Kit
29 June , 2021 By Football NSW
As we enter the beginnings of a two week Greater Sydney lockdown, Sutherland Sharks Chris Lindsay will turn to the golf course and the new cat as a way to pass the time. We were lucky enough to chat to Chris over the phone this week to chat about lockdown and the season so far.
It would be easy, if not understandable, for one to look at this years National Premier League NSW Men’s top tier competition and make rash assumptions about the Sutherland Sharks and their position on the ladder. However, many keen followers would be quick to make note of the youth the side possesses and how on more than one occasion this season, they have played brilliantly with the ball not bouncing their way when it matters most.
And Chris Lindsay for one, would agree.
For Chris, in the midst of just his second in the top division, he admits that making the jump has been a big learning curve.
“I felt that my time spent under Joe Haywood in the NPL 2 tactically prepared me for the jump and I was confident that my ability would allow me to be competitive each week, however I really had to work on my fitness for this level.
“Along with that, you’re definitely coming up against more individually brilliant players every week but that’s how it should be in the top division, which is a challenge I love.”
As an older head in what is a young Sutherland outfit, Chris feels that this season has been all about the team coming together and gaining experience. He acknowledges some of the great individual talent the team has on offer and believes that off the back of lockdown, they can finish the season strong.
“We’ve set ourselves the target of winning every game when we come back from the break. If we can finish the season on a high and climb higher up the ladder we’ll put ourselves in a position where competing for the finals should be a reasonable goal.
“We’ve had some great performances of late and were unlucky not to take points off Blacktown City in our last match. It’s been bad timing with the lockdown, but the gaffer has sorted the team with individual training programs so we’ll be ready to fire when we’re allowed back on the pitch.”
For Chris, he’s never taken life too seriously. It what will be a difficult time for us all, he believes it’s good to change things up, use the time at home to be around loved ones and in his case, spend every minute he can away from training working on his golf and relaxing with his Fiancé and cat.
“Yuki (the cat) has been a new addition to the household and one I purchased for my fiancé recently. I I’m sure she wants me home as much as possible but I really enjoy my golf and my chipping needs some work so I can carry on wiping the floor with my mates on the course.
“However, If I’m honest, I will really miss being around the boys and the football pitch. Growing up back home in Cambridge football’s been in my life since day one. I get a real buzz being out on the pitch and around the club.
“They’ve been fantastic to me since I made the move last year and on the pitch I really feel we can become a contending team. In tough times like these, It’s great to have the club there and the extended football family.
“I can’t wait to get back at it with the boys although they probably won’t enjoy it when I’m singing about England bringing home the Euros.”
Football’s coming home? Lindsay is hoping so.
-By Joseph Esposito