I write this after having a few bourbons so excuse me if it makes little sense.
On Monday I saw the notification on my phone that Yellow Fever had posted on twitter and wondered what they were talking about, it was then that I found out the FFA wasn’t giving us a 10 year licence.
At first I was shocked but that quickly turned to anger, I couldn’t believe, didn’t want to believe that there was a possibility that the Nix wouldn’t be around.
Like Tam, I have grown up with football. Playing since I was 5, been coaching since 1999 and now refereeing. I have loved the Nix since the first day, sure I am not a founding member as I only brought tickets as I could afford them the first few years, but I followed them.
Over the last two years I got more and more involved, one thing I found with Yellow Fever is that it is very welcoming, I felt like part of something special. Last year when Fever Dreams took off, it was such a feeling I can’t explain. We have something so amazing in a club, sponsors and ourselves that gave these families from Ronald McDonald House some time away from hospitals and doctors.
As for the Nix, while sometimes it has been tough to support them and we all would have liked to see them win this competition, they are a special organisation and I still can’t believe that you can just go and talk to them and they are happy to interact with their fans. Those long off seasons are hard, but that first game back each year is something special and the season seems to fly past so quickly.
Now, I’m left wondering what to do with my summers if it all goes. Sure I’ll still get football over the winter and will still be down at the park watching local games but we have something special in the Phoenix and in Yellow Fever. I brought my girl her first membership this year and now it has the chance of being her last, which brings me to tears that she may never actually get to see them play and remember it apart from photos I will take when I take her this year.
I posted on twitter I didn’t know what would happen with the charity work and to be honest I still don’t. Don’t get me wrong, there is no way I’m not continuing this year with Ronald McDonald House and getting families to every one of our home games but I had/have been working on bigger plans. I didn’t really want to post on the forums what I’m working on and a few people do know, but it could be awesome to have more that we do for others. Now I’m not sure if it’s worth it, we will see.
Lastly, with WelNix, right from when I found out I was in two minds. Half of me was saying they should say “stuff it” and just hand back the licence now. Why give them any more money? But the other half and the half that wants more of this and must be a glutton for punishment says take the four years. Even if it is only four more years, I would take another day just to get to watch my phoenix play.
