Ron-Thorben Hoffmann (22) recently experienced his first Boxing Day at English third division club Sunderland.
Christmas is a time for all people around the globe to come to rest, review the year and then look forward again with renewed vigour – especially in times like these. Not so for footballers in England. Between Christmas Eve and New Year’s Day, all stadiums from Plymouth to Sunderland are busy. Boxing Day on 26 December is traditionally a special football day on the island.
But why actually? Originally, the English lordships packed gift boxes for their servants on this day to compensate them for the lost holidays. At the same time, this day was increasingly used for excursions, for example to the British Museum in London. This trend did not escape the football clubs either, and as early as 1888 many matches were scheduled on Boxing Day, naturally also in the hope of high spectator numbers. Incidentally, that’s exactly why the great Michel Platini went to Juve and not to the island (the weather may also have played a role).
It’s pouring and windy in the most amazing way – and as a child of the Baltic Sea I don’t say that like that
Christmas was to be quite different for the Hoffmann family this year. In fact, for the first time in my 22 years, we didn’t celebrate together with the whole family in Germany. But let’s take it one step at a time. The last time, we had slid into a first crisis together. And the international break in mid-November came just in time for us to recalibrate. I spent 48 hours with my family in Germany and came back to the Stadium of Light full of energy. In front of 30,000 fans, we actually managed to turn things around with a 2-0 win over Ipswich Town in a traditional duel! Or did we? The following away game against Shrewsbury, we unnecessarily let the game slip away and give away the win when we are outplayed.
Then it’s off to Cambridge: not to study, but to a stormy duel with United in every respect. It pours and winds for 90 minutes in the most amazing way – and I don’t say that as a child of the Baltic Sea. So it’s all the nicer that we fight our way to victory and take the momentum with us. Nevertheless, we have lost ground due to the previous defeats and have fallen out of the top two places. But we are fighting our way back – step by step.
A real highlight is coming up at Arsenal – it’s just a shame I’m not playing
And: Christmas is coming. At the same time, the days are getting shorter and Corona is (again) more present. Many games have to be postponed due to infected players or quarantines. We are getting through these challenging times well so far, especially due to a strict hygiene concept. With the game at Arsenal in the Carabao Cup quarter-finals, we have a real highlight coming up. It’s just a pity that I’m not playing, which as a competitive athlete I always want to do, of course. But, by arrangement, Lee Burge is on at the Emirates Stadium. He does the cup games and was instrumental in getting us to London in the first place. I support him, just as he does for me, sportsmen like.
On Christmas Eve, we can take a breather. My family comes and we spend a wonderful time together, albeit, for the first time, without grandma and grandpa and the other family members who are staying in Germany. A very special challenge for my mother.
After the game, we have another coffee – and I get a boost on the spot
On Boxing Day we then set off with the team for the away game to Doncaster and play at 12:30 on 27.12 – an unusual time chosen because of the “Sky” broadcast. We win 3:0, my family is in the stadium. After the game we have a coffee together and discover a vaccination station where Pfizer is being vaccinated. After a brief consultation with our family doctor, I get a booster right there on the spot.
And there is a real booster on top of that on 30 December: at home in the last game of the year in front of a record crowd of 35,000 fans in a sea of mobile phone torch lights against Sheffield Wednesday, we win 5:0 and end the year grandly in first place!
I’m quite happy with my first few months on the island. We’re on course for promotion (again) and I’ve kept seven clean sheets in 19 games. I think I can build on that. I thank all the fans on the island and in Germany for their great support and say: I wish you all your dreams come true in 2022 – and stay healthy!
