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Sep 4, 2024 | 
yourlocalguardian.co.uk | Alan Bennett
In sport, defeats happen, unless you are the Arsenal team of 2003-04 known as the invincibles. We at AFC Wimbledon have had a bad week with two defeats but the emotions after each one were in stark contrast because the performances were very different. The Rochdale loss was very poor from our group of players and the reflection afterwards was very open, honest and brutal.
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Sep 4, 2024 | 
yourlocalguardian.co.uk | Alan Bennett
Going to the right way: The route to recovery needs to be well thought out Recovery. This is a word that has come into football over the past few years. We have first day recovery, second day recovery, recovery sessions, recovery drinks and recovery clothing. These are terms heard by professional footballers throughout the season. As you move into the more senior days of your playing career they become a bigger part of your weekly routine.
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Sep 4, 2024 | 
yourlocalguardian.co.uk | Alan Bennett
Inside the Box with Alan Bennett - It's all in the mind, son, it's all in the mind "Afternoon", I say as I walk in the door into the hallway. I’m immediately checking my surroundings for human skulls and evidence of witch craft. I’m at a faith healer in Cork, I’m young and breaking through in the world of football and suffering with back pain. I go into the meditation suite and lie down on the bed, and 45 minutes later I’m woke by a prod.
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Sep 4, 2024 | 
yourlocalguardian.co.uk | Alan Bennett
Visit: The PFA took time out to talk to us about diversity in the workplace The sun is out, and the season is moving into the Easter weekend. There are two things start to happen around the training grounds of football clubs around this time of year. One is the constant talk of results, which teams will do what, predictions about where teams will end up and the remaining fixtures.
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Sep 4, 2024 | 
yourlocalguardian.co.uk | Alan Bennett
Will I, won't I: My graduation as a sports journalist will hopefully come in May The alarm goes off at 6am. I get out of bed. For me this is an absurd hour of the morning to be getting up. Into the car and I'm surprised by how busy the roads are. People who do this every single day, I tip my hat to you. I'm on the road up to Staffordshire in Stoke-on-Trent for the last contact day of university degree in sports journalism.
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Sep 4, 2024 | 
yourlocalguardian.co.uk | Alan Bennett
On the Thursday before the Mansfield game, we were told: "We’re having a nice trip to a spa as a recovery day" - lovely we all thought. We all arrived that morning greeted by some lovely smiling staff offered tea or orange juice. Lovely. The squad was then split up - the lads who didn’t play against Northampton were marched down to the gym for some rowing and weights, while those who played were taken out onto the lovely surrounding lands to stretch our legs.
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Sep 4, 2024 | 
yourlocalguardian.co.uk | Alan Bennett
Final day drama: Alan Bennett celebrates the opening goal in Dons vital, final day win over Fleetwood Town SP73108 The run-in is always the most exciting part of the season. What were the other results? Did they win? Where are we now in the table? Who have they left to play? These questions are asked by players in dressing rooms in all football clubs from Premier League to the Conference, up and down the country.
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Sep 4, 2024 | 
yourlocalguardian.co.uk | Alan Bennett
Not sat on the beach just yet: There are plenty of issues still to be resolved in the Football League Nobody wants to leave League Two football. The Championship and League One have both started to resolve the matters of relegation and promotion. but with two games left in League Two nothing has been decided.
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Sep 4, 2024 | 
yourlocalguardian.co.uk | Alan Bennett
Last minute ecstasy: Jack Midson scores the injury time winner over Cheltenham on Saturday Picture: David Purday Last minute equalisers, it's a rush of pure relief. Last minute winner, it's a rush of pure joy and happiness. Both are incredible feelings. In our past three games, we've had two last-minute equalisers and one last minute winner. In a season you might get this three or four times but not normally in consecutive games.
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Sep 4, 2024 | 
yourlocalguardian.co.uk | Alan Bennett
Some tough decisions will be made up and down the country in football clubs this week. It’s a stressful time for both players and staff alike and it’s a weird sensation to be part of a group that is then taken apart. These players are my friends, they’re people I’ve got to know throughout the year. I’ve got to know their families, been part of some personal joys as well as sorrows with them. I’ve pretty much lived, eaten, worked, travelled and slept beside some of these lads all year.
