With Christmas just around the corner, we sat down with Christie Ward, who told us what has to be on his Christmas dinner plate, why it’s unacceptable to start celebration’s before December, and more…
I really enjoy Christmas, especially now that I’m older.
There was a gap after my childhood where I didn’t quite understand its meaning, but now I get the quality time that it brings.
It used to be about presents, but now it’s about spending time with my family which, specially due to my schedule as a footballer, I make the most out of doing. I never take that side of Christmas for granted.
The best present I’ve ever received is…
A set of scalextrics. That present came straight out of the box and onto the floor. To be honest, I don’t think I cared about any other present I got that Christmas.
My Christmas dinner cannot have…
Vegetables. I usually eat them because I have to, but this is the one time I will not have them on my plate. Controversial I know, but for me they’re not essential. I just don’t need them on my plate.
For me, they take room away from more important food. If I ever do have them with a Christmas dinner, I always have to eat them first. By doing that, I can get them out of the way!
But I have to have…
Turkey, stuffing, pings in blankets, Yorkshire puddings and especially roast potatoes, which are the most non-negotiable part of my dinner apart from when I eat mash, which I know might be another controversial choice. Some will argue that they fall into the “vegetables” category, but for me they don’t count.
The player I would trust most with a Christmas dinner is…
Josh McQuoid. I feel like he’s already made a few, and experience is important. He has a family, so surely he has, right?
I hope he takes this answer in the right way!
The player I would trust to buy the best “Secret Santa” gift is…
Malachi Linton. He’s just a really nice guy so I feel that he would put a lot of thought into what he would buy for me.
But footballers can’t always be trusted to buy “Secret Santa” gifts.
In the Wycombe Wanderers youth team, we tried to do it for a couple of years but only some of the players actually got presents.
Even when players did receive gifts, most of the time they were terrible. One year, a player was given mouthwash. I don’t know if that was aimed at his breath, but he found it funny. Lucky!
Christmas songs can be a bit repetitive, but you have to have them on.
It’s the perfect background noise to have on whilst eating or opening your presents.
But, they should never ever be played before December.
That’s taking it too far. I feel very strongly about this. Anyone who does this should be arrested.
My birthday is November 19th, so hearing songs and seeing decorations even before then makes me feel sick. I used to tolerate things being done after that date, but now it has to be December onwards. Would it kill people to just wait?
However, it’s acceptable to keep decorations up until…
a few days into the new year. In my house, we keep things up until about January 3rd. Boxing Day is still basically Christmas, and then the following days can be used for all of the leftover food and sweets. Then, the new year comes around and no one wants to be packing away for that. So, up until just after that period is acceptable.
My favourite Christmas song is…
“Driving Home For Christmas” by Chris Rea. For the last two years I’ve actually been driving home for Christmas, so the song has been very fitting. Millions of people drive home for Christmas, so the song is genuinely relatable.
My Christmas wish for Weymouth this year is…
to win every game for the rest of the season, staying up in the process. I don’t want to say that wish out loud, as doing that usually means it doesn’t come true, but staying in this league is something we’ve got to make sure we do.
But, there are exciting times ahead with Warren in charge for both fans and players. This is the first time I’ve truly experienced a managerial change mid-season in my career, so this is new for me, though hopefully it can give us players the push we need.
