Ifs, Buts, and Tales of the Surreal and Unexpected

No sooner had it started, it would now appear to be over.

I’ve already spoken at great length over the course of the season that things didn’t pan out the way we thought or the way we hoped for the Bandits, and our dreams were dashed quicker than a hiccup.

We could make excuses, but we won’t.

We should have been better, but we weren’t.

That is pretty much the crux of it from the outside looking in. However, what I do believe is the pivotal moment in our season was the night Jye Etheridge was hurt. That was the difference maker and that was the catalyst for a series of unfortunate events upon which we simply didn’t recover, or at least not quickly enough.

When we did eventually recover, normal service resumed, and we tore Plymouth apart and we saw off a spirited Scunthorpe. We started the season so well and we finished off with two good wins and now I’m sat here thinking what if?

Now I know, I know, ifs, buts, Aunty, balls, Uncle etc. but hear me out.

If Jye Etheridge hadn’t gotten hurt, where would we be?

If the Ty Proctor experiment had paid off, where would we be?

Of course, there are far more mitigating circumstances that lead to our playoff hopes being dashed but those are two questions I feel worthy of asking.

However, it hasn’t all been doom and gloom as we know, there have been plenty of positives as well. The form of Chris Harris and progression of Leon Flint has been well documented, and they absolutely deserve their plaudits. There is also the gem we unearthed in Jonas “Super” Knudsen who, visa issues aside, looks a real find and a rider who should absolutely be in the conversation about a team place next season.

Since his arrival into the side, he has embraced everything about Berwick, and he has been a revelation with his performances, and he is only going to get better. If only we’d had him from the start of the season, who knows where we would be.

I know, ifs and buts and all that, but if we’d had a free scoring reserve at the time Jye was hurt, we may well have scraped into the playoffs after all.

However, as we already know, that wasn’t to be.

So, all being said, what have I thought of the season overall? Well, as I’ve previously said, it has been difficult at times, challenging along the way but results aside, I can honestly say I’ve had a blast.

Now, before I continue, I fully realise the season isn’t over as such, and that the Bullets may well end up as National League Champions. You can bet your bottom dollar that I will cover that and shine the spotlight on them when the time rolls around, but for now I want to tell you all a little story.

The 2022 season is my 23^rd (I think) season of watching the Bandits and I’ve probably said this before, but when I first set foot on the hallowed Shielfield turf, I never ever thought I would be a contributor in the meeting programme. Now I think, I have been a programme contributor for the best part of 15 years, although we may need someone to fact check that one as I can’t definitively remember when I started.

Another thing I never thought I would be doing is writing weekly, well almost weekly blogs on the club website, something no other club in the country does I might add.  But, five years in and we’re still here and somehow, I haven’t been found out!

Now I have mentioned this in a previous blog before, but if you had said to my old English teacher that I would be writing stuff like this on a regular basis, she would probably have died from laughter.

So, imagine my utter surprise when I bumped into that very teacher the other night, at Shielfield Park no less as she was catching the action. Now, I didn’t get the chance to speak to her properly and find out if she bought a programme or not, but I truly hope she did.

What a turnaround of events that would be!

Anyway, to that former teacher of mine, I truly hope you enjoyed your evening at the speedway and maybe now you’ll hopefully appreciate where my interests lay all those years ago and as such, why I was so hopeless at school!

I knew you’d come round eventually, it took two decades, but I knew it would happen!

It was all about Berwick Speedway then, and it’s all about Berwick Speedway now and it shall remain that way forever.

Of course if you wish to agree, or disagree with the Mythman, have an idea for a feature, or you simply wish to chew the fat over all things speedway, you can email me jbspeedwaymedia@hotmail.com or get in touch via the JB Speedway Media Facebook page. If your compliments, or indeed gripes can be contained to limited characters you can tweet @Mythman666.

Until next time…and there will be a next time.

Right, I’ll hae’tae gan.

Mythman