ECCLESHILL United midfielder Talent Ndlovu admits one of the worst things about having no football at the moment is missing out on time with his team-mates.

The suspension of all football below National League level has come as a crushing blow to the Zimbabwean, as it means no games on Saturdays for the Eagles or matches on a Sunday with Bradford Sunday Alliance side Olympic.

The 24-year-old, who now lives in Allerton, said: “It’s one of those. You miss it and it’s quite boring as there’s nothing else to do.

“I hate not meeting up with the lads in the changing room on matchday and you don’t realise or appreciate how much fun that is until it’s not there.

“There’s also losing that exciting feeling you get every Friday when you think about there being a game the next day.

“You’re socialising with these people all the time and you become mates, so when you don’t see each other for so long, you do miss them and those regular things like going for a drink after games.

“I’m missing the football itself too though, I’d play every day if I could.”

Ndlovu added: “I hope we can play football soon, possibly next month, but if not, then maybe it will be July before we're back, for pre-season.

“To be honest, I can’t see us resuming the (Northern Counties East League Premier Division) season again or anything like that, as we were already behind when we had to stop in January.”

Eccleshill made a dreadful start to the season. They lost their first five competitive games and were written off by many.

But they turned things around somewhat, and currently sit in mid-table having won three and drawn one of their last six league games.

Ndlovu said: “We have proved ourselves a bit after that bad start, but I wasn’t worried.

“Last season we started poorly but were really progressing before the first lockdown last March.

“We only lost two games after the turn of the year and had got into the League Cup quarter-finals.

“So when it happened again, I told the other lads we had nothing to worry about, as I trusted our manager Lee Elam and knew he’d get the players in we needed.

“We stuck together and have got better going through the season.

“My personal highlight was our 3-2 win over Silsden in November. We started off well and scored, but then dropped off, let in an equaliser, and had our keeper sent off.

“But weirdly, we played much better with 10 men, scored twice more, and I got one of them, which was nice.”

Ndlovu used to be in Barnsley’s academy as a youngster, and asked if he’s keen to climb the football pyramid again, he said: “Right now, the most important thing for me is to enjoy my football.

“But if I can progress further that would be great. I’m always wanting to get better and if the opportunity’s there I want to take it.

“I’m still only 24, 25 later this year, so I have time on my side.”