Good morning! I tend to understate things, but today is a big day.
Today marks the fourth anniversary that fitzie took over the reigns of the hoddle of coffee! Huzzah! Rejoice! Rejoice!
This is honestly a big day for me. When I took over the reigns from Pardeep Cattry in 2022, I thought I might only last a couple years. Nor did I think I’d come close to matching her reign as the hoddler-in-chief. It’s almost inexplicable that, after four years, I remain here as your hoddler-in-chief.
I’ll get to some more reflections soon, but first I’d like to offer some thanks:
Menno: The man with the plan, who I emailed on 13 January 2022 about my interest in the position when Pardeep announced she was leaving. He trusted me with one of this site’s most frequented pages. I have done my absolute best to repay him in full - through my writing voice, scheduling, and so much more. None of this would be possible without that. My sincerest thanks go to you, and I will always be on your team.
BroadbrookSpurs: We’re actually friends in real life! I wasn’t sure if I should take this position on when it became vacant. I was going through a pretty difficult time in my life and was taking an extended break from this site (going so far as to actually block it at one point). I wasn’t sure if I was the right person for the job after being away for so many months, but Broadbrook convinced me otherwise. Because of him I emailed D-Menno. And here I am four years later. He’s a terrific guy.
Pardeep and my other predecessors: I knew I had a lot to live up to when Pardeep left, and I wonder if she felt the same after Kim and Dustin. Pardeep was my entry into Cartilage Free Captain, and I am very grateful.
To you hoddlers and lurkers: I was a hoddler and regular commenter before I took on the hoddle. I remember interacting with so many of you before assuming this responsibility. I am very thankful for your camaraderie and your opposition to my viewpoints. And I am thankful to the new faces and voices that have emerged in the years since. I am also thankful for you all addressing me honestly if you disagreed with my takes, my music taste or my undying love for Harry Winks.
I’m genuinely surprised I made it this far. When I became the hoddler-in-chief, all I wanted was to do as good a job as Pardeep (not going to lie - I wanted to surpass her tenure too. It’s the long runner in me). Here I am, four years later, still wondering how Pardeep was able to do this. But I have so much to be grateful for, I really do.
I’ve said this story before but I’ll say it again: I first encountered Carty Free during the 2018 Winter Olympics. I was actually working for a media organisation during the PyeongChang Games, and I worked the graveyard shift (10pm-10am). There was always a period when nothing went on, and during that time I discovered Cartilage Free Captain.
It took some time for me to understand the Hoddle of Coffee and Carty Free writ large, but I dove in as a commenter during the 2018 World Cup. I am extraordinarily thankful I did, and I recognise the romance of celebrating my four-year hoddleversary during the Winter Olympic Games eight years later.
There were a few goals I mentioned during my first hoddle: That you would learn more about me, that it would be fun for all of us, that I had tonnes of ideas, and that I’d cultivate a hoddle which reflects the community.
It’s up to you all to determine if I’ve delivered on those promises. I will say I’ve done my damnedest to do so. And I might’ve given the game away a few weeks ago when I said you don’t even need me to comment on this site.
Now, I look towards the future and what it holds. I’m not so sure.
These past 24 months have been exhausting. I don’t know how I’ve managed to do it, and most of the time I don’t know how to hang on. I really don’t. I will say I’m grateful to Dustin, Matty and Sean for helping me out in my most challenging moments.
Sometimes it’s about putting a few words on a page. Sometimes it’s about a lot more. Sometimes my eyes are half-closed when I type and I wonder if any of you notice it (I only remember one time in which you did). There are times where I feel like I’m hanging on by a thread, but I do my best for you all.
I love this community, and I remember what it brought me at 3am ET on 12 February 2018. I hope to bring all that do you.
With deepest love and admiration,
fitzie
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FOUR MORE YEARS!
FOUR MORE YEARS!
FOUR MORE YEARS!
Fitzie’s track of the day: Pedestrian at Best, by Courtney Barnett
And now for your links:
The Athletic ($$): “Madonna, soccer mom: Why the Queen of Pop was watching Tottenham’s Under-14 girls’ team”
BBC: “Chelsea back to winning ways against Spurs in WSL”
Alasdair Gold: “How Thomas Frank must be privately feeling about Cristian Romero and that Souza debut”
Telegraph: “Billionaire owner, big-name players… now London City Lionesses need a fanbase”