MERRY Christmas to all our readers – we hope you have a great day and can relax with family/friends after what has been another difficult year.
Our advice would not to be like Saints captain James Ward-Prowse, who revealed to the Daily Echo that, growing up, he would go for a run every Christmas Day “to get used to making that sacrifice”.
We recommend taking the time to instead chill out and enjoy the festivities, but if you’ve got some time alone or are unable to spend the day as you wish, we’ve sat down with the skipper to discuss what the holiday season means to him.
“I think it’s a great time to spend with family,” the 27-year-old said. “I’ve got so many fond memories of being with all my family and the traditional Christmas things that you get up to.
“I think for a bit of perspective, going to games and going out for a run on Christmas Day.
“That was my always my Dad’s message to me to get used to making that sacrifice, Christmas Day is not normal for footballers and you have to sacrifice a little bit to get the success.”
Premier League players will be more than accustomed to the busy schedule of Boxing Day, December 28 and a New Year’s round of fixtures by now.
Saints are scheduled to face West Ham, Tottenham Hotspur and Newcastle United this campaign.
For Ward-Prowse, the centre-piece of his Christmas is son Oscar – born in 2018 – although he admitted he won’t be making the little man go out for a run of his own just yet.
The England international continued: “Yeah for sure, you kind of relive those memories through him and you give him the special moments that I had as a kid.
“I’ve got very fond memories of Christmas so I want to make sure that he has the same.
“I won’t be making him do that yet,” Ward-Prowse joked. “But I’ll probably be rolling his new football down to the hall to kick – but don’t tell him he’s got that yet.”
Finally, we asked Ward-Prowse to give you – the supporters – his Christmas message for 2021, and here’s what he delivered us:
I think from our perspective it’s a big thank you for all of your support.
It’s been a tough year and not only from a footballing perspective, in terms of some of the results, but there’s constant support you’ve given us through really difficult times.
We’ve all had a really big assessment of what’s important to us as people over the last couple of years.
We know that we’re a big factor in people’s lives in terms of giving them something back and making their weeks complete with a good result on Saturday.
That’s our main thing, to make you happy.
A big thanks to everyone, ensure you stay safe and enjoy Christmas and the New Year.
James Ward-Prowse.
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