Good news: A player who announced his retirement will have another opportunity to play for Ispwich Town.
The 22-year-old former Ipswich Town midfielder conceded defeat after a two-and-a-half-year injury battle and declared his retirement on Sunday night.
He took the tough decision to call it quits in January, but to discover when his bright future abruptly ended, you have to go back to a friendly at Notts County in July 2019.
His broken ankle that evening marked the start of a difficult journey that ended in heartache.
The East Anglian Daily Times: The wound Tristan Nydam’s career was terminated in July 2019 after suffering at Notts County.
The wound Tristan Nydam’s career was terminated in July 2019 after suffering at Notts County. (Photo credit:
“Now I feel better,” Nydam remarked.
“The weeks leading up to my decision in January were difficult, but you get over it,” the speaker said. I had control over the decision, but not over the injury. Over a period of 2.5 years, we underwent three surgeries and numerous hours of physical therapy with various specialists, trying every possible option.
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“The club was fantastic after I was cut loose in the summer, offering me a contract that didn’t really reveal until January so I could try to get fit. After a second surgery and a hamstring injury, I was able to resume my fitness. But my ankle never felt quite right.
“It was still there in training, and I wasn’t the same player.” It was up to me to decide in January. We tried everything and I had to make the call. I had to consider my future because I didn’t want to be unable to walk when I woke up in ten years.
“The doctors said I couldn’t play professional football and that it was best for me.” I just can’t play professional football. I can run, play six-a-side, or do anything else that’s normal.
“After I finally made the choice, things were a little bit simpler. Then, when I made my announcement and told everyone, the amount of messages that kept coming in made it hit me even harder. They were very kind and heartfelt, but it did cause me to consider it further.
“You have to move on with your life, though, because you get over these things.”
Over the past two years, Nydam has had a lot to come to terms with. The night of his injury, which happened after Dion Kelly-Evans’ tackle at Meadow Lane, was first on that list.
He remarked, “I pretty much remember everything.”
“We had a throw-in and I was playing left-back. I’ve thrown it to Corrie (Ndaba) or Ems (Emyr Huws), who returned the ball, passed it inside, and then—bang. I had my ankle turned the wrong way.
“I don’t recall the pain at all, but I do recall leaving the field, going to the hospital, and the rest of that evening. I had injured my ligaments and fractured my ankle.
“I hold Kelly-Evans, the player, not responsible. I believe that he was attempting to impress at the time and was a trialist. However, because it’s preseason, I’m not sure if that kind of tackle would have been applied if it had been against a league club.
East Anglian Daily Times: Nydam’s debut season in the first team saw him play for Town against Norwich.
Nydam’s first season in the starting lineup was spent playing for Town against Norwich. (Photo: Â^ Stephen Waller Copyright)
“I don’t blame anyone, but if it had been a league game, the tackle might have come under closer examination. In football, he was attempting to make an impression. There is no one to blame.
People frequently fly into tackles. Although you don’t anticipate it happening to you, these things do happen. However, it does.
There were obstacles in his path every time he tried to fight his way back to full health following an injury that initially required six months to heal.
After more surgery and slower-than-anticipated recovery, Nydam played a few games for Town’s Under 23 team before making his Ipswich debut in April 2021—nearly two years after his injury.
Nydam was given a half-hour by Paul Cook at the conclusion of Town’s match against MK Dons, with the midfielder’s performance being the high point of a dull 0-0 draw.
But something wasn’t quite right.
Nydam remarked, “It was wonderful to have their support and confidence that I could return and play.”
“I didn’t feel the same in the game, despite what people said about how I looked.” My ankles hurt, so I was unable to stop. It was constricted and felt heavy. To make up for it, I would even have to perform tasks in training that I used to be able to complete in small steps.
However, it was beneficial to visit Portman Road one more time.
A week or two later, I had a hamstring injury during training that was related to my ankle. And there was still more surgery to come.
“I hoped that having more time would help and wasn’t considering retirement at this time. I believe I have an optimistic outlook and that there is no use in getting upset about something that is beyond my control.
“It’s difficult to accept, but you must go on and improve your mental health.”
Nydam was among the hordes of Ipswich players that Cook let go in the summer of 2021, but he stuck with the team, recovering from a hamstring injury and eventually becoming fit again before deciding that retirement was the only course of action.
During that period, he met Kieran McKenna, the Town manager at the moment, who was also forced to hang up his boots at the age of 22 before deciding to become a coach.
Nydam remarked, “I spoke with Kieran McKenna at Ipswich, and he’s a really nice guy.” “Look at where he is now, he was right where I was.”
“The club has been really accommodating and has allowed me to observe some coaches in action. That’s what I’m talking to them about.
“I’ve been coaching for the past three weeks with a company in Colchester, and I’ve really enjoyed it. I’ve been working one-on-one with them and shadowing their coaches.
“I could look to go down the path of coaching, even though it’s not something I have really been looking to do until now. I’ve also been considering going to college or doing something else. Most likely a sporting event or perhaps real estate development. Or something similar.
