Will Vaulks Column: Christmas is eat, sleep, train and play

This article first appeared in last Friday's Advertiser

That's why the Rotherham lads had their Christmas do early, because we don't get any time over Christmas to do anything other than eat, sleep, train and play. Our trip to Dublin was in early December.

We’ve got West Brom at home tomorrow, then we’re at Bolton on Boxing Day before a long trip to Bristol City on December 29 that will involve an overnight stay. Three days after that, we’re at home to Preston on New Year’s Day. The festive schedule is hectic.

Your family have to make sacrifices and you have to make sacrifices yourself. You can't go and stay at your mum and dad's house on Christmas Eve, for example, or go out on Boxing Day with your friends.

The job we have, it's worth all those sacrifices. I'm not complaining one bit. But it is harder than people think, particularly if you're not in the team and you still don't get to spend time with your family.

It's wives, girlfriends and kids who are affected the most. I love playing games every couple of days. I prefer that to training, so that's a bonus of Christmas for me.

My missus, Alex, is used to it now. She wasn't at first. She used to think I'd get days off and stuff! “Will, can you just ask the manager about Boxing Day?”

Now she's used to it and we've got a nice little routine. My mum and dad come over on Christmas Day and we have dinner and then Alex goes to her family on Boxing Day for a bit of a party with them.

The plan is for the players to have Christmas Day at home but we will have to do a bit of running on our own and send in videos to prove we've done it.

The manager is all about good morale and families being together. He appreciates that a few of the lads travel in for training so he won’t force them to come in for an hour before sending them home again.

I think that makes a good difference. It leaves players in a better frame of mind.

I've got Alex a few bits. Nothing too big. She's not asked for much. She's nothing like the common perception of a WAG. She's down to earth. She's not too expensive, which is good!

I haven't asked for anything. I don't know what I want. I like practical presents. She knows I don't like fancy trainers or things like that. I got a wooden spoon one year and I was made up!

I'm more that kind of a guy. A food processor would be good!

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WE were at Rotherham Hospice last week. It's tough, but it's nice to put a smile on some people's faces.

There were a few Millers fans in there and they were really grateful that we paid them a visit.

If you can put a smile or someone's face or someone's grandchild's face, that's brilliant. I find visits like that really humbling.

To have a conversation with Rotherham fans who are coming to the end of their lives ... it's the least we can do. They've supported the club all their lives.

Like I said, it's tough, but so worthwhile.

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ALL the team were going to Bluebell Wood Children's Hospice yesterday. I spoke to all the lads beforehand and told them about the great work that is done there.

Being a Bluebell Wood ambassador, I wouldn't have been doing a proper job if I hadn't mentioned it to them.

I wanted us to turn up with something so I asked for donations from them so we could match the £500 the physios had given us out of the fine money.

We have a little wheel which can multiply or reduce the amount, so we picked a figure and then gave the wheel a spin to see what each person paid.

Obviously, everyone was happy to take part and put in for such a good cause. Some of the players have paid £50. Hammy (coach Matt Hamshaw) had to hand over £40.

The lads have been generous and the total amount we're giving Bluebell Wood is around £1,500, which is great.

The lads didn't have to do it. It's down to their generosity. Every one of them said 'yes'.

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WE weren't great in the first half in the 1-1 draw against Reading. Fair play to them, they were good.

In the second half, we played more like we can do and had enough chances to win. A draw was probably fair.

Some of our fans seemed very frustrated in the first half. But some of the players we were up against cost Reading £5 million or more. They're good players. We're not playing against mugs just because they're below us in the table.

I want to say to the fans, please stick with us.

We're all in it together. It helps the players so much when we can feel support from the stands. The support this season has been brilliant. The wins will come. Please stick with us!

The fans are a massive help when they're behind us. But it can also be a massive hindrance if they're not.

It does make a difference when we're kicking towards the kop. The fans always seem to be really good when we're going that way.

The supporters get right behind us. When we get corners and throw-ins and stuff you can hear the roar. It does help.

It galvanises the whole team. The collectiveness gets everyone working together.

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IT feels like I'm destined to never score again! After missing a big chance in the derby at Sheffield Wednesday a week earlier, I had a few opportunities against Reading.

I've watched my clips back and I don't think I could have done any more with my header. It was a great clearance from the lad on the line.

The volley, I caught it as sweet as anything. If it goes anywhere other than straight at the goalkeeper, I think it's in.

That was the most frustrating one of all.

I think, because I tend to score from longer range and with harder shots, there is more of an expectation from people that I will score. If it was a striker not putting them away, they wouldn't be going down as glaring misses!

I wasn't happy with the half-volley I put wide right at the end. It was under my feet. I tried to dig it out. I've done extra in training this week on scoring half-volleys.

I've got four goals this season and would have liked to have been on five or six by now.