After a slow, frustrating June spent recovering from my bike accident and a fractured elbow, July has finally brought some movement — literally and figuratively. I’m not back at full pace just yet, but the shift from rest to routine has begun, and it feels good to be slowly stepping back into the world of late-night cleaning at Leeds Arena.
July 1st to 10th – Still Signed Off
The first third of the month was more of the same: resting up, stretching, and doing my best not to rush the recovery. My NHS fit note had me out of action until the 9th, so I spent those days laying low and trying to be patient. Easier said than done.
When you’ve worked night shifts as long as I have, your body starts to crave that rhythm — the movement, the routine, the quiet focus that comes when the public leaves and the lights dim. I was definitely ready to get back in the game. Luckily, the timing lined up.
July 15th to 18th – Leeds Beckett University Graduations
My first official shifts back were for Leeds Beckett University’s graduation week — a four-day run of ceremonies that filled the arena during the daytime. By the time our night crew arrived, the party was over. No proud families left taking photos, no applause, no speeches echoing off the walls. Just a silent arena and the remains of a day’s celebration.
You wouldn’t think there’d be much to clean, but even a polite graduation leaves a mess. Programs tucked under chairs, half-finished takeaway coffees, popped balloons, and the occasional rogue mortarboard abandoned mid-celebration like it had somewhere better to be.
The shifts were steady and structured — no crowds to dodge, no chaos to manage — just quiet, methodical work. A good way to ease back in after nearly six weeks off. My elbow held up fine, sore but manageable, and I could feel myself slowly settling back into the rhythm.
July 29th to 31st – TRANSFORMERS25
To round off the month, I was back at the arena for three night shifts during TRANSFORMERS25 — a young Christian event that ran from July 29th through the 31st. It brought together people from all over the UK and beyond, filling the First Direct Arena with faith, music, energy, and a different kind of buzz from the usual concerts I’m used to working.
The event was packed with dynamic preaching, live worship music, and moments of deep prayer and reflection. There were flags waving, hands raised, and people genuinely moved by what was happening on stage. And while I wasn’t in the crowd for the message, you could still feel the atmosphere echoing through the building long after the lights came up.
By the time our night crew arrived each evening, the arena was calm again — dimmed lights, quiet corridors, and the quiet chatter of teams packing things down. But even in the silence, you could sense something had happened. There was a peacefulness to it all that I don’t usually associate with late-night cleaning. No beer cans or glitter bombs. Just programs, snack wrappers, coffee cups — and a few carefully left behind items that made you realise how meaningful the event had been for some.
It wasn’t glamorous work, but it felt like I was helping close the curtain on something that mattered. Everyone who passed through those doors during TRANSFORMERS25 came looking for something bigger than themselves. And even though I was just sweeping up the aftermath, it felt like I was part of something purposeful — even if just on the sidelines.
It was a unique way to end July. A different kind of crowd, a different kind of mess, and a shift that stuck with me longer than expected.
Wrapping Up July
Coming back to work after injury isn’t just about physical recovery — it’s about finding your rhythm again. July gave me exactly that. From the quiet reset of Leeds Beckett graduations to the reflective shifts during TRANSFORMERS25, this month wasn’t about chaos or big-name concerts. It was about rebuilding, reconnecting, and remembering why I do this job in the first place.
It reminded me that not every shift needs to be high-energy or headline-worthy to be meaningful. Sometimes the slower, quieter nights — the ones where you’re just rolling bins, folding chairs, and watching the lights go out — are the ones that stick with you.
Now, with my first full month back under my belt, I’m ready to take August as it comes — mop in hand, back in stride, and curious as ever about what’s waiting under the seats.
See you next month