Football's Back - But How Long For

Saturday 1st August saw pre-season friendlies played as clubs throughout the country prepare for a season they are not 100% certain will start. I was fortunate to be allowed in, as part of my official capacity, to take photographs at Eastwood Community of the East Midlands Counties League for their game against Burton Joyce of the Nottinghamshire Senior League.

Eastwood (red) go close against Burton Joyce.

Though it was a little later than we are used to for pre-season games it was a hot day as per most of these type of games. Friendlies are usually a chance to catch up with other members of the football fraternity and if the football isn't so great get distracted by talk of important matters such as will Liverpool dominate the season again, aren't Leeds looking active in the transfer market and the real issues affecting non-league football such as will the original Bury club be allowed in the National League.

The Government regulations due to Coronavirus have to be adhered to and Eastwood, like all other clubs, have had to put certain measures in place and one of these is no spectators allowed. I was one of 5 people with official duties at today's game other than the teams and their staff. 

As restrictions have been lifted over recent weeks pubs and restaurants are allowed to open as long as various measures are taken, 2 metre distancing where possible, contact details being taken, etc. It's a small price to pay to be allowed some normality after months of only being allowed to go to work or stay at home furloughed if you're lucky enough to have a job.

Eastwood stuck to this guidance and allowed people in their clubhouse and on the outside terrace, enjoying a drink in the sunny weather. It was a great idea as a few people took them up and were able to see some of the football. It was a good way of using the facilities they have to allow people to enjoy a pint, it was a bonus for those there that a football game was going on as well.

The clubhouse terrace at Eastwood.

Any money that Eastwood made will never compensate for revenue from a match day and that is the worry throughout football for when the real stuff starts, at the moment it's looking like September when the FA Cup is planned to get underway.

Clubs from League 1 down, and quite possibly the Championship, cannot survive on behind closed doors football or vastly reduced capacities. With delays to further restrictions being lifted announced last week and talk of pubs having to close again by Government sources as we see an increase in reported cases of Covid-19 it makes it more uncertain when football supporters will be allowed back in grounds and what percentage of capacity that will be.

Eastwood (red) v Burton Joyce.

Some clubs will manage with a reduction in how many are allowed in but the likes of FC United of Manchester and York City with a big supporter base may not be able to cater for all those who want to watch them. Then you have to possibility of League clubs, such as Sheffield Utd, reportedly, with 25,000 season ticket holders being unable to accommodate all those people never mind those regulars who can't afford a season ticket. There is a possibility of some of their supporters  venturing to their local non-league club and swelling the capacity there. It may be wishful thinking but a lot of non-league clubs notice an increase in crowds when their bigger neighbours aren't at home.

Eastwood score.

The Government, through the Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport (DCMS), have agreed with the FA’s plan for the return of football though without paying spectators this will not happen.

As a football supporter this is massive, and welcome, news, but, like the majority of people the threat of Covid-19 is still a worrying prospect. The virus is still with us and any new lockdown will have a devastating effect on our clubs. Personally I do not believe the Government will issue a full scale lockdown like we had back in March, purely for economic reasons. 

We are more likely to see localised lockdowns. If this happens we can expect localised disruption to football as area's affected have to adhere to more stringent restrictions. How league's and cup competition will cope is unknown. The FA have come up with a plan for a phased return for each step of the game but they've not issued anything related to possible disruptions. If the kick off is delayed at any step then it's understood that the competitions affected will start later once restrictions are lifted again but nothing appears to be in place for a start - stop scenario. This is the most damaging case for clubs, particularly if they have players on contract without a Covid-19 clause.

The Burton Joyce keeper wins this battle.

Football is the same as other businesses, it is facing an uncertain future and we don't yet know how many clubs will survive. The League constitutions have been decided by the FA though for those in the Football League there may be court cases to decide who plays where. Plans are being made for the same set up as last season with, seemingly, no contingency plan should there be a disruption. It wouldn't take much organisation to split each division in half, geographically, and have a reduced season. Another wave of infections is expected either in the next few weeks, which Europe has seen, or later in the year when winter comes. 

Eastwood defend a Burton Joyce attack.

No-one yet knows what will happen with the virus or when a vaccine will be available therefore any plans are likely to be disrupted which is why it is important to have contingency plans in place too. The FA should be leading on this with discussions with the various leagues and member clubs. There are enough people involved in football with the nous to know what is required, it doesn't have to be the splitting of league's in half but there needs to be something to take in to consideration that we may not be back to normality this year. The future of the game as we know it could depend on those people.

Eastwood score again.

Burton Joyce have this shot blocked.

As for the result, Eastwood won a very competitive game 6-2.

Burton Joyce number 9 curls his shot round the Eastwood defender.