Coronavirus

[chipmunx]

That's easy for you to say, your two clubs combined only average about 2,500.

That's a little harsh on Maidenhead - they are averaging more than Harrogate (and Barnet)

 

[#Beebot]

That's easy for you to say, your two clubs combined only average about 2,500.

I don't think Hartlepool's average attendance of 3,283 is going to have the government in panic either.

Top 2 tiers will probably be kept behind closed doors. I think there will be real pressure to allow L1 and below. The likes of Sunderland and Ipswich might make that decision difficult. I don't think any team at this level will have crowds big enough to worry them.

 

[chipmunx]

I don't think Hartlepool's average attendance of 3,283 is going to have the government in panic either.

Top 2 tiers will probably be kept behind closed doors. I think there will be real pressure to allow L1 and below. The likes of Sunderland and Ipswich might make that decision difficult. I don't think any team at this level will have crowds big enough to worry them.

saying that though there is an Island called Saaremaa in Estonia where half the population now has coronavirus (allegedly) after a volleyball match with an Italian team in early March. That will have had less people attending it than most NL games.

 

[Chief Rocka]

I don't think Hartlepool's average attendance of 3,283 is going to have the government in panic either.

Top 2 tiers will probably be kept behind closed doors. I think there will be real pressure to allow L1 and below. The likes of Sunderland and Ipswich might make that decision difficult. I don't think any team at this level will have crowds big enough to worry them.

3,488 according to the National League, but that's just me being picky.

Do you really think the government are gonna let thousands of people (in most cases), stand shoulder to shoulder watching footy every Saturday without a nationwide vaccine in play? They don't even want people sitting on a bench in the park you nutter, it's not gonna happen.

 

[#Beebot]

3,488 according to the National League, but that's just me being picky.

Do you really think the government are gonna let thousands of people (in most cases), stand shoulder to shoulder watching footy every Saturday without a nationwide vaccine in play? They don't even want people sitting on a bench in the park you nutter, it's not gonna happen.

Nobody knows when a vaccine is going to be available and I don't think there are any governments who think a "wait for a vaccine" strategy is feasible. I don't think anyone can easily predict timings but I think we will see crowds at non-league games in the Autumn.

 

[Vanni]

TBF, Pools' home average is a little under 3500, and Victoria Park holds what, 7500? 8000? Not forgetting that part of the ground is only open to the away fans. No way will the government allow it.

 

[Vanni]

Those seasons you refer were completed, though. Fulham's, and perhaps Brentford's, argument would be that you can't handout promotion and relegation spots on the basis of an incomplete season. Fulham might not have gone up if the season was halted but on the flip side, Leeds and WBA might not have gone up just because they're in the automatic spots at the minute.

Likewise you'd have Tranmere testing the water as well because they'd stand to lose a fair amount of money through relegation.

I stand corrected as I was under the impression that Fulham's argument was that you can't promote WBA and Leeds and not promote the side that's currently in 3rd place, which of course, happens to be them.

 

[#Beebot]

TBF, Pools' home average is a little under 3500, and Victoria Park holds what, 7500? 8000? Not forgetting that part of the ground is only open to the away fans. No way will the government allow it.

Not in the next couple of months, but by the autumn quite possibly.

 

[HG Yellow&Black]

Sport, not just football is far from irrelevant. It will be vital to lift the mood of the country and get the economy going again, to a certain extent.

There are issues to overcome, but things need to be resolved before things can start afresh.

As noble as your love for the game is and anyone else's of football at this level, it means naff all given the context of what is happening. Football and the shameful response by the game at many levels and different ways sickens me frankly. Even the non league with petty legal challenges has managed to act in a questionnable way


Below the hallowed money machine that is the EPL, Football does very little at all in the large for the economy and the practicalities of any football taking place this year set against the need to test players regularly, call upon ambulance services, have multiple players and staff trapsing up and down the country and the complete unreality of any attended matches happening..... doesn't seem to be thought about by football.

Until there is a vaccination football is over. By the time there is the possibility of football restarting, this season will be irrelevant for obvious reasons of continuity of playing staff etc, there will be no basis for it.

Hopefully the game will come back with more sensible and sane player salaries, agent leeches removed and more fan ownership. The game in large areas has been ill and unsustainable as it was. If anything positive can come of this all, it would be the chance to reshape the game.

 

[chipmunx]

This is what the Scots have now decided...

https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/footbal...axBx_DJrYACeG8AvPCubnRB6UXehxAojEs7Kr1bubjM0I

basically;-

Dundee United, Raith Rovers and Cove Rangers have been declared champions - and a taskforce is to look at expanding the top flight - after Dundee belatedly backed SPFL plans to end the season.

 

[#Beebot]

As noble as your love for the game is and anyone else's of football at this level, it means naff all given the context of what is happening. Football and the shameful response by the game at many levels and different ways sickens me frankly. Even the non league with petty legal challenges has managed to act in a questionnable way


Below the hallowed money machine that is the EPL, Football does very little at all in the large for the economy and the practicalities of any football taking place this year set against the need to test players regularly, call upon ambulance services, have multiple players and staff trapsing up and down the country and the complete unreality of any attended matches happening..... doesn't seem to be thought about by football.

Until there is a vaccination football is over. By the time there is the possibility of football restarting, this season will be irrelevant for obvious reasons of continuity of playing staff etc, there will be no basis for it.

Hopefully the game will come back with more sensible and sane player salaries, agent leeches removed and more fan ownership. The game in large areas has been ill and unsustainable as it was. If anything positive can come of this all, it would be the chance to reshape the game.

The plan isn't to shut down until a cure is found. That isn't feasible and isn't being seriously pursued by any country as far as I can see. The plan is to get the contagion rate well below 1 and then gradually relax restrictions. Non-league football will probably, although not definitely, be back by the autumn.

 

[Raymondo316]

I can't see football behind closed doors being enforced by government below the top few tiers.

Considering the government have mentioned that social distancing measures could be in place for the rest of the year. I don't see how even at National League level having thousands of people in stadiums will be allowed.

Also if this virus is still around does anyone here really want to stand/sit surrounded by people who are potentially infected?? As someone who falls in the at risk category, I sure as hell won't be going to a Maidstone game till this is virus is well and truly gone......I've seen a fair few people say the same as well.

 

[Camborne Gills]

As noble as your love for the game is and anyone else's of football at this level, it means naff all given the context of what is happening. Football and the shameful response by the game at many levels and different ways sickens me frankly. Even the non league with petty legal challenges has managed to act in a questionnable way


Below the hallowed money machine that is the EPL, Football does very little at all in the large for the economy and the practicalities of any football taking place this year set against the need to test players regularly, call upon ambulance services, have multiple players and staff trapsing up and down the country and the complete unreality of any attended matches happening..... doesn't seem to be thought about by football.

Until there is a vaccination football is over. By the time there is the possibility of football restarting, this season will be irrelevant for obvious reasons of continuity of playing staff etc, there will be no basis for it.

Hopefully the game will come back with more sensible and sane player salaries, agent leeches removed and more fan ownership. The game in large areas has been ill and unsustainable as it was. If anything positive can come of this all, it would be the chance to reshape the game.

I kind agree that in the wider context, football is less relevant for some people. I also agree that some of the football community have acted like complete knobs.

I don't really agree with most of your second paragraph though. Yes clubs below the 91 may not generate the same sort of money, but there are many more clubs at non league, and they have supporters who spend their hard earned, getting to matches, paying to get in, and eating/drinking in various hostelries etc...

Who says there needs to be a vaccination before things can start again? I haven't seen any articles relating to that. That is pure speculation.

I do hope what you have said in the final paragraph, does come to fruition (however unlikely)

In my current situation, sport and especially football is everything to me, because i don't really have much else going on right now. I have only left my house on one occasion since March 19th, and that was for less than half an hour!

P.S. The first few words of your reply were a wee bit condescending/patronising[/QUOTE]

 

[#Beebot]

Considering the government have mentioned that social distancing measures could be in place for the rest of the year. I don't see how even at National League level having thousands of people in stadiums will be allowed.

Also if this virus is still around does anyone here really want to stand/sit surrounded by people who are potentially infected?? As someone who falls in the at risk category, I sure as hell won't be going to a Maidstone game till this is virus is well and truly gone......I've seen a fair few people say the same as well.

That's not a confirmed position though, just a comment made at some point during the epidemic. Germany for example is already reopening schools.

I think if absolutely necessary you can enforce social distancing inside grounds. My only concern with this is that there are elements of every club's support who I wouldn't trust to follow this.

 

[Stocky]

As noble as your love for the game is and anyone else's of football at this level, it means naff all given the context of what is happening. Football and the shameful response by the game at many levels and different ways sickens me frankly. Even the non league with petty legal challenges has managed to act in a questionnable way


Below the hallowed money machine that is the EPL, Football does very little at all in the large for the economy and the practicalities of any football taking place this year set against the need to test players regularly, call upon ambulance services, have multiple players and staff trapsing up and down the country and the complete unreality of any attended matches happening..... doesn't seem to be thought about by football.

Until there is a vaccination football is over. By the time there is the possibility of football restarting, this season will be irrelevant for obvious reasons of continuity of playing staff etc, there will be no basis for it.

Hopefully the game will come back with more sensible and sane player salaries, agent leeches removed and more fan ownership. The game in large areas has been ill and unsustainable as it was. If anything positive can come of this all, it would be the chance to reshape the game.

Keeping millions of healthy people under lockdown until we find a Vaccine is simply not going to work.

We're doing what seems the most sensible thing at the moment to relieve the burden on the health services however in time people will not be held under lock and key for something that has such a low death rate (far more have had it than the statistics will say).

 

[karlready]

If this virus turns out to be seasonal, or recurrent, then a vaccine is essential before any sort of “crowding” is possible. I’m rather afraid that at lower levels, football as a spectator sport will be impossible for the foreseeable.

 

[Master D]

If this virus turns out to be seasonal, or recurrent, then a vaccine is essential before any sort of “crowding” is possible. I’m rather afraid that at lower levels, football as a spectator sport will be impossible for the foreseeable.

No problems for Borehamwood then etc etc.

 

[Chief Rocka]

Keeping millions of healthy people under lockdown until we find a Vaccine is simply not going to work.

I agree with this totally, we can't cower in our homes for months on end waiting for a vaccine to appear, eventually we're all going to have to return to places of work if we're not there already, but packing stadiums with thousands of fans to watch live footy won't happen again until there is one, I can't see it.

 

[Super_horns]

I agree with this totally, we can't cower in our homes for months on end waiting for a vaccine to appear, eventually we're all going to have to return to places of work if we're not there already, but packing stadiums with thousands of fans to watch live footy won't happen again until there is one, I can't see it.

It wlll only be essential work and business to start with.

Pubs and grounds later.

 

[HG Yellow&Black]

Two key things from the last 24hours.
The government confirming no return to normal till vaccine.....by normal I would lump live football into that. Yes people will be able to do a bit more than present but thanks to the governments inability to do a Korea or Germany test and track that's the reality. Lockdown lite we could call it. The irony of years of austerity impacting local and central civil service, to be followed by a single issue government out of its depth......but certainly no spectator sports....and given the volume of matches up and down the country and the NHS etc stretched I just cannot see any viability of football taking place even behind closed doors. To arbitrarily relegate or promote in this context would not be fair imho.

The second big news, from the bbc, that they have been briefed that the next season is far more important than this. The practicalities of contracts/TV deals etc proving the big areas in limiting the relevance of this current season.

Sorry Camborne Gill, no condescension intended earlier btw.

 

[HG Yellow&Black]

It wlll only be essential work and business to start with.

Pubs and grounds later.

Yeah can't wait for Boris Cheltenham festival and stereophonic type attempts at herd immunity again

As much as I am climbing the wall for pub beer garden times football grounds being open before next year is not happening. Just thank our government for that when you see German matches taking place later this year.

No vaccine, no party

 

[Soup Ladle]

Don't be silly our government are doing a cracking job and then we've got Brexit next year too. That's great news. Our new free trade deal with the Central African Republic will open jobs and new levels of prosperity never ever had in the UK.

 

[Soup Ladle]

Two key things from the last 24hours.
The government confirming no return to normal till vaccine.....by normal I would lump live football into that. Yes people will be able to do a bit more than present but thanks to the governments inability to do a Korea or Germany test and track that's the reality. Lockdown lite we could call it. The irony of years of austerity impacting local and central civil service, to be followed by a single issue government out of its depth......but certainly no spectator sports....and given the volume of matches up and down the country and the NHS etc stretched I just cannot see any viability of football taking place even behind closed doors. To arbitrarily relegate or promote in this context would not be fair imho.

The second big news, from the bbc, that they have been briefed that the next season is far more important than this. The practicalities of contracts/TV deals etc proving the big areas in limiting the relevance of this current season.

Sorry Camborne Gill, no condescension intended earlier btw.

If what you say is true, that'd be the absolute death knell for most clubs at this level.

 

[chipmunx]

HG Yellow&Black - is it correct that Harrogate have already started ripping up the artificial pitch in preparation for a grass one going down? I saw someone post elsewhere that they had yesterday...

 

[HG Yellow&Black]

Is it possible to mothball clubs? Most clubs re-emerged post ww2. As you say soup ladle it will rip through clubs. Maybe the government support should be around rates removals, vat reductions etc.
Would not want to be a player at this level. Maybe their multi millionaire colleagues higher up should help their mates out? Who the feck needs 50k + week in the current context.

Nothing happening on the pitch front from what I have seen passing the stadium (it was an essential trip )
The club would be mental to do that given the confusion in the game at present as to what might happen.....then again when a millionaire daddy's boy wants, he usually gets.

 

[DarkSithLord]

National League clubs are “split” regarding ending their season. Spoke to all 24 who make up 32 of the votes. 10 clubs want the season to end immediately, 4 would like it to continue, 9 are undecided and 1 club politely refused to give an answer.
@BBCSport

 

[rudebwoyben]

Don't be silly our government are doing a cracking job and then we've got Brexit next year too. That's great news. Our new free trade deal with the Central African Republic will open jobs and new levels of prosperity never ever had in the UK.

Do you feel lonely in Hartlepool with that point of view?

 

[Master D]

I agree with this totally, we can't cower in our homes for months on end waiting for a vaccine to appear, eventually we're all going to have to return to places of work if we're not there already, but packing stadiums with thousands of fans to watch live footy won't happen again until there is one, I can't see it.

I just cannot even fathom going to a game again any time soon. And it just seems absolute fantasy-land to even begin to imagine watching say a Premier League match with 50,000 there.

 

[Camborne Gills]

Is it possible to mothball clubs? Most clubs re-emerged post ww2. As you say soup ladle it will rip through clubs. Maybe the government support should be around rates removals, vat reductions etc.
Would not want to be a player at this level. Maybe their multi millionaire colleagues higher up should help their mates out? Who the feck needs 50k + week in the current context.

Nothing happening on the pitch front from what I have seen passing the stadium (it was an essential trip )
The club would be mental to do that given the confusion in the game at present as to what might happen.....then again when a millionaire daddy's boy wants, he usually gets.

The main difference being that there was football played during WW2 on a regional basis with pretty large crowds, and nobody really cared about contracts. A vastly different scenario, i realise, but if we can't have something to look forward to as soon as possible, then we might as well eat ourselves to death, having watched every cooking programme imaginable. Try counting them, that should alleviate some of the boredom.

 

[Soup Ladle]

Do you feel lonely in Hartlepool with that point of view?

I don't live around there anymore but amongst the Poolies I knock about with, the Brexit thing is as split as the rest of the country.