On Saturday 14th March, we knew it was all over. As the majority of the day's National League schedule succumbed to the growing concerns associated with the newly-emerging pandemic, the pressure to follow in the footsteps of other footballing bodies and suspend the season became insurmountable. The gates were locked and the floodlights dimmed into darkness as the entirety of lower-league football entered an indefinite period of hibernation. An agonising wait ensued as society crumbled around us, but finally there was a speck of light at the end of the tunnel when a number of trial events were scheduled ahead of October's planned return to stadiums for football supporters. These trials included our pre-season friendly at home to Concord Rangers on Tuesday night, but rather than seeming like the triumphant night it was supposed to, the occasion was underpinned by immense frustration following the announcement earlier that day confirming it could be as long as six months before seats and terraces would be filled again from tier six upwards. The success of the event, in line with every other tremendously-executed pilot, now seems immaterial. Instead of analysing the findings, the government have made a hasty decision based on a projected worst-case scenario in regard to the pandemic. Naturally, though, all the other public outlets have been opened in their droves, deemed 'safer' than an open-air stadium in which social distancing is far more prevalent than anywhere else in the country. It's disastrous, potentially fatal, for lower league clubs. It's not too draconian to say that a proportion of those have quite literally pinned their entire existences on having supporters back by October, having already undergone months of extensive cost-cutting just to ensure they have reached this stage, at which point they have been dealt another monumental blow. The uncertainty surrounding the entire sport is tangible, just a week before the National League is scheduled to commence. Emerging as the figurehead on behalf of the entire National League to spread awareness about the importance of securing a vital financial package for it's member clubs is our Managing Director Steve Thompson, who has appeared on Good Morning Britain and a whole host of radio shows to explain the catastrophic impact the delay to supporters returning will have. Thankfully, the National League's latest update indicates monetary support will be forthcoming, hopefully imminently, to ensure the survival of clubs.
This does however mean that the division will start behind closed doors on the 3rd October. As disappointing an outcome as this is, it was simply unfeasible to keep waiting for a spectator-friendly start date that may never come, especially with clubs having reached an advanced stage of pre-season while committing to contracts for the upcoming campaign. The general consensus from clubs at Step 1 was that they would be heavily opposed to another delay to the season. Unfortunately, a streaming service will now become the only way to watch Dagenham on a Saturday afternoon or Tuesday night, a far cry from the feeling of waking up at the crack of dawn for a gruelling away trip up north. Those days will eventually return and will be all the more pleasurable when they do. For now, we have to embrace the 'new normal' as unappetising as it sounds. 3 points at Halifax in the big kick-off, I'm sure, would be a decent initial antidote for the gutting reality that we're disappointingly restricted from being there in person. Football won't be the same this season. Even a cosy afternoon at home with the game on a laptop isn't remotely comparable to a freezing winter's afternoon there in the flesh. In the current climate, though, winning and losing is of secondary importance. Merely having our club and leagues intact by May will be a victory for us all. The government say plans for the reintroduction of fans have been paused, but for many it may be power off altogether.
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WRITERArchives
January 2024
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