Subterms
LEAGUE ONE Charlton have determined how long it takes male fans to use the loo during games as they prepare to welcome supporters back safely. Precise calculations are being implemented as fans return to games this week amid a raft of coronavirus protocols. That includes ensuring supporters can safely leave their seat and use the […] More
FOOTBALL fans return to stadiums this week with clubs given the opportunity to allow the sale of alcohol.
But the long-standing ban on pints being drunk by the pitch means socially-distanced drinking areas need to be set up inside stadiums.
Tier 2 club Tottenham will have to set up a seated drinking area if they want to sell boozeCredit: Getty – Contributor
Fans are set to return to venues but a pre-game pint is not guaranteedCredit: PA:Press Association
A number of loopholes have been spotted in the Government’s pandemic guidelines.
Live events have been given the green light to sell pints without a ‘substantial’ meal – as is required for pubs and restaurants.
Instead, alcohol can be sold to punters in Covid-secure venues, so long as the person has a ticket and consumes their beverage at their seat.
Football fans in Tier 1 and Tier 2 non-league grounds are, as before, allowed to have a pint while watching the game.
However, EFL and Premier League venues are subject to the Sporting Events (Control of Alcohol, etc) Act 1985.
That means alcohol cannot be consumed within sight of the pitch – ruling out fans being allowed to carry their pint to their seat.
A number of clubs are planning on selling food and drinks from their concourses upon fans’ return.
For pints to be added to the menu, a socially-distanced area with seats and tables is required for supporters to follow guidelines.
Discussions have taken place among some Government ministers about repealing or adjusting football’s ban on pitchside alcohol.
The Premier League is said to be pulling together medical experts, Government figures and the Sports Grounds Safety Authority to discuss its options.
However, there is no sign of an immediate change to the law.
Arsenal host Rapid Vienna on Thursday night to become the first Premier League side to welcome back their supporters for a competitive match.
Spectators were banned from professional matches in March and the Government cancelled plans for their return despite a number of trials in the summer.
Tier 1 areas are allowed to welcome back 4,000 fans or reach 50 per cent of stadium capacity – an honour only bestowed upon clubs in Cornwall, the Isles of Scilly and the Isle of Wight.
A wealth of teams can open their doors to as many as 2,000 supporters in Tier 2, including top-flight sides Liverpool, Chelsea and Tottenham.
Half of the Premier League remains under Tier 3 restrictions, whereby fans are not allowed to enter stadiums.
Parliament votes on new Tier system as UK comes out of second national coronavirus lockdown More
EFL clubs will be the first to welcome fans back through their turnstiles on Wednesday.
And those lucky to get tickets are urged to help make the evening a resounding success and send a clear message to the government … watching football outdoors is safe.
Fans will be allowed back into stadiums at a social distance this week
Luton, Wycombe, Shrewsbury, Charlton, Cambridge and Carlisle will all play in front of crowds.
But while this is exciting for fans that haven’t seen their clubs play in the flesh since February or March, most teams will make a LOSS welcoming them back.
It has been incorrectly assumed the return of supporters will give cash-strapped clubs outside the Premier League a financial boost.
But not all of them will get the go-ahead to host the 2,000 fans allowed in tier two areas by their local Safety Advisory Group and the costs of hiring staff and adapting stadiums for social distancing will cost more than any gate revenue generated.
Cambridge United were one of the clubs to pilot return of fans in September
Although profits will finally be made, once their area is moved into tier one by the government, allowing them up to 4,000 supporters.
Some SAG authorities prefer clubs to stage smaller pilot events first before granting them permission to allow larger numbers – while others do not.
Championship sides Luton and Wycombe will be hosting just 1,000 fans for their games against Norwich and Stoke respectively.
But Brentford, who have not held a trial event, will be allowed 2,000 for the first match at their new Kew Bridge ground in front of supporters against Blackburn on Saturday.
League One clubs Charlton and Shrewsbury – along with League Two sides Carlisle and Cambridge – staged pilots in September so have been given the all-clear.
The costs of staging games in front of socially-distanced crowds are high.For example, the Chairboys will be required to recruit a whopping 65 stewards – one for every FIFTEEN fans – as well as hire portable loos and pay for their Adams Park stadium to be deep cleaned before and after the matches.
Cambridge must have 91 stewards for their game with Mansfield – one for every 22 supporters.
However, there is a general consensus that making a loss now is a price worth paying.
Carlisle’s Brunton Park are ready for 2,000 fans for the visit of Salford
Wycombe spokesman Matt Cecil told me: “This is the first season in the Championship in our history and no-one has seen us kick a ball at that level in the flesh yet.
“We’ll be letting in the first 1,000 people who bought season tickets in good faith expecting to see football in October.”
Carlisle chief executive Nigel Clibbens added: “We did a pilot against Southend as a stepping stone to larger crowds and expect that to be the case again here as we edge towards increasing to 3,000, 4,000, etc.
“It’s important clubs don’t jump from having no fans to 2,000 without testing it first.
WHAT THE GUIDELINES SAY …
At all times observe two metre distancing & avoid any close contact with anyone outside your social bubble
Arrive earlier than you would usually to allow time for entry procedures to take place
Your temperature may be taken and you could be refused entry if it is too high
Try to remain in your allocated seat or spot on the terrace wherever possible throughout
Maintain good hand hygiene by using sanitiser dispensers provided and avoid touching your face, handles and railings whenever possible
Always cover your mouth if you are to cough or sneeze and wear a face covering throughout
When passing other spectators avoid face-to-face contact with others by passing back-to-back
Take care when singing, chanting or celebrating. Avoid hugs, handshakes and high fives with anyone outside your social bubble
Above all enjoy the match, have fun – but stay safe and don’t put your or others’ health at risk
“Lower down the pyramid, a lot of the restrictions you must adhere to are not easily dealt with.
“For example, there are rules on how many toilets you must have in a certain area and the space needed for entry and exit aisles to get fans in and out. You can plan it but until you see how fans move you don’t know.
“After our trial game, we were able to see pinch points that were causing us problems and how people would react to wearing facial coverings but in the end that didn’t prove a problem.
“We found people would stay put for enough space before they left the ground at the end. So there was a lot of self-policing.”
Fans will be required to wear face coverings throughout, unless medically exempt.
Cambridge will be unable to stage games in front of more than 2,000 regardless whether the city is in tier one or two due to the logistics of implementing social distancing at the Abbey Stadium.
Facial coverings must be worn throughout the entire time spent in grounds
The U’s – along with Charlton – worked in September with crowd experts Movement Strategies, who helped with their planning.
Chief executive Ian Maher says the club will be offering tickets to their 1,535 season ticket holders first – bar the 31 who live in tier three – and the remainder will be put on general sale.
But he is urging supporters who can’t make it to let the club know so they can reallocate tickets.
He said: “We want a full 2,000 in so our slogan is, ‘Don’t waste a space.’”Wycombe, meanwhile, will allow their season ticket holders to reallocate their places to a mate.
Fans are being urged to turn up to games earlier than normal as it is likely to take longer to get them in.
The Chairboys say there will organise staggered arrival times while fans may be asked to remain in their parked cars before being allowed to proceed to the entrance to avoid crowding.
Temperature checks will be taken before entry while some clubs will be unable to provide food and drink – but some like Wycombe will allow supporters to bring their own.
Fans will be socially distanced or placed into bubbles on the terraces.Wycombe will not open their terracing on Wednesday but hope to for the visit of Coventry on December 12.
Fans are asked not to hug, high five or shake hands with anyone outside their social bubble
And they plan to paint dots on the terracing and will ask supporters to find a vacant one and remain there throughout the match.
Fans are not allowed to make any close contact with anyone outside their household bubble – such as hugging, high fiving or shaking hands.
And, in the EFL’s code of conduct, fans are asked to “take care when singing, chanting or celebrating.”
Government concerns about how fans travel to and from games on public transport were found to be unfounded during the EFL’s pilot matches.
Research by the University of Edinburgh – who surveyed supporters – found that 90 per cent walked or travelled by car and adhered to all government Covid safety guidelines.
Until we get on top of this wretched virus, going to matches will not be the same experience as it once was.
But finally there is light at the end of the tunnel.
It’s not a fair Klopp for the EFL, Jurgen
LET’S put Jurgen Klopp’s rant into the perspective of the real world.
While the Liverpool boss moans about fixture scheduling, lower league clubs are having to also deal with short turnaround in matches with smaller squads. And those teams, inching closer to financial disaster, are STILL awaiting the promised Premier League rescue package.
Thomas Frank is happy in Legoland
BRENTFORD had a hilarious comeback after being trolled by West London rivals QPR ahead of their game on Friday night.
The Rs tweeted: “Friday night from the Lego Brentford Community Stadium.”
After their 2-1 win, the Bees replied by tweeting a picture out of a Lego man’s head smiling.
Brentford staged a great comeback for the trolls of London rivals QPR
Potty-mouthed Paunovic swears to secrecy
READING boss Veljko Paunovic was asked by journalists about his fiery exchange with Bristol City opposite number Dean Holden.
He said: “What happens on the touchline stays on the touchline.”Er, not while there are no fans, Veljko.We all heard you shout at him: “Shut the f**k up!”Don’t worry, your secret is safe with a group of hacks!
Auntie doesn’t like handbags
ROUND of applause to the BBC for suspending local football pundit Steve Thompson for using the word “hangbags” during Lincoln’s recent 0-0 draw with Accrington Stanley.
Notwithstanding that in the Collins dictionary it defines handbags as “an incident in which people, especially sportsmen, fight or threaten to fight, but without real intent to inflict harm.”A few loony politically-correct snowflakes complained to ‘Auntie’ apparently. So what? Tell them to get a life. More
HE MAY not remember a thing but Nicky Hunt feels simply lucky to be alive.
On November 10, the Darlington defender fell backwards during a game against Boston and was out cold.
Darlington star Nicky Hunt will play just three weeks after a horror head injury saw him stop breathing TWICECredit: ANDYFUTERSPHOTOGRAPHY 2020
The night game at Blackwell Meadows was abandoned and Hunt, 37, drifted in and out of consciousness during a 69-minute wait for an ambulance.
He was eventually taken to hospital at 11pm before being released at 5am.
But if it was not for the quick reactions of physios from both sides, the ex-Bolton favourite knows how it could have ended.
Speaking to SunSport, Hunt said: “I spoke to our physio, Danny, the day after and he was like, ‘Your pulse was always there but you stopped breathing twice’. It was a scary time.
“Because the ambulance took so long, if the medics weren’t there then I would have been in a whole heap of trouble.
“The first week was bad. I was on tablets, painkillers, everything. I had swelling on my neck so I had to get that down.
“I’ve just got to thank them from the bottom of my heart and I see myself as lucky to be ready to play today.”
Hunt trained for the first time again on Thursday and has been passed fit to face Bristol Rovers in the FA Cup second round.
Hunt, 37, was asked by his dad whether it was time to retireCredit: Steve Halliday
Quakers officials had feared they were losing him overnight — and his dad asked whether now was the time to retire.
But Hunt said: “I am itching to get back. I know myself, I know my own body and I know my mental state.”
Back-pedalling to meet a header, Hunt did not see Darlo team-mate Tony McMahon’s challenge with an opponent.
He went over, with all of the impact on his neck.
Ex-Middlesbrough defender McMahon said: “We had both ended up on the floor and it looked as if it was nothing.
“But it became clear it was and I didn’t leave his side until the ambulance came. It was really scary.”
Hunt has no recollection of the match and has only recently started to feel normal again.
He added: “I remember driving to the game and then I remember waking up in hospital with shining lights in my face.
“It puts a lot of things into perspective. Enjoy things in life and enjoy football as long as you can because you don’t know when it’s going to be taken away.”
“The video of the incident is so innocuous, it was next to nothing.
“I go up for a header, pull back awkwardly and yeah, you wonder how I ended up in such a state.
Ex-Bolton defender Nicky Hunt in action against Cristiano Ronaldo Credit: AFP
Before the incident, Hunt was loving life with the Quakers in the National League North.
A semi-pro for the first time, the veteran is eyeing up life after football – which he hopes is a year or two off yet.
Coaching is an option, with just his Pro Licence to complete.
But a life in property or as a football agent appeals to the former England U21 international who reached the FA Cup quarters with Bolton in 2005 under Sam Allardyce.
Adam Campbell’s brace against League One Swindon put sixth-tier Darlington in the third round for the first time since 2003.
And Hunt, who won promotion from League Two with Crewe last season, reckons Alun Armstron’s side have it in them to cause another shock at the Memorial Stadium.
He added: “I thought that non-league was nowhere near league standard, but it’s a very fine line now. A lot of non-league clubs would do well in League Two.
“They will be out to impress new manager Paul Tisdale but we are under no pressure and it’s a free hit. The onus is on them.
“A lot of the lads are from the North East so want Newcastle away if we win.
“I’ll take anyone. I’ve been lucky enough to play at all the Premier League grounds, but I’d love to have another crack at the whip against world-class players.
“I supported Bolton as a kid but I was in a school in Manchester so all my friends tried to convert me to Manchester United.
“I caved into them but in my heart I’ve always been a Bolton fan.
“They were beaten by Crewe so that fairy tale has gone – though possibly only until next season!”
Watch Cristiano Ronaldo shred on the guitar in Christmas-themed advert for Portugese telecom company MEO More
JOE GARNER looks set to call time on his Wigan Athletic career after reportedly agreeing to a surprise move to the Indian Super League.
The former Ipswich Town and Rangers frontman is due to join Robbie Fowler’s East Bengal side, according to Football Insider.
Joe Garner (right) is reportedly set to join Robbie Fowler’s East Bengal in India’s top divisionCredit: Rex Features
It has been claimed that Garner, 32, has requested to have his Latics contract – which runs until this season ends – terminated early.
And Football Insider says the striker’s 12-month extension with crisis-hit Wigan was agreed and signed just days before the club went into administration.
Garner’s switch to Fowler’s ISL side follows the Liverpool legend successfully sealing deals for former Latics aces Anthony Pilkington and Danny Fox.
The Clitheroe-born forward joined Wigan, who play Lincoln City on Tuesday, in August 2018.
Prior to his move, Garner had enjoyed some success at Ipswich Town under Mick McCarthy where he clocked up 10 goals 32 games during a one-season spell.
This term the ex-Rangers frontman has been on target seven times in 14 games across all competitions for the Latics
And the departure from the DW Stadium of their top scorer will cause a big headache for the League One side.
The club have only won two games from 13 this season and are bottom of the table.
Joe Garner’s departure leaves Wigan short up top with the striker being their top scorer this termCredit: Rex Features
And their difficult start to this term follows a points deduction last season which saw them relegated from the Championship.
Garner will join an East Bengal side looking who lost their opening fixture ISL.
Fowler’s side will look to claim their first ISL win in their second game of the season when they play Mumbai City.
Oliver Dowden says the Premier League and EFL should work together to support themselves More
A GROUP of Oxford United fans watched their team’s clash with Swindon Town from the Kassam Stadium car park.
With fans not allowed back in stadiums until next week, a group of supporters went to extreme lengths to cheer on Oxford a week ahead of schedule.
The hilarious photo showed the various lengths fans would go to watch their favourite teamCredit: Rex Features
This was the view of the car park from inside the stadiumCredit: Rex Features
The Us’ stadium is open at one end with no stand behind the goal, just a car park for the local bowling alley.
So three fans spotted the chance to watch their side as they balanced on top of a wooden pallet strapped to the roof of their van – singing and clapping to their hearts’ content – while another watched from inside the vehicle.
Another fan had climbed up a tree in a high-vis jacket to show his support, and several others came to join the two parties in the car park.
Police kept an eye on the group from another spot in the car park.
Oxford saw a 1-0 lead slip as they conceded two goals after the 85th minute to lose 2-1.
Matt Taylor had opened the scoring for the Us but Tom Broadbent’s equaliser and an injury-time winner from Tyler Smith saw Swindon snatch all three points.
The motley crew will be looking forward to watching Oxford from the stands next weekend, with fans allowed back into football grounds from December 2.
Oxford falls under Tier 2 of the government’s new system, meaning the Kassam will be able to open its gates to up to 2,000 fans under the new restrictions.
Earlier this week Culture Secretary Oliver Dowden wrote on Twitter: “Sports fans back in stadia from 2nd Dec 4K or 50% of capacity in Tier 1, 2K or 50% of capacity in Tier 2.
One group sang to their hearts’ content from the top of their vanCredit: Rex Features
Police kept an eye on the group from further back in the car parkCredit: Rex Features
Another fan took a phone call from a tree as he watched onCredit: Rex Features
“A big step forward for fans as we work towards fuller capacities.
“Thanks to pilot hosts & fans for showing this can be done safely.”
The EFL said it was an ‘important step in achieving a return to normal’ and that it would help the ‘revenue gap left by a lack of spectators’.
Oxford fans could be able to watch from inside the ground as early as next weekend, when the Us take on Hull in League One.
Oliver Dowden says the Premier League and EFL should work together to support themselves More
JIM HAGUE loves Harrogate Town and this lockdown is affecting his mental health far worse than most fans.
For the 78-year-old suffers from dementia and being segregated from the club due to the government restrictions has had a detrimental effect on his life.
Dementia sufferer Jim Hague is a legend on and off the pitch at Harrogate
Jim is a club legend both on and off the pitch.
The former striker – who started as a defender – remains their youngest first-team debutant at 14 and made a record 402 appearances, topping the Yorkshire club’s all-time scoring charts with 135 goals.
He also served on the club’s committee and, six years ago, won an FA award as groundsman of the year.
Yet – despite his condition – he is still involved with the Sulpherites and, right up to this second lockdown, was working at their Wetherby Road stadium with a team of maintenance volunteers every Monday and Friday.And that interaction with fellow Harrogate lovers gave him something to look forward to twice a week – especially with fans not allowed into the ground to watch games.
Club record appearance holder and scorer Jim Hague helps tidy up ground
Jenny – Jim’s wife for 54 years – told me: “He was sweeping leaves and cleaning the terraces out.“He had only just gone back after the first lockdown and they were doing so much work but now they’re not allowed in.“It’s been bad enough that he hasn’t been able to watch them play since March – although our son Jason has been able to stream the games for Jim.“But it’s been a hard time. Being able to watch games and go to the ground to meet old friends and lovers of Harrogate gave him a reason to get out of bed.“Harrogate has been his life and, for people with dementia, taking away something from them that they love and are used to is not good. It has a seriously negative impact. It’s the worst thing that could’ve happened to his life.“People with dementia need stability and anything out of the ordinary throws them into a downward spiral.“For Jim, his life revolved around watching Harrogate Town and being able to go down there to help.”
People with dementia need stability and anything out of the ordinary throws them into a downward spiral.’
Jenny Hague, Jim’s wife
Jim left Harrogate when he was 16 to join Bolton Wanderers as a youth player. And he was such a promising talent, the legendary Nat Lofthouse spent a lot of time with him on the training pitch.Jenny, 76, said: “Nat would teach him how to head the ball – which is probably why he has dementia.”
Bolton and England legend Nat Lofthouse taught Jim how to head the ball
After around 18 months with Bolton, he joined Leeds but failed to make the grade there and returned to his beloved Harrogate to play in the Yorkshire League.Jim has a great story about his favourite Town manager – former pre-war Chelsea and England star John Townrow – that would send a modern-day HR department into meltdown.
He said: “If we did something wrong in a game he used to punch us! It certainly taught us a lesson.”
Jim loved playing for Harrogate “because the team was close-knit and had a real camaraderie.”
Jim, far left, with Harrogate team after winning the West Riding Cup in 1973
Jim, front row, far left, poses for Harrogate team photo in the 1967-68 season
Harrogate Town celebrate winning promotion to League TwoCredit: Getty Images – Getty
Jim had to call time on his playing career with Harrogate in 1973 at the age of 32 after he passed out while with his wife on a visit to the Yorkshire coastal village of Sandsend, near Whitby.Jenny explained: “He had a heart problem and that finished his playing days there.”But, incredibly, he made a comeback and went on to play into his early 40s for Collingham – a local village team.However, he was serving on Harrogate’s committee and later became the groundsman.And there is a great tale from December 2012 ahead of a crunch FA Cup second-round match with Hastings United.The club were struggling with a newly-laid pitch because Harrogate got 340 per cent more rain that winter compared to the previous year – and had five home games called off in a row.Ten minutes before what was then Town’s biggest match in their history, the referee threatened to postpone the match unless there was more sand treatment to the pitch.
Jim had been given the day off to enjoy the occasion with his grandson Alfie but, as soon as he heard, he rushed out of the stand and, along with the under-17 squad that he had taught how to replace turf and repair diverts, got to work.And they got the pitch playable with one minute spare.Jim’s grand-daughter Olivia, 17, has also proudly represented the club in the girls’ section.
Jim and Jenny Hague have been married to each other for 54 years
Despite having dementia, Jim still was able to talk to me about his love of the club that is playing in the EFL for the first time in their history.He said: “I’m delighted and proud we’re in the Football League and playing well too.“Going way back to when I was playing in the old Yorkshire League, I wanted the club to go further and they certainly have done that.“When fans are allowed back, we will have a big crowd for the first game there for sure.“The club will always have a special place in my heart.”And Harrogate will always have a special place in their hearts for Jim Hague too.
Elliott has a cheek claiming he owns Charlton
WHAT a cheek of Paul Elliott to demand Thomas Sandgaard leaves Charlton Athletic – claiming he does not own the club.It’s almost as mad as Donald Trump claiming he won the US election.Elliott – along with lawyer sidekick Chris Farnell – are hated by the vast majority of the Addicks’ fan-base.I ran a poll on my Twitter page the other day and asked supporters what they would do if these two gentlemen somehow regained control – and 75 per cent said they would “boycott all matches”.Both of them enjoyed driving around in flashy £90,000 Range Rovers at Charlton’s expense while the club was on its knees.In fact, when Sandgaard took over they were days from going into administration.East Street Investments – the previous owners – took almost £1million out of the club on a fleet of cars for their executives. Meanwhile former chairman Matt Southall enjoyed a luxury £12,000-a-month Thames-riverside apartment, paid for by the club.It is clear to any reasonable person that the aim of Elliott and Farnell serving “sealed court orders” to Sandgaard’s legal team is to try to scare him into paying more money to them.Sandgaard, who says he is paying £1m a month at the moment to fund the club without fans, in the coming weeks wants to lobby the EFL in a bid to rid the game of dodgy owners.And, if they are not able to achieve that, then he will start a parliamentary petition with the aim of the government bringing in legislation.We should not allow another club to suffer the same fate as Bury.If football cannot self-regulate itself effectively, then the government most certainly can do it for them. More
FOOTBALL fans could be allowed back in stadiums soon with the Government reportedly ‘desperate’ to get crowds back.
Ministers are said to be having ‘detailed’ discussions over letting supporters back into open-air arenas.
Football fans could soon be back in stadiums with the Government ‘desperate’ to see crowds backCredit: Getty Images – Getty
The main concern is said to be around getting people to and from events while avoiding increased infection risk on public transport, according to the Mail.
But giving people the ‘morale boosting’ option to go and watch live sport again is one ministers are said to be ‘desperately’ pursuing.
A source is quoted as saying: “That is an important element to consider.”
PM Boris Johnson said yesterday: “My first message is ‘thank you’ for what you have done over the last very difficult eight months, my second is that there is hope on the horizon.”
And a No 10 spokesman added: “Everyone’s efforts during the current national restrictions have helped bring the virus back under control, slowed its spread and eased pressures on the NHS.
“But the Prime Minister and his scientific advisers are clear the virus is still present – and without regional restrictions it could quickly run out of control again before vaccines and mass testing have had an effect.”
Brighton fans were allowed in to watch their team’s friendly against Chelsea at the end of August.
But no other Premier League team has allowed supporters in since that test event.
Only last week it emerged fans could be allowed back before CHRISTMAS despite the national lockdown.
The Department of Culture, Media and Sport were said to have submitted proposals which would allow fans in areas where coronavirus infection rates are low to attend games.
The Government are yet to officially agree but the DCMS’s involvement is encouraging.
Football fans have long bemoaned not being allowed to re-enter stadiums, while other sports and activities have welcomed back crowds, albeit in limited numbers.
Last month, West Ham boss David Moyes vented his frustration.
The Scot was left baffled after West Ham’s clash with Manchester City was played behind closed doors, but the match was screened in an indoor cinema just a ten-minute walk away.
Moyes said: “People are going watch a game in a cinema, close to here, why can we not be sitting outside in the open air doing it?
“Please come out and give us an explanation as to why we can’t do it.”
Rishi Sunak says government doing their best to get families together for Christmas — but warns it won’t be ‘normal’ More
