FANS SHOULD BE BACK, THIS MUCH IS TRUE
TO cut a long story short – pull your finger out Boris.
If it is safe for 3000 people to attend a concert indoors at the Royal Albert Hall, it’s time for some joined-up thinking from our Prime Minister in terms of letting supporters back into football grounds.
In Buckinghamshire’s fresh air, the 552 sociallydistanced fans enjoying their Saturday afternoon fix at the Meadow included Spandau Ballet chart-topper Tony Hadley.
Football? You are gold, always believe in your soul, you’ve got the power to know you’re indestructible.
Never mind being ripped off £14.95 to watch Premier League games played in sterile, empty stadiums on pay- per- view when a tenner buys you decent entertainment among real people making real noise.
Hadley enjoyed the full non-League experience. A tenner to get in, a pint of splendid Generals ale from the clubhouse, and sustenance from the burger van – no dubbed crowd soundtrack, nothing artificial.
This is proper football. And it felt safe.
In less vexatious times, Hadley’s loyalties would be closer to his beloved Arsenal but, in sport, curiosity is a wonderful asset.
“A mate of mine who works for BBC Three Counties Radio lives just round the corner from here,” he said. “When he asked me if I fancied coming to watch Chesham, I thought ‘ Yeah, why not?’ It’s a different day out but it’s good to be here.”
Also in the audience was
Wimbledon hero Dave Beasant of the FA Cup final at Wembley 32 years ago.
There aren’t many entertainment businesses where you get change out of £20 for admission to live sport, a pint, a programme, a hot dog and a sprinkling of celebrity stardust.
You’re not singing any more? The only disappointment is Hadley – who looks great for 60 – didn’t provide the half-time entertainment.
But few industries suffer more from government double standards than our national game.
We are allowed to watch a Premier League game in an air-conditioned cinema but not outdoors in the stadium itself.
In the National League, We a l d s t o ne we r e permitted to show their return to the fifth tier live on a giant screen in the clubhouse but fans could not stand yards away to watch it in the open air. The match was postponed but it was still an absurd dichotomy.
Yes, there are issues with larger crowds. But give football fans a chance to apply common sense Boris.
More than 500 of us followed Spandau Ballet’s front man through the barricades and we loved it.