Now is the time for the North East’s non-league family to come together
They say a week is a long time in football – whoever “they” are. Well, I can confidently say, without doubt, the last six months felt like they have lasted a lifetime.
It was back in mid-March when the Covid-19 epidemic brought the North East nonleague season to a shuddering halt, just as it was approaching its thrilling climax.
The likes of South Shields, Stockton Town and West Allotment Celtic saw their promotion pushes ended.
Consett and Hebburn Town’s march towards Wembley was shackled in uncertainty.
Talk of how the season would be ended, how promotion and relegation issues would be calculated and when competitive football would return to our grounds, got underway.
It has been far from a quiet summer with the usual comings and goings at clubs, and there was the legal battle fronted by South Shields after they were denied a promotion by the Football Association’s decision to null and void the season for the clubs below the National League North and South.
But now we have the answer to when supporters will and have returned to some of our clubs.
The FA Cup extra preliminary round fixtures that took place in the first week of September finally saw a limited number of supporters make their welcome return through the turnstiles across the region.
And they have been missed every bit as much as they have missed their beloved clubs.
If anyone doubted the importance of our non-league clubs, or took any of them for granted, take a second to consider how much we have missed visiting them throughout the period of lockdown.
After all, we are very fortunate to have one of the most vibrant non-league scenes across the country.
I have missed watching the North Sea fret settle over the pitch on midweek fixtures at Easington Colliery, Whitley Bay and Seaham Red Star.
I have missed the taste of a real ale on a (non work-related) visit to Heaton Stannington, and hearing the Conny Army go one step beyond at Belle View.
I’ve missed the bus shelters at Ryton and Crawcrook Albion, the outstandingly deep goal nets at Jarrow and blocking out the early evening sun from the stand behind the goal at Whickham.
I’ve missed the warm welcome at Dunston UTS and drawing a reaction out of club stalwart Billy Irwin by asking why he hasn’t got around to painting their main stand – a job that has been completed this summer.
I’ve missed seeing Gateshead and West Allotment Celtic continue their rebuilding process after being taken to the brink of going out of business in recent years.
I have missed the history that oozes out of every nook and cranny at Blyth Spartans, Ashington, Crook Town and West Auckland Town and the sense of ambition and enthusiasm that is all too obvious at the likes of South Shields, Stockton
Town, Shildon and Spennymoor Town. I have missed it all. But now it is back, yet it has not returned without a fight, or without the unwavering commitment of club volunteers and the unseen hours of hard work and effort.
Their painstaking graft and attention to detail has allowed clubs to meet the strict regulations and guidelines put in place to ensure that supporters can return to games in a safe environment this month.
We must point out that we have lost clubs as the financial impact of the epidemic pushed some over the edge – although the fact we have a full compliment of clubs at Northern League level and above should be regarded as something of a positive.
We are not out of the woods, and the Durham FA’s decision to postpone fixtures involving clubs in South Tyneside, Sunderland and Gateshead below step six should act as a warning sign.
As should the Northern League’s decision to publish Covid-19 regulations and issue a reminder urging clubs to continue following the guidelines that have been put in place.
Another lockdown – of various temporary restrictions – is upon us, and an increase in positive test results have been reported.
Another decision to shut our supporters out of clubs once again could be catastrophic.
I am very aware that passions are running high on both sides of the argument, but whatever your thoughts are on how Covid-19 has been handled by the authorities – or the government itself – there can be no doubt that our clubs need us more than ever.
Northern League clubs that I have visited over the last two weeks have been stringent in implementing their procedures and I have no doubt that our Northern Premier League and National League clubs will follow suit over the next month.
Now, it is our turn to repay volunteers and clubs by playing our own part in helping them recover from what could have been a disastrous period.
That is not just by handing over our hard-earned money, but by following every strict guideline and instruction that have been put in place.
Social distance, fill in the track and trace form, use the hand sanitiser.
Do whatever it takes because the volunteers and the clubs themselves deserve our support and acceptance of a situation that must be carefully managed.
It is time for the North East non-league community to come together and ensure that we all move on and get back to supporting our clubs in the way we know and love as soon as possible.
Their future might just depend on it.
*Read Mark’s new column every Friday...or Thursday...in the Sunderland Echo, and online at www.sunderlandecho. com.