NO STONE WAS LEFT UNTURNED
IT WAS only when Boreham Wood’s 118page matchday protocol document landed in my email inbox last week did realise the true scale of the mission to restart Non-League. From staggered arrival times to having ten balls placed on cones around the pitch at all times – not a stone was left unturned to ensure football could be safely played again.
The execution of the comprehensive matchday protocol was flawless at Meadow Park when Wood took on FC Halifax Town in the opening fixture of the National League play-off schedule, as it was when I also visited Yeovil Town and Slough Town last weekend. Many of the clubs who have staged these games have been able to do so by the outstanding efforts of volunteers, who deserve immense credit for carrying out such a thorough and clear process.
For every fixture, each stadium is divided into three zones – green, amber and red – with protocols specific to them and individuals are not permitted in an area they are not accredited for. Written press are allowed in amber and green zones which is essentially areas outside and surrounding the stadium and certain stands or terraces. There is then a one-way system to follow once inside.
Media are required to fill in and submit a symptom questionnaire on the day of the game – for the Boreham Wood fixture this was required before 9am.
Arrival times vary depending on the individual and entry won’t be granted should you have a temperature of more than 37.7°C.
A face mask must also be worn at all times and at Slough they also insisted on gloves.
Physicality
I was nervous a mis-reading by the temperature gun could scupper my play-off attendance before it had begun, on what was already a hot evening at Boreham Wood. I clocked a slightly too-closefor-comfort 37.1°C, but I was in. The following day at Yeovil
I was a chilly 35.4°C, perhaps a result of spending too long in the car with the air conditioning on.
And then, after all that, a football match begins. At each fixture I’ve been to, I couldn’t help but feel guilty I was there and supporters, who had travelled the country following their club, weren’t. The Barnet and Dartford fans deserved to enjoy memorable away wins, clambering over seats and running down terraces in crazed celebrations. Teams enter the pitch separately to a smattering of applause from club officials, who are the sole supply of any sort of atmosphere.
It is a strange experience watching a match of such importance played without fans. I described how the low attendance at last season’s play-off final between AFC Fylde and Salford City made the occasion feel like a school cup final – behind closed doors is even worse.
Big moments or incidents feel less dramatic without the usual soundtrack of an ‘Oooh’ or ‘Aaah’. Would the officials have been swayed by a packed Yeovil home terrace desperately appealing for a goal when Jimmy Smith’s effort looked suspiciously over the line before it was hacked clear? Yeovil manager Darren Sarll made use of the conditions by asking the watching media sat behind him if television replays had shown whether the ball had gone over the line from Smith’s effort. He then made sure to tell the officials it had. Although the game has become significantly softer over the years, the physicality is clear by being able to hear every grunt, smack and even scream when players clash. Perhaps the best way to describe a match behind closed doors is like spectating a professional Sunday League game. The players say the same basic footballing instructions, still argue – constantly – with each other and the referee, appeal for everything and are fiercely competitive.
Earshot
The language is appalling and at times the frustrations of those involved are even funny. Dartford goalkeeper AJ Sesay accidentally raised a chuckle from those watching at Arbour Park after launching into a panicked, mid-game rant at the lack of options when he had the ball at his feet during the first-half. Elsewhere, Jamal Fyfield, the Boreham Wood centre-back, furiously told off defensive partner Femi Ilesanmi for missing a header. Within 60 seconds, Fyfield made the same mistake and Tobi Sho-Silva pounced to score for Halifax. The defender was noticeably quieter for the remainder of the half. Steve King, the Dartford boss, served the first of his two-game touchline ban from the second row of the mainstand at Slough, but the lack of atmosphere meant he was still within earshot of his coaches, players and the officials.
He described the new environment as ‘surreal’ afterwards and I think we all agree we preferred things how they were.