TIME NOW FOR FUN IN THE SUN
SUMMER football – could it work at Non-League level? Well, maybe this is the ideal time to carry out an experiment to analyse the logistics of playing in those warmer months.
We’re all waiting with bated breath for the Government’s announcement tomorrow which will reportedly see lockdown restrictions eased. It’s been suggested that Boris Johnson will prioritise sports and outdoor activities, so hopefully we can hopefully get Non-League football up and running again at Steps 3 to 6.
I just don’t see the point of curtailing the season for a second year in succession. Another blanket cancellation will have a truly devastating effect on club finances.
So here is my roadmap on how to finish the season now that the country’s 15 million most vulnerable people have been offered their Coronavirus vaccines…
● Re-start the season for Steps 3 to 6 as soon as Boris gives the go-ahead.
● Play from mid-March and then right through April/May/June/July.
● Allow spectators in to grounds again so that clubs get their income streams back. But we still need social distancing and the relevant Covid-safety precautions until the whole of the population has been vaccinated.
● Shut the season down in August.
● Start the 2021-22 season in mid-September with the early rounds of the FA competitions taking place straight away. Let’s go through my rationale. I believe summer football will attract bigger attendances due to the more appealing weather conditions. It would certainly be nicer for families to attend matches in the sunshine.
Summer football would mean that cheaper non-floodlit facilities could be used in the brighter evenings.
Another positive for Steps 3 to 6 is that there will be less competition from live football on television in June and July. The modern day wall-to-wall coverage of the Premier League during the winter months has a detrimental effect on Non-League crowds.
I recently ran a poll on Twitter which attracted 1,047 votes. Of those, 53 per cent opted to continue the season with matches durring the summer with 47 per cent voting to scrap the season now.
The poll also prompted some fascinating comments with strong debate for and against the proposal. Stuart Cripps said: “I don’t like the thought of just voiding another season. This is a great idea and would mean the games played so far and work done by volunteers aren’t wasted.”
Paul Butler had a similar viewpoint: “This is an ideal opportunity to trial summer football for a year or two. It cuts out the worst of the weather and potential future winter lockdowns.”
Clitheroe FC tweeted: “Soon as the government deem its safe we would be ready to play ... strange how planning to play football seems so wrong to many as we are all football clubs aren’t we? We are all in the game for competition – let’s have one.”
On a more cautious note, Dale Skitt said: “As much as I’d love the prospect of Non-League football being played through the summer, I can’t see this plan working for a number of reasons. I still think this season should be resumed in August, with cup ties to be played throughout March, April and May if allowed by then.” Bernard Kasparas was even more pessimistic: “Er, we are expecting another 57,000 deaths by May. It won’t happen. With a third wave in the autumn, why can’t everyone unite on letting full vaccination start to kick in and aim for a half season from February 2022?” David Reynolds pointed out: “Don’t forget the Euros are taking place this summer too.” Although Dan Bell replied: “I doubt many Non-League players are going to picked to be honest!”
It was interesting that most of the objections to my proposition on Twitter concerned the overlap with the cricket season.
John Erroll tweeted: “Problem with that Tony is a number of semi pro clubs share facilities with cricket clubs! Clubs like Hoddesdon can’t even play at home in August let alone early summer.” However, 353 Photography said: “The desire to play would overcome most of the obstacles. Players want to play, that should be the number one consideration and then work out how. Talk of cricket is a smokescreen at best.” In conclusion, I hate to say this but scores of our local clubs are right on the precipice of going bust. Bills have to be paid but no money has been coming in for months.
Quite simply, clubs need to start generating revenue as quickly as possible and – more importantly in many cases – via their clubhouses. For this to happen, football has to recommence.
All in all, the jury is out on the possibility of switching the Non-League playing calendar to a summer schedule. But I feel it must happen this year to get the fixtures finished and to protect the financial future of our clubs.