I was at a supermarket last Saturday, one of the major ones who have a large store in Meadowbank. With my face mask adorning my well-worn looks, I wandered in, used the hand sanitiser at the entrance, picked up a shopping basket and strolled in. There were numerous signs about keeping social distance and regular tannoy announcements pertaining to this. I got my shopping, queued at the checkout in an orderly fashion, paid for my goods with my bank card and exited left. No hassle, no problem and everyone adhered to the Scottish government’s guidance about Covid-19.
I was just one of hundreds of people to do this on that very
day. I didn’t feel my safety was compromised, didn’t feel the need to rush out of
the store in a panic. Few people have any issues with such a practice even
though one is indoors (where, apparently, the virus is most likely to spread).
I have done this every week since lockdown changed society, perhaps forever,
seven months ago.
So what, I hear you ask dear reader, is my point? My
considerable bone of contention, possibly shared by many others, is why can’t I
go to see a lower league football game on a Saturday afternoon? I want
to visit Ainslie Park to see Edinburgh City play in the flesh once more. But
football fans in Scotland are prevented from doing so as things stand at
present.
Without getting too political may I add that I believe the
Scottish government is doing everything it can to try and contain the virus and
has shown better leadership than other parts of the United Kingdom. Yet, I feel
there are inconsistencies that need to be addressed amid the very real danger
that, with little income, some of Scotland’s smaller football clubs could face
closure.
I understand why clubs in the Scottish Premiership and some
in the Championship – Hearts being the obvious example of the second tier – aren’t
being allowed to let their larger fan base into their stadia. A few weeks ago,
Aberdeen and Ross County conducted a trial where 300 fans were permitted to
both club’s home games. By all accounts both trials were a success with fans
socially distant and adhering to the special measures put in place to enable
such a small crowd to gain admittance. However, with the number of Covid cases
rising as a second wave threatened the country, the Scottish government wouldn’t
entertain the prospect of further trials, despite the success of those in
Aberdeen and Dingwall. The prospect of thousands of people congregated inside a
football stadium just isn’t one being contemplated by the Scottish government
right now.
That said, there seems to me to be a one size fits all
approach to Scottish football which, if I’m being frank, is a nonsense. Cowdenbeath
were the visitors to Ainslie Park on Saturday, a game which would probably
attract around 350 paying spectators. Given the size of Ainslie Park are the
authorities really saying there would be a serious health risk if supporters
were allowed into the ground to see the game? With appropriate social distancing
in place we might not all get a seat in the stand but there is plenty space behind
the goals and on the terracing across from the stand to accommodate everyone
safely.
True, there would be no catering and the opportunity to taste
a delicious Baynes pie would be sadly absent (the best pies in Scotland in my
view – c’mon that’s got to be worth a free sample…) And one would have to
forego a hot drink on a chilly October afternoon although admittedly this might
help to control an orderly queue to gain entry to the toilets. With hand
sanitiser available as soon as you come through the turnstiles and strategically
placed around the ground, and the wearing of face masks required it’s arguably
the case that one might feel safer in the open air at Ainslie Park than in the
confined space of the supermarket along the road.
So, here’s a plea to the Scottish government. Every day you
update the country with the number of Covid-19 cases and, tragically, the
number of deaths. Focus is on the pandemic and understandably so. But if you
focus on one disease, the impact of other illnesses increases but doesn’t attract
the same headlines. How many people are dying because of heart disease, cancer
and mental health issues that might have been addressed if there had been no
pandemic?
Football is a vital part of many people’s wellbeing. A
Saturday afternoon can bring some much-needed relief to many during extremely
difficult times. Going to the football is a vital component of wellbeing and
people’s mental health has never been more challenged than it is now.
So, how about it, First Minister, and the Scottish government
health advisers? Let the fans in the lower leagues back into grounds. They
would be far safer there than nipping round to a pal’s house to watch a live
stream on a small computer.
Even if you feel the need to limit the numbers to, say, 300
per game, it would be a start. 2020 has
been a hellish year for everyone. All we are asking is to let fans of lower league
clubs back in to watch the game we love. And help the financial plight of
Scottish football’s smaller clubs –
before it’s too late…
