Open the Door and Let Us In

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…