What should the return to non-league look like? - survey wants your opinions

[editor]

Interesting article here (with a cracking picture!)

Survey (undertaken in partnership between the Non-League Paper and the Football Supporters' Association) here:
here: Return to football - attitudes survey

What should the return to non-league look like? - Football Supporters' Association

The FSA have partnered with the Non-League Paper to gather the views of thousands of football fans across the country on how they believe football can safely return from its COVID-19 suspension with spectators in the stands.

thefsa.org.uk

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

Completed. It's difficult though isn't it because the answer to all of them really starts 'well it depends...'

 

[mx wcfc]

Done.

I suspect I am being a bit optimistic in thinking that if, say, "mass gatherings" of up to, say, 500 people were allowed by the time the non-league season starts, it could be a big boost for many non-league clubs, as more people would come if it was the only actually live (not on telly) football available?

No use for the likes of Hamlet, I know, but down here at the Simply Health City Ground, we'd be delighted to get 500 people through the gate!

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

No use for the likes of Hamlet, I know, but down here at the Simply Health City Ground, we'd be delighted to get 500 people through the gate!

I could definitely see a point where that might happen - relatively spread out crowd, outdoor activity, able to have a pint. I'd be tempted.

 

[Pink Panther]

Completed. It's difficult though isn't it because the answer to all of them really starts 'well it depends...'

Personally I found it quite easy. I'm ready to go back to normal matchday arrangements as soon as it's permitted, so I answered accordingly.

 

[Jimbob73]

Done, but most answers depend on how covid number go over the next month or two.

 

[Cat Daisy]

Done. Lots of "it depends".
Uncomfortable about 2 hours on public transport getting to / from a match and, while I love a beer while watching the match, uncomfortable about being in a crowd of people drinking like there's no tomorrow with all the impact on social distancing that entails. (Maybe "social distance dots" on the ground to stand on which are 1m apart, and maybe mandatory masks.)

 

[blueheaven]

So much depends on circumstances and arrangements, but it's hard not to feel that Hamlet are going to end up being one of the clubs who are most impacted. The idea of returning to the densely crowded Champion Hill that we had prior to lockdown is something that fills me with dread, and I can't see our crowds looking like that again for a very long time. That's bound to have a big effect on the manager's budget even if the team gets playing again.

Personally I think that if matches start up again then, in addition to social distancing, all food and drink outlets should remain closed, as that will mean a lot less fans moving around, forming queues and using the toilets during matches. Completely appreciate that that would have a big financial impact though.

 

[mx wcfc]

Personally I think that if matches start up again then, in addition to social distancing, all food and drink outlets should remain closed, as that will mean a lot less fans moving around, forming queues and using the toilets during matches. Completely appreciate that that would have a big financial impact though.

I think this underlines how a "one size fits all" approach will fail. I agree that at a crowded Champion Hill you may feel you need to close the bars etc. Further down the pyramid, there is no difference between drinking in a pub garden and having a pitchside beer.

 

[scousedom]

Solution to closing bars is perhaps allowing people to bring their own in and charging a "corkage" fee (or ring pull fee). Would need a temporary change in the Regs but surely they could be flexible...?

 

[blueheaven]

Solution to closing bars is perhaps allowing people to bring their own in and charging a "corkage" fee (or ring pull fee). Would need a temporary change in the Regs but surely they could be flexible...?

I know I'm being a massive spoilsport curmudgeon but I think the more likely solution is that people just aren't allowed to eat or drink at matches at all. That way you cut down on people walking back and forth to use the toilets, or to put stuff in bins.

 

[Voley]

Current plans for my team/league - Penzance in The South-West Peninsular West - are to try and get something going in September. Recently had a chat about this with our manager and the club sec on Twitter and they were both very sceptical though. They don't think it's feasible without testing for the players. I agree, unless the infection rate's practically nil by then. Tests are about sixty quid a pop they reckoned - our players don't even get paid anything like that much. On the plus side, social distancing on the stands won't be an issue when your average gate's around 60 people. If we get 100 in we think we've done well.

I am worried about whether we'll survive this tbh. We were already in financial dire straits before this. Tried/failed to have a merger with our bitterest rivals to rectify it, even, so yeah, not good.

 

[scousedom]

I know I'm being a massive spoilsport curmudgeon but I think the more likely solution is that people just aren't allowed to eat or drink at matches at all. That way you cut down on people walking back and forth to use the toilets, or to put stuff in bins.

I think clubs will (have to) try pretty damn hard to replace all types of lost revenue. I don’t know what share match day bar profits accounted for but I think we’d all agree it was significant for us and others. So clubs are likely to try to keep it. A corkage fee would retain a share of it, and reduce other costs (bar overheads) and business risks (stuff not selling and going off). I think fans are quite used to it to - I wasn’t alone in bringing cans in and putting money saved into 12th Man when Meadow were taking the bar money.
The toilet queue point is well made though. Maybe lower corkage on spirits per ABV versus pissy beer....

 

[Voley]

I've done the survey- it's good to get our views but yes - lots of 'it depends'. I'll share it with our team - see what they think.

 

[mx wcfc]

Looks like we could be on.....

Recreational team sport to return safely this summer

New guidance to enable competitive grassroots sport to be played – starting with cricket from 11 July

www.gov.uk

 

[blueheaven]

Looks like we could be on.....

Recreational team sport to return safely this summer

New guidance to enable competitive grassroots sport to be played – starting with cricket from 11 July

www.gov.uk

Does this guidance apply to clubs at Hamlet's level? From reading that it's not very clear what constitutes "grassroots" sport - some sort of definition would probably be handy. It looks to me like it's talking more about games in parks (e.g. pub league or Sunday league football) rather than games played in stadiums?

 

[Monkeygrinder's Organ]

Does this guidance apply to clubs at Hamlet's level? From reading that it's not very clear what constitutes "grassroots" sport - some sort of definition would probably be handy. It looks to me like it's talking more about games in parks (e.g. pub league or Sunday league football) rather than games played in stadiums?

Yeah I think that's definitely the case. Or at least I guess you could play in a stadium but it certainly doesn't allow for a crowd.

 

[pompeydunc]

Does this guidance apply to clubs at Hamlet's level? From reading that it's not very clear what constitutes "grassroots" sport - some sort of definition would probably be handy. It looks to me like it's talking more about games in parks (e.g. pub league or Sunday league football) rather than games played in stadiums?

Grassroots is certainly not just parks and pubs football. There is a whole system of Saturday football below the Non League System (Steps 1-6/7), which is is of a decent standard. I would add that the Sunday Metropolitan League in South London is probably one of the highest standard in the country, with some teams often drawing on Saturday non-contract players from steps 3 and 4. The Kent County League (Saturday, Step 7) has some decent well organised teams as well, albeit often adhering to the more physical direct style of football! There are players who play for these teams as they don't want to commit to the training schedule of a step 3/4 side for relatively low wages and prefer to be non-comittal at amateur level.

In saying that, I've never seen a definitive answer on what constitutes grassroots football. The media often use this to even describe teams at Hamlet's level. I would say its Step 7 and below, but many would argue Steps 5 and 6 are as well.

My guess would be that this will see restart or Step 3 and below, while also giving the National League a justification to argue a restart as well.

 

[Roger D]

Grassroots means all clubs / teams not in the non-league system or defined as Elite I believe. Elite means players earning their primary living or academy's associated with elite teams.

The first team certainly do not fall under that guidance. The FA are expected to release the non league system guidance document soon.

The FA have already stated that non league will start on the same date at all steps. I have heard whispers clubs are being told to expect capacity to be limited to around a third of the normal figure at restart. That is a whisper and may well be kite flying rather than a fixed final figure.