Blackpool FC Supporters' Liaison Officer Steve Rowland's column: We're all on same team in the football family now

They would be planning to meet up with family or friends, maybe in a pub or a favourite café or chippy first before heading on to a stadium to stand (or sit) with thousands of others in enjoyment of the nation’s favourite sport.

Not this weekend they won’t, nor next week or next month either.

The football season is summarily suspended, along with normal life – and for good reason. Two world wars saw our leagues closed down in the last century and now we’re waging war against Covid-19.

When the coronavirus pandemic finally wanes, we’re going to need a new Homecoming Saturday!

It’s strange to reflect that only a year ago we had just returned to Bloomfield Road in our thousands after four years of boycotting the ground – and now in unprecedented circumstances we’re all staying away from the place for quite a different reason.

It won’t be four years this time but there is no indication as to when league football might resume.

These are still relatively early days in the battle against the virus. Again, as I write, there are only nine officially confirmed cases of Covid-19 in Blackpool, but the number of people with symptoms and self-isolating is likely to be higher.

And we know from what has happened on the continent and in London that the number could rise dramatically here during the coming month as the ripple of infection moves onwards.

Even if it does not – and we all hope that through good social distancing and hygiene we can limit the spread – the social and economic impacts on the community are and will continue to be huge for months.

The silver lining (if there is one in such dark, unprecedented times) is that we Blackpool fans are practised at finding other things to do on a Saturday afternoon – and some of them are still permitted under social distancing guidelines.

For supporters of other clubs, this temporary divorce from a vital social activity must have come as a bigger jolt to the system.

My fear is that a protracted suspension of competitive fixtures and the revenues they bring might send some clubs to the wall.

My hope is that the football authorities will work collectively to put in place some kind of financial safety net and that in the meantime the majority of clubs will rise to the challenge of being truly community-oriented in circumstances that surely demand such a reaction – because times are going to be very tough for everybody for a while.

Blackpool FC, via Jay Spearing and Armand Gnanduillet’s videos, has been sending out the right messages to fans – stay at home, keep your distance, wash your hands regularly and thoroughly, act responsibly to slow the spread of the virus.

The squad have all been given individual training regimes to keep them fit and motivated.

The club has also donated food to local food banks, has approved the siting of an NHS mobile testing unit on the car-park and has indicated to the NHS that it will volunteer use of the BFC Hotel (which is currently closed and empty) if the need should arise.

Simon Sadler has been devoting time to calling up and speaking personally with older Blackpool fans, assisted by other members of the board.

If fans cannot come to the club, at least the club can reach out to fans, especially those who are isolated and vulnerable.

In addition, BFC Community Trust is switching, like many educational establishments, to virtual/online teaching for its students, is devising non-contact ways to keep its PE and community health activities running via social media and has guaranteed to provide additional support to those staff and pupils in schools that were designated to remain open during the crisis for the children of key workers.

They are also using their hub at the football ground as a collection point and depot for food and other vital items to pass into the huge network of food bank and charity work that supports the 27,000 people in Blackpool (that’s one fifth of the population) who are below the poverty line and struggle even in conventional times.

BFCCT also has two helplines that people can call if they require support or just a chat in these difficult times.

They are manned during the week between 8.30am and 5.30pm on 07939 446367 or 07939 156297.

Ash Hackett, CEO of BFC Community Trust, also plans to write for The Gazette to update us all on what his team is doing for the community.

Individuals have been volunteering as NHS helpers and fans’ groups have been responding as well.

Members of the MSG have been raising funds, collecting and delivering food and other requested items for NHS workers; Blackpool Supporters’ Trust has donated £500 to support the work of Amazing Graze Soup Kitchen; and as the demands brought about by the crisis become more obvious in coming weeks, I’m sure the club and the Community Trust will reach out to supporters and supporters’ groups to advise how they can assist in helping everyone who is feeling isolated, vulnerable and impacted by the measures taken to slow the spread of this pandemic. We are a family and together we will pull through.

Of course, beyond the immediate practicalities of coping with our altered state for the next few weeks, there lies a whole host of issues about what to do with the unfinished league programme, about the financial impact on clubs, their community activities and all the businesses contingent on football, and about how best to loosen the constraints and get the whole sport moving again.

It might turn out to be a very different world post Covid-19. Maybe those issues will be clearer by the time I write again.

In the meantime, please keep practising social distancing and scrupulous hygiene.

Take care of your physical and mental well-being. Ask for assistance if you need it.

One day we will all be back. Keep the faith, Seasiders.