Blackpool FC Supporters' Liaison Officer's column: Excitement mounts but plenty of work to do

We’re accelerating towards the start of the new campaign, still with many uncertainties, but the pattern of games will soon be clear.

Tomorrow brings the draw for the Carabao Cup, ties to be played on September 5. Then on Friday, the new season’s fixture list will be out, with the first league game scheduled for September 12.

Before that are four more pre-season friendlies against teams from league newcomers Barrow AFC, then Everton, Blackburn Rovers and Oldham Athletic.

Neil Critchley has said of his squad: “The more we train and the more we play, the better we will get in the coming weeks.” The early signs are promising.

I asked if the club could screen these pre-season games live, given that they are being played behind closed doors, so that we supporters have a chance to see the new signings in action and get to know how the squad is shaping up under Neil Critchley.

So far this has worked out, with the games against Southport and Port Vale being streamed for free on the club’s YouTube channel.

Around 5,000 tuned in to see Saturday’s match at Vale. The same has been agreed for the Barrow game tomorrow and I know the club is hoping to do something similar for the other pre-season matches, subject to negotiations, so keep an eye out for the announcements.

Quite what happens from a supporters’ point of view when the season proper starts is less clear. It would be wrong to speculate about when we might get back as there are so many unknowns and so much is still subject to further discussion and agreement at national level.

How would you feel about going back to watch football at Bloomfield Road in the current climate? What measures would you deem acceptable or necessary for your safety?

Blackpool Supporters’ Trust is right now conducting its annual online survey of members and there is a raft of questions related to Covid-19 as well as questions about ticketing options, match-day facilities, ways in which fans can support the club in its regeneration and where supporter activity can best be used to assist the wider community.

You are probably aware that I stood down from my role in BST so I could be completely independent as SLO. The key point about the fans’ survey this year is that it is open to ALL Blackpool fans, not just BST members.

I know the club is interested to see the results and BST has stated it is happy to share them with everyone who completes the questionnaire.

So I would urge you all to take the survey this week. It’s very easy to do and requires just a few minutes. The feedback you give is anonymous and you will not be identified personally. You can fill in the survey online at www.surveymonkey.co.uk/r/BST_Fans_Survey_2020

I’ve received lots of questions and concerns about season ticket renewal, both the mechanics of it and the implications for watching games with social-distancing requirements.

I think the club has been very responsive regarding the former, providing email and telephone support for renewal issues and re-opening the club shop and ticket office to fans at least up until the early-bird deadline.

If you want to see the new kit and training gear before you buy, get yourselves along to the shop. Masks must be worn and social-distancing rules observed.

Fans have also asked: will family bubbles will be allowed inside the stadium? How exactly seats will be reallocated to ensure social-distancing? Will supporters who don’t buy season tickets be able to watch home games? Will hospitality be available? ... and so on.

I have put all of these questions to the club and I know it is in the process of formulating an update on as many issues as it can, given that there is so much uncertainty around.

Finally, with the new season only weeks away and with the stadium having stood empty since March, there is a lot of maintenance work to be done once more to get it in good shape for kick-off – cleaning seats, marking steps, weeding, planting flowerbeds, painting and generally sprucing up. It’s a big area to bring up to scratch.

Just as with preparations for Homecoming Saturday back in March last year, there is a group of volunteer fans who are helping out round Bloomfield Road.

In these most constrained times, the club once more welcomes this assistance from volunteers to help get all the tasks done. BST is organising the volunteer force but the call is going out to ALL fans, regardless of which supporters’ group they belong to, if any.

If anyone has time they could devote to helping with the clean-up and refurbishment activities over the next few weeks, please email Tony Wilkinson via [email protected] as soon as possible to get your name on the list.

All work will be carried out respecting social-distancing guidelines and using appropriate PPE.

Whatever you can do to help get Bloomfield Road ready for the new season will be much appreciated.

As ever, stay safe and if you wish or need to contact me for any reason with concerns, queries or suggestions, my email is: [email protected] and my Twitter is @BFCSLO. That handle will also find my SLO page on Facebook and it’s worth following that for updates.

Steve Rowland, SLO