Well, as we all know the wheels are firmly back on the Premier League gravy train and it’s ready to roll on June 17 with Sheffield United against Aston Villa and Manchester City versus Arsenal. The catch-up games of course.
Apparently City are planned to resurface on June 19 against Southampton at Carrow Road. Not that any one of us will be there to see it of course, which I far from disagree with under the circumstances for what little that might be worth.
As Mick Dennis said on Saturday: “If the madness of being a football supporter can be explained at all then it is about hankering to be part of a tribe. Only being there, being part of the shared experience properly enforces that feeling of belonging”.
And I will miss that immensely, no doubt about it.
We’re not allowed anywhere near the ground, which again I can quite understand. No meeting up with friends or acquaintances on a matchday and no dropping into the pub. Chance would be a fine thing.
And no banter with the opposition supporters either, which is always something I’ve quite enjoyed with the exception of followers of two or three clubs whom I don’t need to mention here. You’ll all know who I mean.
Yes, as Mick suggested, we might be better than our bottom feeder rivals – and indeed others – behind closed doors. Also, we may not be and time will be the discerner of that.
I will particularly miss the matchday atmosphere – all the chants exchanged during the games for sure. We surely shouldn’t sing the ones we used to against Brighton or Watford any more [and again I really understand why] but some gene fault within me always means I want to hear the opposition sing back. The Man Citeh quick response to “we love you Paul McVeigh” was a joy all those years ago.
And as for “You’ve only come to see the Arsenal”, that’s on the backburner too of course. For the foreseeable probably.
And we’ll never hear “We all live in a Robbie Fowler house” again. Even the Scousers gave up on that one many years ago but it sure made me laugh at the time.
Wayne Rooney feeling the full force of “does your missus know you’re here” was a sadistically enjoyable experience. The chant was created for Peter Shilton back in the dark ages of course. The Man United Londoners snapped back with… nothing. But Rooney heard us all right.
Considering the FA Cup Final [should we get there, it’s not impossible] how would you comprehend Norwich City being at Wembley when we, the heartbeat of the club, are governmentally banned from the trip to London?
And the immediate future seems so hollow, like jumping into your car and finding you can’t put the hood down any more, the sounds don’t work and there are only three wheels – with no spare in the boot.
However, this is the shape of things to come and we all respond in our own different ways.
This comment from MFW commenter “John” on Mick’s Saturday piece really resonated with me.
“Yes, I’ve missed football, but with every day, unfortunately that miss seems less and less. And in all honesty, I don’t know if I will ever get to see my team in yellow and green play at Carrow Road again.”
Now I don’t concur with John’s first sentence but I can really relate to him on the second one.
It’s getting to the point where I don’t know if I’ll ever be back at the Carra either. I’m sure I will, I know I will etc but, will I really?
Mrs P is quietly suggesting that I give it up, we don’t even know what league we will be in next season and going to a game wipes me out for six hours of a matchday as I love the whole experience, and meanwhile she’s stuck in [or out] with the dogs.
Sue doesn’t really care if I go back or not [she’s a big City fan too] but I’m starting to think she might have a point.
And so does “John”. Neither he nor I can be alone in our thoughts so we’ll see what happens.
I certainly won’t return for socially distanced seating on a lottery basis if that ever comes to pass. Shove that.
But to end on a bright note it looks like we might have a chance to play ourselves out of trouble, which I guess the majority of us are pretty much happy about.
As Lenny Kravitz said… it ain’t over ’til it’s over.
I cannot comprehend never going back but the current circs suggest it might be the end of my season ticket as nobody can pay for nothing forever.
I’ll hang on as long as I can and see what transpires.
At least we all know the club will not rip us off financially unlike a couple of other teams I can think of!
Hi Martin
Yeah never going back, it took a long time after giving up my season ticket to get use to a blank saturday afternoon, off season was easy as you had something you knew would so be back and fill the winter with funny and a meaningful experience.
I read a story the other day that was good again from Mr Sainty he really does do some excellent and right to the points columns with loads of comsence.
A question for a Monday to mull over
If the season in voided by being cancelled surely deciding who is relegated and promoted becomes a mute subject as all results over the season would become void as well.
You just can’t legally void a part of a season and that is a point going to a Dutch court so EPL/FA keep an eye on that one.
Onwards and upwards
OTBC
Keep safe and well
4 weeks maybe 5 and moving house 2 minutes walk from Bloomfield Rd
Hi Alex.
Robin’s been around the football world a long time [and still is very much part of it] and as you mention he says it how it is. He’s a good bloke too!
Personally I think “they” have fought like money-hungry tigers to complete the season and this process will not stop now, believe me.
I just hope nobody falls ill as a result which would be on some folks’ conscience, but not yours or mine.
Good luck with the move – sounds like your timing has been spot on and I bet Bloomfield Road will draw you in. It would me!
Cheers.
Possibly now that they no longer have the Oystens, but should be able to hear all that is happening free of charge lol
Yeah, there’s a thought..
Mind you over two miles the wind would have to be in the right direction!
Interesting times for sure, Martin. Where will it all end up!?
If I knew Chris, I’d say.
As I’m sure you’ll agree, everybody at MFW and our equivalents all over the country will be grateful for some actual football to write about and discuss.
It’ll be weird writing about a game we’ve not been to but I love a challenge 🙂
Good stuff, Martin.
I haven’t fallen out of love with football, despite all the reasons to. I’ll be just as invested in City next season, whichever division we’re in – and especially while Daniel Farke’s in charge.
As for going back to Carrow Road, that’s a tough one. Given my age and respiratory issues, I’ll be ultra-cautious of returning this side of a vaccine being widely available. But some day….
Hi Stew
I’m roughly your age as you know and I too have [non-threatening in a major sense] health issues. Just a “bad back” and an increasingly annoying calcified vein in my right thigh which is apparently untreatable.
As you say it’s a tough one. If I do bow out at least I will be able to say my last match will have been Liverpool, just as my first one was [at Tottenham] in 1966.
I’ll be back for sure, although possibly no longer on a season ticket basis. That’s heartbreaking to contemplate but it might be for the best. We’ll see.
Thanks and keep safe.
‘When Grant goes up to lift the FA Cup,
We won’t be there, we won’t be there’ Thanks Twitter
I’m sort of looking forward to the restart but with the same reservations as many people have expressed. I’ll definitely watch all of our games but I don’t think even my marriage is robust enough to stand 90+ matches.
Definitely an advantage of being a single man!
Hi Don
Marriage and football that is a conundrums for many I am luck in that my wife of 41 years is as mad about the game as myself so will watch as many City, Man U and Spurs and Sheff U games but would stand outside in the pouring rain if I put LIVARPOOL on our TV.
What have I missed most maybe the over heated debates after games with the family or online friends
As I mentioned earlier – how are we going to write about games we’ve not been to – let alone have a family/friends chat about them!
That’s something we’ve been missing and will continue to miss until, erm, ???
Hi Don
A great perspective that anybody married or with a long-term partner will relate to.
To me the whole thing seems slightly surreal, but we’ll have to get along with it I guess.
Keep good.
You know I vehemently disagree with this from Mick.
“Only being there, being part of the shared experience properly enforces that feeling of belonging”
Sorry Mick, but a lot of supporters are about to discover you can be incredibly passionate and not be able to attend. Going is a privilege, but not prerequisite of being a fan.
I can expect that a lot of the usual loss of fans will be amplified at this point. There will be a number of fans with failing health who up to February were still happy to attend but with a few weeks where health concerns have been at the top of thoughts I expect many fans will no longer feel comfortable attending. There are others who attend who have been considering giving up or will be giving up due to moves at some point who will now decide to stop going. We can probably expect to see a decent chunk of the home support no longer return. I notice that cricket is planning to be open to fans with a capacity reduced to about 20%. I could live with that in terms of football, it will be different, much like an early rounds Cup match or at a push some of the matches in the 80s and 90s. I imagine many others would not like to attend a match with only 6,000 rattling around in Carrow Road though
Hi John
You make a couple of very good points there.
As for health issues, as I said to Stewart [above] I’m lucky in that mine aren’t really that serious but on the wrong day it can make getting to the ground and back a bleedin’ nightmare. I am sure there are many with more problems than myself that might decide to butt out. As might those who perhaps consider themselves susceptible to any further virus outbreaks of course.
I might do likewise although once proper football resumes I’ll probably assume I’ve had an electrode jolt and carry on.
Your cricket comment interests me too as in that in an early job I had to very occasionally cover Essex CCC. They were lucky to get 10% attendance let alone 20%!
However the Tests, 20/20s and one-dayers are immensely popular and it really is like being in a can of sardines. Social distancing at Trent Bridge? Hmm.
As you say, it’s what’s in the mind.
Great comment – thanks.
Hi Dave.
Of course it’s not a prerequisite but I believe Mick was reinforcing the idea that if you are able to get to games on a regular basis then it’s not just about watching the guys for 90+ on the pitch – it’s the whole social thing that means so much to us.
We ALL support the team in our own passionate way but the build-up to a game with your mates, wherever that might take place, is a huge part of it – if you’re lucky enough to be close enough to Carrow Road [or to go away of course] to take part in the ritual adds an extra dimension to “the matchday experience”.
I hate the debate surrounding “who’s the best supporter” cos while I’ve missed less than 10 home games in 30 years I simply cannot go away like I used to any more – for 20 years in fact although I do occasionally.
I’ve been called out as plastic a couple of times 🙂
Cheers.
.
I dunno Martin, I disagree as usual.
Mick’s whole quote this time
“If the madness of being a football supporter can be explained at all then it is about hankering to be part of a tribe. Only being there, being part of the shared experience properly enforces that feeling of belonging”.
The idea that you can only “properly” belong to the tribe by being there grates on me. “Proper” nonsense, I say.
I was lucky to get to the NCFC supporters pub in London on my last visit and I can assure you there was a helluva tribe atmosphere there.
I also have my own small tribe out here. One three, the other six, who watch with me and cheer for Pukki. Them along with a few NCFC Americans I’ve converted to City fans are in contact through the match, plus everyone on social media create quite a tribe.
Again, I think some people will need to re-educate themselves on what it’s like to not attend matches, as many can’t.
Nice to see you’ve created a couple of junior Canaries – I failed miserably with my two.
Mrs P’s No 2 son loves the game but claims only to support England. No 1 son would rather play with his vintage tractors. His idea of matchday is to talk about Lister engines or whatever with his mates in the Starting Handle Club.
I definitely agree with your last sentence – too many it will feel like they’ve banned from the ground, which they kind of have!
Talk about kismet!
I’ve just replied to Dave B [who quite rightly told me not to split my rebate between myself and the CSF] and said rebate letter from NCFC dropped through the door of Mundesley mansions.
It’s crystal clear, signed off by Ben Kensell and gives sound advice about what to do for next season.
A nice touch is that there’s an old-fashioned tear-off form for folks who are not online to make their choice and also make any contact amendments.
And even a prepaid envelope to return the tear-off slip in.
June 1 they said and unless my watch has stopped June 1 it was.
Class.
PS Dave – there’s even a “please phone us” option if you want to split the rebate – Maybe I wasn’t the only one with those thoughts after all.
So that’ll be £50 for the CSF and a full tank for both our cars from me.
Class. Sheer class.
Apologies for being late to the party Mr P.
Like everyone, my passion for NCFC will not dim, particulary as per your latest comment regarding the season ticket rebate…….I wonder how many other Premier League clubs are doing something similar.
As you said, Class, Sheer class.
My wife and I attend as a couple, and given our ages are relatively healthy. However, it wouldn’t half feel strange to sit as a pair with a minimum of possibly 16 empty seats around you. I reckon that gives the club a maximum capacity of around 4k until a vaccine is found – which would generate an income which isn’t a lot to run any professional football club on.
One day things will be back to some sort of normal, but I fear that attending any sort of event with a crowd is quite some time off.
And whilst we sort of know that every match is to be televised, the vast majority which I will see will only be highlights on the BBC, other than those deemed unwanted by Sky/BT.
Strange times indeed.
O T B C
Hi John.
You’re spot on about any socially distanced resumption. I’m not up for that at all.
You’d have to use the yellow and green flags they put out in the Barclay to send semaphore signals to your mates. If they were lucky enough to get in of course!
Thanks for letting me nick your quote in the original article.
Okay I didn’t ask but I was sure you wouldn’t mind 😉
Thanks as always.
What a time we are living through when we are discussing this issue. I have lost interest in football. So I have only visited this excellent site a few times in the last 10 weeks.
I notice that some prominent footballers, owners and members of the Government are justifying the resumption of football behind closed doors as aimed at raising the nation’s morale. The real reason as most of us know is money. Indeed, Dominic Cummings apologising would raise my morale more. I am not criticising individual players, many of whom have played their part in very positive ways during this crisis.
I’m sure that there will be restrictions on attending matches until a vaccine or a successful treatment therapy is produced but, of course, neither is guaranteed in the short or even the long term. Some people will make their own decisions not to attend matches for lots of different reasons.
What will be interesting is the viewing figures of the 92 matches left in the Premier League. My guess is that they will decline over time. A match without crowd reaction, chanting, etc will not be as exciting and entertaining, in my opinion. A re-run of only Fools and Horses will be better!
I will always look for Norwich City’s results, so in that sense I will be a supporter. I will probably watch their matches on TV but will I go back to Carrow Road. I’m not sure.
I think there is a good chance of NCFC reaching the no crowd Cup Final. This would mean missing out on two trips to Wembley. There would be a new pub quiz question: which team reached the FA Cup final for the first time in their history but their fans could not attend?
Stay safe.
Hi Colin.
Yeah Don H [above] got it right about the Cup Final when he said:
“When Grant goes up to lift the FA Cup we won’t be there, we won’t be there”‘
It could only happen to us.
Of course it’s only about money and money alone, but that’s the world we live and I think Norwich City have come through all of this with heads held high.
Keep in touch with us here at MFW – we’ll [probably] have some football to write about soon!
Cheers.
I have been a supporter since 1957, but hardly attended a match at Carrow Road due to geographical distance sine 1978, but I still follow on the Pink Un website, radio or TV every match. I have lived in France for the last 7 years which has required some ingenuity to access Sky TV, I remember well the days of “crowds” of between 10 and 12 thousand at Carrow Road (all standing, of course, with a capacity of 40,000 plus) so it wouldn’t be an entirely new situation if social distancing meant a reduction in attendances. I have fallen out of love with football in general over the last few years as money has become the over-riding element, but will always follow MY club, from a distance, and hope to see them win a significant trophy before it is too late for me. I saw them win the League Cup by beating Rochdale in a two-legged final, was at Wembley for the defeats against Villa and Spurs but missed the win over Sunderland. I will always remember the “greats” of my day – Mannion, Keelan, Davies, Bryceland, Paddon, Manning, Curran, Bolland and so many more with affection.
Hi Vic – and welcome to MFW.
I was born in 1957 and must admit that out of all the players you have mentioned the only ones I have actually seen play are KK and Graham Paddon, although I’m well aware of the names and reputations of the others.
Like you I know what it’s like to be an exile – I lived and worked in London throughout the 60s & 70s and didn’t get my first Carrow Road ST until we moved here permanently in 1988.
With a few rare exceptions I only saw us at White Hart Lane or Upton Park back then. Luckily we had friends and family in Norfolk and I could get to a very few home games if my parents went to visit them for a weekend.
I’m fascinated that you went to the two-legged Rochdale League Cup Final games.
I know lots of NCFC folks of all ages and I have never met anybody who went to either of the matches. I’d be delighted to hear you recollections of them.
If you’re bored one day soon please get in touch with MFW editor Gary G via our “Contact Us” box at the top of the page and I’m sure he’ll happily pass my email address on to you.
I’d really love to hear from somebody that was there – you never know, MFW might even create an article about it!
Thanks very much and all the best.