tlr

Brilliant news. The FAQ attached to that FA statement says fans can return (usually maximum group of six, socially distanced etc) without qualifying when from as far as I can tell. Here's hoping that means August! Edit - above is for Grassroots only. The link to the National League and women's advice is broken... Edit again - from the National League it seems as though it'll be the October stuff that was announced the other day. Like most things from the government in this pandemic the whole thing's clear as mud!

Thankfully my job lends itself to quiet and very long periods working alone, so WFH suits me for now. That said, I am not anticipating being formally asked back to the office before autumn, by which point I probably will have gone spare.

Not a fan of the mulicoloured seats but I do like the stadium overall, it has individuality for starters, which is more than any most other League stadiums built since the 90s have. Can only really judge it once it's up and running for fans though. Oh, and LMA Manager back in the day was the one. I remember Alvaro Recoba and Pablo Aimar used to be the two highest rated players on one of mine

I hope I am proved wrong but I just do not see how a gradual, gently, gently approach will work when it comes to ending the lockdown. Fine in theory but sadly we live amongst absolute wankers in this world, and I fear that the first sign of any easement will be met as if the virus has just vanished off the face of the earth. There is so much scope for any easing to undo the progress so far that it's kind of frightening really.

As an avowed libertarian myself I've taken a different angle during all this. Being an advocate for self-responsibility and not harming others I am minimising going out full stop and only taking what I need when I buy things. Greed unfortunately is a feature in all walks of life and as a libertarian I just hope the genuine good in people comes out during times like this. Maybe if we'd not all acted like self centred cunts in the weeks leading up to the lockdown we'd have needed less strong or harsh state intervention and could perhaps have staved it all off better. But there we go.

He's still around on here very rarely and with a different name I think but I miss Moaty. Legendary posts about Newcastle and Ashley back in the day that used to make me laugh so much. Only man I've ever known get the words ebola, house fire and cunt into every sentence.

Fair enough. Can't remember the Wednesday fan's name at all!

Was Voice of Reason the Sheffield Weds fan or have I completely misremembered?

Not willing to wade into a race debate but could it also be to do with his performances on the pitch? Came with a big fanfare and so far hasn't really delivered, whereas Grealish is universally adored at Villa. Same with Walker at Man City, Mount at Chelsea etc. Balotelli was a hell of a player but you did wonder at times what he could have done if he lived for the game and not the lifestyle.

Definitely is. When I go to town or out on a walk I always take the same routes at the same time of day. Compared to this time a couple of weeks ago I pass dozens more people and a hell of a lot more traffic than I used to. Suspect the fear factor is loosening up now.

That's fair mate, you certainly have your reasons, which is more than I've seen from a lot of the more vociferous anti-vaxers. Sorry again to hear about your son.

I am sorry to hear of that, I seem to remember now we have discussed about this in the past on the old forum (I still can't remember its name!). My main problem with that sentiment, and not from you nor your reasons clearly, is that it is always used as a pejorative. As someone who probably has it myself (never been diagnosed but I match all the descriptions to the letter), and who does have family members and friends who do have it, that kind of thing hurts me a lot. Now, if they do cause autism, I would sooner be the way I am and have them the way they all are then leave their lives and people around them defenceless against some of the most awful diseases going. I appreciate though from what you say it isn't quite so black and white.

Goodness. Bet they cause autism next.

I agree entirely but there's understandably a lot of noise from Harrogate and Notts County fans about it; despite Barrow being top since autumn and still reasonably clear they still had to play Harrogate (at Harrogate I think), coupled with the argument of 'you can't prove they'd get the PPG predicted'... I don't see how you can do it any other way though. Scotland settled it by forecasted champions, ditto Belgium, and I expect a hell of a lot more come summer. You can literally either expunge it or make a reasonable forecast. If the latter, you cannot reasonably have anyone but Barrow. Seen a rumour it may be that the remaining NL sides vote on who to promote. That could be carnage to say the least...

National League have voted to end the season. I believe another vote now follows on how to conclude the season - null and void or PPG, and whether play offs happen with the latter (and indeed if anyone does go up or down).

God that name takes me back north Always used to think it was dead posh growing up as they only ever existed in the nice towns out in the countryside and never the shitholes. Started going M&S these days for the same reasons. Always silent compared to the Sainsburys next door, but well stocked and you can see the better quality it is. I'm the youngest in there by about 30 years

Plenty of them, pretty much all of the most liked tweets replying to the BBC were stuff like 'hope he dies tory scum' or inferences to how they've handled this ergo now deserve to die. I do wonder how many of these accounts then also go on about #BeKind and mental health etc. when those crop up. I'm not a Tory and doubt ever will be but there's an awful underbelly on social media of this kind of them, that seldom seems to be replicated (as much anyway, or as viciously) when someone on the left suffers some misfortune. When you see some of the people saying it, teachers and nurses and stuff, you really fucking wonder. At the end of the day we are all human beings, we all have the same emotions and the same highs and lows in live. Stop acting like cunts and have some grace and actual humanity about you.

Indeed. Using that mentality, say for example the same copper sees you twice outdoors on one day and they collar you for it. How do they ascertain where you went the first time, and where you are going the second time? I am interested in this case about who the burden of proof is on - how do you prove without a massive faff that in the morning you weren't on a cheeky additional walk as you actually went to care for someone, and this time you've realised you need an essential shop? I think a lot of all of this has to depend on general goodwill and trust, and, as you have said a few times, people not being twats. I have felt very uneasy this past 10 days or so with the way some police forces have jumped on the public and what remains of our liberties. Don't even start me on the little Stasi bastards reporting their neighbours on nowt but their own suspicions.

One maybe for the UK members on here - has anyone noticed outside has got a lot busier this week compared to the first of (half baked) lockdown? Have had to work away from home today and last Friday and today was a lot busier out and about than last week. Noticed the same in town out shopping and on the daily walks too. I wonder if the first week sort of spooked people a bit but now there is some familiarity they aren't as pensive in terms of going out etc.

Had similar in Savers in town a couple of weeks ago, just when we all started taking this seriously. He was coughing all over the place, literally everywhere, no attempt to stifle or cover it up etc. Should have been deported to outer space the grotty bastard.

Football is utterly irrelevant at the best of times. This however is a football forum, so it is safe to assume people will still discuss the thing regardless of the wider world. I'm still emotionally invested in it to take my mind off the fact our actual existance is fundamentally fucked until further notice. I think what is irksome for most is two things - firstly, the timing, when they could easily leave have left it for two months and potentially established a better solution or fairer or more accurate way of proceeding. That's before you even begin to address the claims from some quarters that there was no actual consultation. Secondly, the fact that the decision reached is by far and away the least hassle, ergo most convenient, for the FA. For me, as with anything right now involving local or community assets (everything from independent pubs to one man companies to grassroots sports to community facilities), they require the same thing - protection by their authorities and every reasonable step taken to ensure they don't get fucked, so when all is done we still have something to come back to. On this basis, the backings that seems to be forming in non league circles are entirely justified. But hey, if these are all tinpot non entities then surely no one will notice their pathetic little uprisings anyway. How many people right now know or care that South Shields are kicking off? A lot of non league teams know a lot better than to commit suicide in such a manner you imply.

Been giving this a bit more thought (I seem to have a lot of free time lately for some reason). Given the fact that Coronavirus is likely to return in waves and instances we likely can't specifically forecast, I think it makes sense to cancel the 20-21 season and play the remainder of 19-20 at a reduced pace (say one match per fortnight with friendlies or some form of cup competitions to fill the time if needed) to in theory conclude in say March 2021. We than have a nice long summer break, start a little earlier in summer 2021 to spread the season out a bit more, and take 21-22 from there. This means three things: 1) The season established so far does not go to waste; 2) We don't bank everything on 20-21 going swimmingly as per a normal July-May season with no disruption etc; 3) Given the sparsity of the football calendar, when Coronavirus does return, we can easily suspend football as necessary without having to worry again what to do this time around. I can't help but feel an attempt at a traditional 21-22 season would end up just as this one.

Not strictly county-level until the two levels below that really; the likes of the Hellenic League have everyone from the Welsh Border to Berkshire, and the North West Counties cover from Cheshire to Cumbria. Anyway, as you say, most League AGMs are held in the summer. So why are we deciding up to three months before, when we have no idea what the prevailing situation will be in just one? Allocations aren't even decided until mid-May, so they can do jack shit before then anyway. Players at the lower levels won't even be on weekly contracts, just payments per game, so clubs aren't exactly wishing for the end to help their bank balances either. And, if they are to decide now, why expunge instead of basing a final table on points per game; which not only rewards and punishes teams accordingly, but actually means all of those who've sacrificed the time, money and resources to participate in this season actually get something to show for it? I dare say if this goes on long enough, which we may know in a couple of months, instead of jumping the gun, it may even have been viable to have one huge 19-21 season with everything still counted. What I worry for is the impact this decision has on the future of non league football. Not in terms of precedence particularly, but all of those local sponsors who plunged thousands, the lads who sacrifice the equivalent of two or three days a week to take part, all the managers and support staff who do it for the love of it, and all those who part with money to see it. All of that has been wasted. Hundreds of thousands of pounds and a similar amount of (voluntary!) man hours just vanish. You couldn't blame anyone for thinking 'what's the point anymore?'. In 2005 (I think!), the old Spennymoor's record being expunged ended up in the High Court. That was merely five or six teams kicking off at that one. Anyone who tries similar now will have a hell of a lot more backing. Sadly, against the FA (motto: For All, let's not forget) they won't have a chance.

Jesus. I'd be seething if I supported a team at that level no matter where we sat in the league. Let's not forget there were teams already mathematically promoted!

Told to work from home today. Didn't discover until I tried it that the laptop was not properly set up so I've just had to salvage whatever I can from emails. Same again tomorrow. Should enjoy it I supppse but I hate being sat here waiting for time to pass or something to happen. Only so much I can do and it's not fair on my colleagues as well as they're still going full pelt. Hate the WFH thing. Enjoy the boundaries and contrast of being at work and being at home. Can't get on with the two mixing. Doesn't help I usually have a shocking attention span and no-one's around at home to keep me in line