“The biggest game in Europe”: England’s 5th League just kept going

5000 fans at Notts County, 2000 at Sutton United: England’s 5th football league just continued on the weekend despite the corona crisis – with more spectators than before.

When Cal Roberts scored 4-0 for Notts County shortly before the end, fans and players were in each other’s arms. Corona pandemic? No matter. 4942 spectators flocked to the English fifth division home game against Eastleigh on Saturday, the fans in the stands proudly sang of the “Biggest Game in Europe”, the largest game in Europe.

As in Nottingham, football was played in other English fifth division stadiums at the weekend as if nothing had happened. The almost 5,000 spectators at Notts County, who were first division until 1992, set the record. But also at Sutton United (2126), Halifax Town (2154) or Maidenhead United (1662) many fans came – in each case even more than for the previous home game. It was only on Monday evening that the league pulled the ripcord and suspended play.

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This was preceded by loud criticism. “None of the first four leagues is playing – only we. The only reason for this decision is money, quite simply, ”said Eastleigh team manager Ben Strevens. Chesterfield FC coach John Pemberton would have “preferred to visit my 81 year old father” on Saturday rather than picking up 1-1 in Dover in front of 1180 spectators.

Other clubs canceled their games against it. Boreham Wood did without the home game against Torquay because the U23 of their big neighbor FC Arsenal are playing their home games in the fifth division’s stadium. Arsenal’s team manager Mikel Arteta had tested positive for Corona. The former second division club Yeovil Town did not want to play because opponents Barnet reported a suspected case.

Notts County, on the other hand, played its home game. The folders were wearing gloves, the tickets were scanned without physical contact, and disinfectants were made available. However, the club could not prevent the four-time goal celebrations with intimate hugs in the stands.

And not only that: Iris Smith of the Notts County Supporters Club even invited fans of the hated local rival Nottingham Forest, after all their second division game at Sheffield Wednesday was canceled. “Everyone is welcome at Notts County. Even if it comes from the dark side, ”Smith told the BBC.

He is not afraid of visiting the stadium. “I’m not nervous. I want to support my team, ”said the Notts supporter. He wasn’t alone with that. In the seventh league, 3,274 spectators watched the match between South Shields and FC United of Manchester, the hosts reported long blows in front of the hubs.

And Notts County? “We had a job to do, and we did that,” said team manager Neal Hardley after the 4-0 win that kept the promotion dreams alive: “Now we’re focusing on the next task.” The name was actually Torquay United on Tuesday, with spectators. By late Monday, this spook was finally over.

(SID)

Article picture: Getty

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