Hearts game was an untimely reminder of how drastic our game was during the pandemic when three clubs won trophies in empty stadiums…
Tuning into the recent Conference League game between Hearts and Dinamo Minsk was an eerie reminder of the dreadful Covid season.
Similar to that season, no supporters were present in the ground, although due to different reasons, and it took something away from the actual game, just like that peculiar campaign.
Football without fans is nothing
A brilliant man once said that football without fans is nothing, and Jock Stein was absolutely correct. That year was one of strangest times not only in football, but life in general.
Football is an escape from everyday life for the ordinary every day supporter, and that season denied us of that opportunity. Yes folk were dying, and at risk of serious illness, but why then was football and sport in general allowed to continue?
Empty stands and armchair supporters
Footballers are human beings also of course, and like many others had to work. A job which was to provide entertainment, but to who and what? Empty stands and armchair supporters? It certainly wasn’t a time for entertainment, thats for sure.
Celtic of course had one of the most disastrous seasons in living memory. The Rangers won their only ever title a canter, and will cherish those memories, as will St Johnstone who won both domestic cups, but the most important people in the game, the supporters weren’t there to witness it.
Robbed of that experience
They were robbed of that experience of joy and tension as you roar your side on to victory. The euphoria on hearing the final whistle. The singing and dancing as you celebrate with your players as they lap up their success. Leaving the stadium feeling like champions. That was all missing from a season that was quite frankly, forgettable and gladly confined to the history books.
That’s not me being bitter, theRangers deserved their title that year, but all theRangers fans know deep down that winning in front of no supporters kinda makes it less special.
Celtic of course did lift silverware ourselves during the pandemic. We beat Hearts on penalties in the delayed 2020 Scottish Cup Final to complete an incredible Quadruple Treble – but there were no Celtic supporters there inside the national stadium.
Just an Ordinary Bhoy
