Carry on Covid

Written by fritter

I hate queuing. Not good with free and unfocussed time so needed to do sometimes so I wrote what I saw, did and thought at the time.

A new kind of matchday experience. Something no one could have ever anticipated prior to last March. I was lucky enough to get a ticket for this one. 2 weeks ago I became a grandfather. In a week I’ll be 64. Sandwiched between these 2 milestones a chance to see the first game of my 54th season.

Whatever the specified precautions I’ll go with it. We all will. Because football is a part of us. It’ll be different.

Walked to the park to my identified entrance for the Ted Shed. We were told to get there between 1 and 1:30 or risk not being allowed in.

Arrived 13:29. Gates not open yet, so people queuing for half an hour in cold. No one minds but it’s unnecessary. It’s going to be 1000 people, lowest crowd for me at DC since the old reserve days. And they were great days, a chance to see proper players coming back from injury. My best one was Peter Bonetti for Chelsea I don’t think there were any Miggins Cup games with a crowd that low.

I see a fan walking past at the back of the South stand. He asks a steward for the entrance to the East stand and is told to walk all the way back around. ‘But I was told to come here’. Steward checks with a colleague and discovers that this is the right way in. Steward says to a colleague that ‘No one told us’. Good to have a tiny, tinpot flaw. Reassuring.

The Ted shed queue moves pretty quickly. If all 4 sides are open there won’t be more than 250 people. So, why 2 hours early? Either way. It’s what the club felt was needed, and thanks to everyone for making it work.

Every one is wanded so absolutely no social distancing there. What are they looking for? What do they expect to find? There are 1000 fans, spread out. What kind of risk assessment is this based on? It’s so risk-averse that I can’t see how Josh King keeps getting injured.

13:37. At this rate, everyone will be in by 2 at the latest. One hour and 20 to ko. What is everyone going to do for 90 minutes?

13:45 Queue moving pretty quickly. No obvious hold-ups. By 13:47 queue gone. Even allowing for walk-ups. 17 minutes.

Wander in to be told that I have to have my ticket scanned. Of course. By one of the 2 people with scanners. Who are behind me? I’d walked past them because they were chatting, backs to me, no idea they were ticket checkers.

13:57. In the ground. Bored. How am I going to watch a game when my glasses steam up. How will singing work? Hurrryyyy Uppppp.

14:14. Some of the players out to applause. Supa and Kelly walk along the front of the stand. Applause. Surprisingly emotional.

14:28 the team come out. Glasses keep steaming up and it’s hard to see properly. I blame Snooty.

14:34. I’d usually be leaving the firkin shed about now. Social Club, Cricketers, Portman and now the Firkin Shed. All regular pre-match venues. Games are great but not the same without the pre-match meetup. There have been so many times when the time in the pub was far better than the game.

14:42: some dreadful music. No marching band. No pre-match entertainment to ridicule.

14:48. The team leave the pitch to applause.

14:53. Pitch being watered.

14:57. Teams come out.

14:58 Huddle

14:59 the knee. Applause.

I have wanted this moment since the game stopped. There were times it felt it would never happen. Last game here for me was Chelsea on 29/02/20. 9 months without a game.

But I am here now and for that, I am so grateful. Let the game begin.

Score? I don’t care. (At the moment)

PS. I did care, it was terrific. Loved it. So great to be back. To celebrate 5 goals on our return? More than I could have hoped for.
Thanks to everyone for making it happen.

Your say…

tedisking wrote…

Good write up fritter thanks………….but imagine a poor game and crap weather, you may have thought differently……the rest of the report is the reason I chose not to bother……..I’ve waited this long, I can wait a while longer. – Join the conversation, click here.