Yesterday my thoughts turned to home with the publication of the fixture list for the English Football League.
After my team Coventry City’s stunning promotion as League One champions of the Covid truncated season it was a particularly exciting day.
Rather than playing the likes of Accrington Stanley – who are they? -we’ll be playing teams such as former European Cup winners Nottingham Forest and the likes of Bournemouth, Norwich and Watford, Premiership teams until last month
The Championship will open up some interesting local derbies with teams such as, well Derby, and the big one against Birmingham City, whose ground we’ll be sharing again.
Despite the fact that no one knows when or if fans will be able to watch live games next season the club are marketing ‘Championship Club membership’ for £260.
It’s a clever marketing ploy and I’m sorely tempted to shell out. It comprises £210 for the Championship Club Adult Membership, with the Season Ticket element being valued at £50.
Season Tickets will initially only be available to buy exclusively for fans who are Championship Club Members so with social distancing likely that could well be the only way to see live football next season.
Members – and this is the really exciting bit – will all receive a limited-edition replica shirt which will include the name of EVERY Championship Club Member on it!
“This exclusive and high-value item will be a one-off, not available to purchase anywhere,” so the marketing blurb reads and will be worn by Coventry City for one home league game during the 2020/21 season.
Other benefits, and this is also of value, will include free access to iFollow – with live video streaming of all EFL football matches – for any behind-closed-doors home league games.
With my two weeks of quarantine set to run from September 6th to the 20th I was delighted to learn that the new season kicks off on the 12th, with us away to Bristol City, and then the first home game to QPR on the following Saturday.
That will help me get through my 14 days of ‘house arrest’. Despite my initial scepticism about the eventual return of football after the lockdown and how it would work without fans I’m so glad it’s back.
Although the lack of atmosphere of the televised games is a bit of a dampener all the other aspects such as looking forward to the games, reading the match reports, betting, Fantasy Football and following the scores on a Saturday afternoon are all much the same.
By the time the new season starts it’ll be six months since Coventry last played, that’s a long time to wait and so I’m enjoying the feeling of anticipation which as many football fan will know can be the best time to follow your team.