Supporters return for Play-Off Finals

There has been some great news emanating from the SPFL this afternoon.

The Championship, League One and Pyramid Play-Off two-legged finals have been delayed and will commence on Monday 17^th May to allow a limited number of supporters to attend.

The figure is likely to be between 250 and 500 depending on the layout of the stadiums concerned but it will be news with next season in mind that will be welcomed by all in the game.

Forfar Athletic officials, management and players have always realised that we were indeed privileged within the pandemic to be allowed to take part in competitive football, however, diluted the season may have been from its start at our level in October through to Tuesday of this week, with of course a further enforced break from January 11^th to mid-March.

However many great people in the game most notably away back Jock Stein and Matt Busby stated the obvious that “Football is nothing without Fans” and that has certainly been the case throughout this hellish season as they say like no other.

There is no doubting that the season has been a disappointment for all of a ‘Loons’ persuasion and for this we apologise to all Athies supporters wherever they may be, but the biggest disappointment has been the empty terraces, the hospitality lounges turned into temporary dressing rooms, the normally vibrant atmosphere even in defeat within the 1984 Lounge on a Saturday evening all so sadly missing.

Put simply the banter, the camaraderie, even the criticism, sometimes merited sometimes not but all appreciated nevertheless have been so sorely missed.

At quite a few clubs in recent weeks, many of whom have had a much more successful season than ourselves, the general opinion has been surely we will not have to go through another campaign like the one drawing to a conclusion.

Hopefully, with the news released today on the football front, allied to the continuing improvement in pandemic statistics, the re-opening of indoor hospitality etc in mid-May and the hope for further easing of restrictions sometime in June, we will not now have to.

There will be no greater sight to many not least the players, to see Ross Meechan leading out the ‘Loons’ at Station Park in mid-July in a League Cup tie,  the competition now rebranded as the Premier Sports Cup with supporters ready and waiting to cheer them on.

Might even bring a tear to an eye or two?

We all live in hope, but at last with some optimism.