If you feel like you are experiencing any Coronavirus symptoms please follow the advice from the National Health Service- found here and NHS Inform. Save Lives, Stay at Home
As lockdown continues in varying stages across the UK, live football still looks months away from returning in Scotland.
Whilst the English Premier League has announced plans to play games behind closed doors, potentially as soon as June, the Scottish game will not restart until August at the very earliest.
With that in mind, here are some ways to get your football fix, whilst games are prohibited in Scotland.
1) Watch games ‘as live’
With the absence of live games, football clubs around Scotland have had to get creative by showing ‘as live’ classic matches on YouTube and Facebook pages.
These may lack the surprise factor of a live match, but the feeling of watching your team score stills spark a tinge of passion in the belly of any football fan, especially in classic victories .
Many clubs have been streaming these ‘as live’ games, including Falkirk, Dunfermline and Celtic, as well as the Scottish National Team, so be sure to keep an eye out for a game to pass an hour or two.
2) Watch overseas games
The German Bundesliga is set to return on May 15, as the first major European league to play since March, so it’s time to choose a German team to support for the next couple of months.
The South Korean K-League has also returned, with live coverage on the BBC. Games in both these leagues will remain behind closed doors for the foreseeable future to prevent the further spread of COVID-19.
Despite the cancellation of the European Championships this June, a summer of football may still be on the cards, albeit in strange and unfamiliar circumstances.
3) Football games and podcasts
Nothing will feed your desire for football like leading an artificial team to European glory. Yes, it may be in virtual form, but Football Manager 2020 will scratch that itch like nothing else, with endless possibilities to take provincial teams to success.
Podcasts are another great way of immersing yourself back into the world of football, with ‘The Terrace’ providing in-depth analysis on Scottish Football, whilst Simon Ferry’s ‘Open Goal’ is renowned for interviews with some of the games greatest characters.
Both podcasts are great to have on whilst completing daily exercise and provide light relief from the world.
4) Enjoy the off-field mess of Scottish football
Scottish Football has always been loved for its off-field showings as much as the product on the pitch, and the lockdown drama has not disappointed.
From Dundee’s ‘lost’ vote on ending the season, to Rangers’ 200-page dossier on the failings of the SPFL, and even an Inverness statement including an 85-word sentence, the lack of actual football has not taken from the entertainment value of the Scottish game.
Catch up with the chaos here: https://www.bbc.co.uk/sport/football/52646285
5) Support your team, in any way you can
Football has never been through a crisis like this before, and clubs will need the support of their fans more than ever. Helping your team is a way of feeling part of the game, in the absence of any matches.
Clubs have began to release season tickets, new kits and even virtual 50/50s, so if you’re missing that little bit of football magic in your life, get involved and help your club out.
This is a massive period of uncertainty for Scottish Football, but the nation’s favourite sport provides an escape from the stresses of lockdown life, just as it will continue to provide an escape after all this is over.
If you feel like you are experiencing any Coronavirus symptoms please follow the advice from the National Health Service- found here and NHS Inform. Save Lives, Stay at Home
Featured Image: The Scottish Sun
4th Year Journalism Studies and Politics Student at Stirling University. Sports Editor. Bylines in Brig Newspaper and The Oban Times
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