Prime Minister Boris Johnson has officially announced the government’s ‘roadmap’ to take the country out of its third national lockdown.
In a direct address to the nation yesterday, and coming just over seven weeks after the reintroducing of national restrictions in England for a third time amid the coronavirus (COVID-19) pandemic, the government’s roadmap will see the economy reopen over a number of weeks, lifting measures for separate sectors at four different stages.
Mr Johnson claimed that this exit strategy was designed in such a way as to be “irreversible”.
The ‘COVID-19 RESPONSE – SPRING 2021‘ roadmap document published on the gov.uk website clearly sets out the ‘Four Steps’ method for the easing of restrictions.
But it’s the all-important ‘Step Three’ that football fans will want to keep an eye on.
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While people have been barred from entering sporting venues all together since December when the tiers system was scrapped, the Prime Minister’s plan has now set out the way forward.
And so, depending on if the government deems it to be safe, from 17th May at the earliest, the largest seated stadiums across the country that can properly space out fans – including Old Trafford and the Etihad Stadium – will be allowed up to 10,000 people inside, or to be a quarter full – whichever is lower.
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Also under the plans, smaller outdoor venues will be capped at 4,000 or 50% capacity, whichever is lower, and indoor sporting events at 1,000 or 50% capacity.
This means that fans could be allowed back inside stadiums for the final weekend of the Premier League.
Wikimedia Commons / Flickr
The Football Association said it was “absolutely delighted” at the plan to allow fans back in stadiums, because “the game is simply not the same without them”.
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While it may be a little too early to tempt fate, this news is likely to be music to the ears of the blue side of the city as, if all goes to plan and the winning streak continues, it raises the prospect of Manchester City lifting the trophy in front of their fans at home after playing Everton on 23rd May.
Manchester United on the other hand are away that weekend, but fans may still be allowed to cheer on their team when they play against Wolves at Molineux Stadium.
It’s not just dates for the Premier League that football fans need to mark in their diaries though, as the FA Cup Final on 15th May could also be used as a test event for the new rules, and then they also look set to be able to attend the delayed Euro 2020 matches at Wembley this summer.
The stadium is due to host seven matches including all three of England’s group games, a last-16 clash, both semi-finals and the final.
Even grassroots football can resume from 29 March too.
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Manchester United / Catherine Ivill
If it’s not football you’re a fan of though, you might be pleased to know that the other major sporting events set to benefit from the roadmap to end lockdown include Wimbledon, Royal Ascot, the British Grand Prix and cricket internationals, as well as several non-elite sporting facilites such as tennis and basketball courts and open-air swimming also reopening on 29th March.
So, there’s plenty to look forward to.
Sport
Tom Aspinall, Eddie Hearn, Frank Smith and more set to join latest Fight Day 5k in Manchester
Danny Jones
Big names from the world of combat sports are returning to town, not just for the next boxing match happening in Greater Manchester, but for the now regular Fight Day 5k alongside it.
Organised with promoters Matchroom Boxing, local club Manchester Road Runners (MRR), along with a number of other sponsors like Everlast, they’re hoping to make this one of their biggest yet.
Plus, with the likes of Manc MMA star Tom Aspinall in tow and Eddie Hearn himself set to lead the route around central Manchester, there’s just as much reason to be excited by the morning run as there is the next fight.
This event has happened multiple times in 0161 before, but with more people expected to turn up than ever and a homegrown fighter following up later in the day, this one feels extra special.
Scheduled fresh on Good Friday, 3 April (after all, fighters get up earlier than most), the 5k jog around the city centre will be hosted from House of Social – who have been teaming up with MRR for weekly running events since last November – and a whole host of other familiar names are due to join in.
Better still, there’ll be lots of fun to be had later on too, with participants encouraged not only to turn up early and soak up the atmosphere, but to stick around afterwards for a chance to meet Matchroom talents, as well as enjoy a thoroughly deserved post-run drink and chill.
Plus, in case you haven’t tried it before, the scran at House of Social is top-notch and well worth a try.
This latest Fight Day 5k is, of course, being hosted ahead of Sale-born rising star Pat Brown taking on Vasil Ducar on Friday night.
Facing off against the Czech fighter at the Planet Ice arena in Altrincham, the native Team GB boxer couldn’t have put things plainer in his pre-match presser…
So much for trash-talk: he just told everyone how it is.
This will be just the 26-year-old’s sixth fight as a pro, but having won all of his first five fights last year by knockout, we have a sneaking suspicion 2026 is going to be his year.
In terms of his opponent, Ducar is a much more experienced challenge than he’s ever faced before, with a record of 19-7-2 – 14 of those wins also being KOs.
There are still tickets left for the fight, which will be broadcast exclusively on DAZN from 7pm (ringwalks at approximately 9:39pm), and for those of you who want to join in with the partnered Fight Day 5k, you can sign up completely free right HERE.
Premier League launch completely FREE archive featuring highlights from every game since 1992
Danny Jones
Finally, in a bit of private sports broadcasting news we can actually get behind, the Premier League have launched a new archive featuring highlights from every single game in the first division’s modern era.
Best of all, as the title might have given away, it’s completely free to enjoy.
Chronicling every top-flight game since 1992, the new digital Premier League archive available online was launched earlier this week.
Providing video on-demand (VOD) access to literally thousands of games from way back when, you can relive all of your favourite moments from the best league in the world.
It might sound like quite a simple and easy thing to supply the masses with, but in an era when it’s increasingly hard and expensive to watch broadcast of any and all games, be that live on telly, via streaming, or VOD, this is such an easy win for the Prem.
With so many people struggling to afford all the various packages needed to view premium football, and therefore turning to illegal sites, this is at least a step in the right direction and a good bit of PR.
Sports presenter Nubaid Haroon wrote: “When I had my show with the Premier League, the archive was available via a login for us to watch some of the old tapes.
“It was genuinely one of the best things I’ve ever experienced. Regularly tapping in to see random dons like Elmander and Nzogbia.”
For us, it’s going to be watching vintage clips of Michu, Adel Taarabt and Alan Smith – yes, for both Leeds AND Man United.
Safe to say the whole thing has gone down very well with pretty much all footy fans across the board.
Don't want to overstate this but 20-minute highlights of every Premier League game in history, free and on demand, means that this should be a national holiday.
Case in point: another user on social media went on to add, “The full Premier League archive? Finally. Time to disappear into 33 seasons of greatness.”
Happy days indeed.
We expect the positive reaction to this will only grow even greater as more and more people find out about this new free service.
You can find the near countless hours of Premier League football right HERE – which classic game that comes to mind are you going to watch first?
Emily Sergeant -
23rd February 2021 
