“It’s not real football…” – Garry Monk is desperate to get Sheffield Wednesday fans back in Hillsborough as soon as possible
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The COVID-19 pandemic has disrupted football completely for the best part of a year now, with clubs across the country being forced to play behind doors in an attempt to try and keep the virus at bay.
It had been hoped that this month would see at least some supporters back at Hillsborough after the English Football League had run some test events that seemed to have worked well, but the likelihood of a second wave saw government rule out a return.
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Hide AdMonk, who has put SWFC through a bit of a revolution over the past few months, wants fans to see – in person – the fight that this group of players has.
Speaking after the 2-1 loss to Brentford on Wednesday night, the Wednesday boss said, The games themselves, they are played at a good level of tempo but it’s not real football as we know it… Clubs have done a lot of hard work to make sure the stadiums are safe with the right measures in place.
“In the second half for example when we were really pushing on, the crowd would have been really up for it, helping us on, and that’s when they really give us that extra percentage and influence.”
He went on to say, "The fans give the players that extra energy. You miss that, and that feeling when you come to a game and the fans are there in the build-up. Then during the game, the noise, the passion, the pressures, we all miss it.
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Hide AdWhen you are playing against a good side like Brentford and the fans see that fight and spirit, they would have been right behind us.
“We deal with it, of course. Like everybody is. But we need to have the fans back, home and away as soon as possible, it’s not the same.”
Wednesday face Luton Town on Saturday as they seek to pick up their first home win of the season and bring to an end a torrid run of form at S6.