James Baxendale wants Worksop Town fans back at games

James Baxendale is desperate to see the Worksop Town fans back again.
James Baxendale is looking forward to the return of fans.James Baxendale is looking forward to the return of fans.
James Baxendale is looking forward to the return of fans.

The Tigers fell into the considered ‘highest risk’ tier 3, along with 18 out of 20 clubs in their division, leading to the suspension of fixtures until the outcome of a review to the tier systems.

And Baxendale says it is just not the same to be playing without the club’s supporters after returning to footballing action with a number of behind-closed-doors friendlies.

“Fortunately, football has been on for us to watch, so there has been a game on nearly every night which keeps me going, but with no fans, it is not enjoyable, we don’t want to play in front of no fans,” said Baxendale.

Football is what Saturdays are all about, and with us working from Monday to Friday and then getting to Saturday, it is like ‘what are we going to do without football?’ So, with no football, it was terrible.

“I have been stuck working from home all week, so getting out of the house, you need it for your own sanity.

“You watched Sky Sports last week and you saw that some fans were going back into the grounds, so it’s about the football, it is about the community, it is the spirit.

“It is mixing with your mates and it is the crack with it all and we love it; especially coming here where we get a good following.

“The fans create a great atmosphere here, so we are going to miss them and financially it is massively important, it is everything to get them back.”

Last season, Baxendale was part of current Worksop manager Craig Parry’s Pontefract Collieries side that were on course to fight for promotion before the season was expunged.

The former Walsall and Mansfield Town midfielder hopes to avoid a similar outcome, stating that the season must be concluded.

“It’s just frustrating because it is so stop-start, and we had a really good start to the season,” he continued.

“We waited forever for it to come around and we built momentum, got a couple of good results, and there has been only one performance that you think that we could have done better but the rest of them were good.

“Then, we had to stop for a month again; it was a case of looking after yourself and staying fit, so it was frustrating, but I am glad to be back now.

“I’d be gutted [if the season was to be declared null and void again], but everyone involved would be gutted, so whatever it takes to get it played and see it through to finish it.

“If it looks like we are going to play Saturdays and Tuesdays predominantly for the rest of the season then we have to do that and if it partly has to be behind closed doors then so be it, because hopefully, we will all have something to celebrate at the end of it.”

The club were forced to call off a planned friendly against Retford United on Saturday due to the Badgers now being in league action.

The NCEL will not play again this year following a vote amongst clubs to suspend action until conditions allow for the return of fans.

They are now awaiting the outcome of the Government’s next tier system reviewed on 16th December.