‘We’re worrying about kicking a football when there are people out there who don’t have any food’ – Gosport Borough boss Shaun Gale

Shaun Gale admitted he shares the feeling of frustration across the 'non-elite' football pyramid as a second successive season appears to be edging towards a null and void verdict.
Gosport Borough boss Shaun GaleGosport Borough boss Shaun Gale
Gosport Borough boss Shaun Gale

But the Gosport Borough boss is keen for some perspective to be placed around the current situation in the sport having seen the damage the pandemic continues to wreak on a wider scale.

Gale's love for the game is undoubted after taking the route into coaching and management on the back of a professional career which saw him play for Portsmouth, Exeter and Barnet.

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Yet, even a man with such affection for the game acknowledges football should not be at the forefront of anyone's mind at present.

Gale has watched on as Borough’s Feed a Family project continues to grow - providing vulnerable and needy families with food parcels at a time when they need support the most.

He said: ‘It’s frustrating for everyone but I think it’s gone past frustration now. Like I’ve said all along, it is what it is - there are far more important things happening in the world.

‘As a football club we’re still really active with the Feed a Family project, it’s going through the roof, which is scary really because you don’t know until you get involved and look at it closely how many people don’t have money.

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'This has affected them massively and we’re worrying about kicking a football when there are people out there who don’t have any food.

'We’re taking more and more on everyday and the people that do it are volunteers so, again, it’s a credit to them and a credit to the area of Gosport.

‘It’s very sad.

‘Unfortunately, you never thought in the world we live in that would happen, but it’s going on all over the place.

‘It’s nice that we can help people, they’re getting good food and we’re bringing a bit of happiness to them and their children.'

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Gosport have played just seven of 38 Southern League Premier South matches this term and Gale feels it's just a matter of time before the ‘non-elite’ season is null and voided.

Clubs across steps three to six were given a number of options on an FA survey on how they wanted campaigns to be decided in 2020-21.

But Gale is envisaging only one outcome - and has already turned his attention to the summer and a pre-season return.

‘It would be nice if there was something but I think it’ll get null and void,' he added.

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‘Everyone is pointing to it and no-one is actually saying it, I think it’s only a matter of time.

‘I’ve turned my attentions to that (pre-season).

‘That’s now going to be my focus.

‘You’ve just got to keep on the backburner that we might possibly play again, but I can’t see it.

‘It’s testing times for everyone but you’ve just got to keep smiling and be thankful that you’re healthy, that’s the important thing.'