Winnipeg soccer supporters eager to cheer in stands as Valour FC welcomes fully vaccinated fans

Nicky Cottee says it'll be a late start when Valour FC finally plays in front of home fans on Wednesday.

But after not seeing her team in action for almost two years, Cottee isn't going to be picky abouta 9 p.m. kickoff.

"I'm anearly-to-bed, early-to-rise kind of person, but I don't care if that game was at midnight, I'd be there."

The next professional soccer game in Winnipegwill mark a significant milestone in Manitoba's gradual return to normal from a punishing pandemic. The match represents the province's first sporting event with paying fans in the stands since COVID-19 arrived in March 2020.

Only 2,000 fans who must have been fully vaccinated for at least two weekswill be permittedinside IG Field for Wednesday's match.

Cotteerushed to find an earlier second-dose vaccine appointment to ensure her place among the boisterous fanschanting in the group of seats known as The Trench.

"Tonot have been able to do that for a year and a half now,it's tough for supporters. I mean, we live for that," said Cottee, president of the Red River Rising supporters group. "We absolutely cannot wait."

Soccer bubble in Winnipeg

After last year's tournament in Prince Edward Island was played withoutfans in the crowd dueto the pandemic, theCanadian Premier League returnedin late June forseveral weeks of playexclusively in Winnipeg. The plan is for each team to return to their respective citiesafter for the remainder of the season.

So far, the bubble format is working for Valour FC, who havewon three straight games.

No fans were in the stands for those games, but that didn't stop Cottee, and a couple other hardy supporters, from chanting all game outside the stadium whilepeering through the gates.

"We're so connected with this team and we miss being down there with them, cheering and chanting and spurring them on when they're winning, when they're losing," Cottee said.

Valour FC head coach and general manager Rob Gale said he's looking forward to seeing the crowd.

"The beauty of this game forme is just that maybe there's light at the end of the tunnel" from this pandemic.

"I don't want to underplay the huge losses of lives and the things we've gone through all together, but maybe it's just a sign of a break from that andsign of more positive times to come."

The beat radiatingfrom TimCottee's drum is unmistakable for anyone who has attended aValour FC home match.

But he actually isn't a big soccerfanatic, like his wife,Nicky.

He feeds off the energy he helps foster with his drumming. He keeps his backturned to the action as he motivates the crowd.

"I never really caught the bug [for soccer] and I still don't have the bug, but I'm around somebody that's so passionate about it, and Imade a lot of friends that are so passionate about itthat it's kind of infectious."

Duncan Burnett bought into the atmosphere the first time he watched Valour FC play a game in their inaugural 2019 campaign. He bought hisseason ticketthat night.

Despite the absence, he admits there is some hesitationabout returning to IG Field.

"I'd be lying if I said I wasn't a little apprehensive aboutgoing to a game, but the fact that everyone's going to be vaccinated, two weeks double-dosed, makes it a pretty easy decision for me," he said.

Fans in stands show progress: Gale

Valour FC is permitting seating in pods of one, two and four people on the west side of the stadium. Each pod will be separated by at least six feet.

Pandemic restrictions requirebars to close at 10 p.m. Fans must purchase food if they buyan alcoholic beverage.

It won't be the same in-game experienceBurnett is used to, "but I think we'll make a bit of noise," he said.

Valour's manager said he's heard from lots of friends and family members who are just shy of the post-vaccination point where they'll beable to enter IG Field.

In subsequent games, more and more people will be able to have their tickets scanned, Gale said.

"I mean, if we've got one man and his dog in the stands thenwe'rein the right direction," Gale said, before clarifying with a team spokesperson that canines cannot, in fact, enter the stadium.

Hundreds of tickets remain available for the Wednesdaytiltagainst York United at 9 p.m., as well as Valour's other games this month.

Professional soccer in Winnipeg gets an audience for the first time in almost 2 years

3 years ago

Duration 2:20

Winnipeg soccer supporters eager to cheer in stands as Valour FC welcomes fully vaccinated fans.