Coronavirus, Football and Lessons from History: The Middlesbrough Smallpox Epidemic (1898)

BoroHistorian

BoroHistorian

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Football and Epidemics: A Matter of Life and Death

Lots of similar themes with football and the coronavirus today and the sport's response to the Middlesbrough Smallpox Epidemic in 1898. There were debates and delays on postponing football matches, playing behind closed doors, contradictory action between football bodies and clubs, fears over the spread of infection and not following medical advice (shaking hands, breaching isolation rules, banning players/teams from travelling) etc.:
http://www.historyworkshop.org.uk/football-epidemics-and-pandemics-a-matter-of-life-and-death/

https://www.gazettelive.co.uk/sport...s/coronavirus-crisis-isnt-first-time-17938869

https://www.thenorthernecho.co.uk/sport/18313557.coronavirus-1898-football-matches-played-secret/
 

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Exactly what will happen with the footy now. Matches behind closed doors. Needed to boost morale. The only problem is testing. They won't play without everyone being tested, however if they all get tested before NHS staff there will be trouble.
 
It was absolutely disastrous for South Wales. There was a smaller outbreak in Bradford too in the same year but that was largely confined to hospital patients. Hopefully by following medical advice and learning from history by practicising distancing/isolating as far as possible the impact of the coronavirus can be limited.
 
It was localised mainly between Swansea and Cardiff, possibly Newport. We had an isolation hospital about 2 miles away that people stopped going past, just in case. I was in what would now be called year 7 or 8 so I wasn't affected by exams but I think GCEs were postponed.
 
Here is the South Wales epidemic https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-wales-18365385 but thanks so much Tosh for those links.
They were incredible times for the Tees, a real struggle for peoples health. Middlesbrough had a terrible record for ill health through the 19th and early 20th centuries. Heavy polluting industry, jerry built housing often next to the works. A town partly built on low lying marshy land. Incredibly though as you show Tosh the football club triumphed through such adversity.
 
Wow Tosh that was such an exceptional article - so many parallels to today and the debates and social isolation questions. Lots of lessons there as well. Thanks so much.
 
fmttmadmin said:
Wow Tosh that was such an exceptional article - so many parallels to today and the debates and social isolation questions. Lots of lessons there as well. Thanks so much.
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The fear factor was huge. Possibly with a 30% death rate, but, locally, it was just like today accept no one needed to tell you to avoid other people!
 
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