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Leo: Boro is one big family & it's just not the same without fans
Middlesbrough first-team coach Leo Percovich chats after receiving his first covid-19 vaccination
www.gazettelive.co.uk
By Craig Johns. 23:03:2021
On 16 occasions so far this season the full-time whistle has blown to signal victory for Middlesbrough FC. But for first-team coach Leo Percovich, every time that happens it's hard to escape an empty feeling.
That's not because he isn't happy for the three points, of course. There are few more passionate than Leo Percovich.
Instead, at a time he'd usually take to the pitch to celebrate with the club's supporters, for the past year the terraces have been empty - with the coronavirus pandemic forcing football to move behind closed doors, and fans to watch on from home.
But speaking at the Riverside Stadium as he received his first vaccine against the virus at the newly opened large vaccination centre at the stadium, Leo now has hope that he'll be celebrating a big win with fans once again someday soon.
“Everything has changed in the last year. Life has changed, but the game has changed as well," the Boro first-team coach told Teesside Live.
“We all miss family, friends and here at the club, we miss the fans who are our family too.
“Football without fans it’s just not the sport that we love.
“It just feels very weird. With no atmosphere during or after a game, it’s just an empty feeling. It’s painful - an empty soul.
“Even when we win, it’s great, we do it for them at home. But it’s still not the same in the empty stadium and no one to celebrate with at full-time.
“We are here for them - without the fans this club does not exist.
“Whether it’s here at the Riverside or the incredible away support, we miss their power behind us. They energise us in games in the tough moments and tough situations and they give us an extra force.
“Nobody enjoys this, and we miss them so very much.
“We have the opportunity now with the vaccine to get back to normal life and have fans come back to the Riverside again. We have to use that opportunity.”
Monday saw the new vaccination centre at the Riverside Stadium open with the capacity to innoculate up to 1,000 people seven days a week.
Percovich was at the launch along with Boro legends Gary Pallister, Bernie Slaven, Craig Hignett, Steve Vickers and Neil Maddison to be vaccinated.
Over the coming weeks and months, through invitation, the centre hopes to jab many, many more and help the UK's vaccination rollout spread to help bring some normality back to our everyday lives.
After receiving his, the 52-year-old said: “I’m delighted to come and be vaccinated to help the vaccination programme move forward and hopefully help bring an end to this pandemic.
“Here at the Boro we look after each other. Once again, the football club has stepped up to help look after its supporters and the community as a whole to hopefully help bring everyone back together again.
“We see the reality of today, with this beautiful stadium in front of us quiet and empty, but on the other hand, we’re here to have the vaccine and move forward together.
“We must stick together because we now have the solution in our own hands thanks to the scientists, to the club and to the brilliant NHS.
“It’s been a difficult year. In the house, a lot of silence and quiet - to be isolated it has been tough.
“But, in Middlesbrough, we know that we are not alone. We stick together as the family we are and we move towards freedom together.
“I’m proud to be here and to have this opportunity to receive my first vaccine. I’m proud that Middlesbrough Football Club are playing their part by helping to open this centre and now we have to all come forward when invited to have the vaccine.
“Hopefully then we can be together at the Riverside again very soon and help make this a happy world once again.”
Leo is one of those back-room staff who has served under 4 Managers and outlived three of those: Aitor Karanka / Steve Agnew / Jonathan Wopodgate and Neil Warnock.
[Boro season cards remain on sale for the early bird price offer until 5pm Wednesday, March 31. Supporters can buy a season card by either visiting the club website or phoning the ticket office on 01642 929421. Due to Government restrictions, the ticket office is closed to in-person visitors.]
