
The coronavirus has thrown everyday life into chaos; universities are cancelling lectures, Match of the Day has been ditched in favour of Mrs Brown’s Boys, and Asda’s toilet roll aisle has taken a battering.
The epidemic has torn up the sporting calendar, but instead of twiddling their thumbs in the absence of fixtures, social media staff at football clubs have been forced to think outside the box and have really come into their own.
Here’s a rundown of the best of the social media action from across the world of football.
Leyton Orient’s Mass FIFA Tournament
SAY HELLO TO YOUR CONTENDERS!
Here is the full list of 128 teams competing in the #UltimateQuaranTeam Cup!
Represented:
gbenggbwlsgbsct
The draw will take place on *Wednesday* now – more info to follow.
Who’s do you make as the favourite then? 樂
pic.twitter.com/FYX78hMm2P
— Leyton Orient (@leytonorientfc) March 16, 2020
The League Two outfit have led the way by organising a 128 team FIFA 20 tournament, using the very punny hashtag ‘#UltimateQuaranTeam’ on Twitter.
Football Manager
Watford opted to let Football Manager pick a winner for their postponed Premier League clash with Leicester.
Connect Four
The crowd are on the table, they think it’s all over… it is now!
A historic triumph on our first European outing.
Commiserations to a great opponent @bayer04_en
⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️
⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️⚪️
⚪️⚪️⚪️女女⚪️⚪️
⚪️⚪️⚪️女⚪️⚪️
⚪️女女⚪️女
女女⚪️ https://t.co/w5fp8OldZZ pic.twitter.com/qhNfwYB0zS— Aston Villa Women (@AVWFCOfficial) March 15, 2020
For the more old fashioned among us with little time for the video games that the kids are all playing these days, our needs have been catered for in equal measure.
Bristol City enjoyed their first foray into Europe with victory over Dutch outfit
Noughts & Crosses
The vintage board games don’t stop there, with Southampton keen to get a round of noughts and crosses in against Norwich – the side they were due to meet in the Premier League over the weekend.
Manchester City
Battleships
If you can’t handle the pace and intensity of connect four or noughts and crosses, Polish outfit Górnik Zabrze have got you covered.
Nostalgia
Starting today, we’re going to be posting a #HammersRewind back to some of our greatest goals, moments and memories! ⏮
This week’s theme will be 혃헼헹헹헲혆혀, & we want your suggestions! Which of our best volleys would you like to see this week? 樂 pic.twitter.com/KHTngZf6EN
— West Ham United (@WestHam) March 16, 2020
Many clubs have opted to wind the clocks back to days gone by and dig into the footballing archives.
Some teams have pulled out highlights reels from the glory days; Bolton Wanderers relived their Premier League victory over Liverpool in 2012, and their top flight survival in 2008, while Ipswich Town dug out their League Cup win against Arsenal and antics in Europe, with the past offering both clubs a nice distraction from the present predicaments that they find themselves in.
Oldham meanwhile got fans to vote for their favourite ‘forgotten footballer’ from the club’s past – the rogue players that enjoyed brief spells with the League Two side. French footballer
Birthdays
In the absence of any news, Arsenal decided to really milk the birthday of Theo Walcott, dedicating no fewer than five separate birthday posts to their former forward.
You only turn 31 once.
Let’