A year of empty stadiums lays bare what soccer has missed

Footballers play during the third round of a Carabao Cup football match between Stoke City and Gillingham at the bet365 Stadium, during the coronavirus disease (COVID-19) outbreak, in Stoke-on-Trent, Britain, September 23, 2020. REUTERS/Carl Recine

MANCHESTER, England (Reuters) - A year ago at The Shay, home to fifth-tier English soccer club Halifax FC, fans followed time-honoured traditions - they walked to the match from local pubs and queued for pie at half time.

But the 2,000 or so supporters also sensed things were about to change. While they could watch their team play that day, games in leagues above them had been cancelled across England as the coronavirus pandemic spread.