Life Under Lockdown

Coronavirus crisis hardship, hope & heroism in league & union

- Gareth Walker

Catalans coach McNamara: I have been stopped four times by police and if you don’t produce papers and they don’t agree where you’re going, you’re fined

CATALANS coach Steve McNamara has detailed life in lockdown France as he attempts to keep his squad active in unprecedented times.

The former England boss’s family are back here while he lives alone in an apartment in Canet, and he now has strictly limited movement and a complete curfew between 8pm and 6am.

Paperwork must be produced for any trips outside and a reason given for the journey, with French authorities stringently enforcing the containment measures around the country.

McNamara(above) explained: “I’ve been stopped four times by police, and if you don’t produce that piece of paper and they don’t agree with where you’re going, then it’s a €35 fine the first time and then €135. It’s very strict but everybody is trying to abide by it.

“It was really bizarre the last hour before the lockdown kicked in at midday on Tuesday.

“It was sad in a way – I drove past a pharmacy and all the older people were queuing up outside for their regular medicine. It felt like the last half hour of everyone’s lives, it was a very surreal and unique feeling.

“Everybody was wandering around at 12 o’clock and then everybody disappeared. It’s something we’ve never experienced before but at the same time allows you to really reflect on what you’ve got.

“We’ve all had a number of years where we’ve been fortunate in so many areas.

“People before us have gone through the wars and everything that went with that – hopefully this brings the best out of people and when it’s over we’ ll all be more grateful for things.”