Coronavirus sports fans flock to non-League games with no PL action on

Fans have flocked in their droves to the few sporting events on show this Saturday as punters went to Uttoxeter Races while football fans visited non-League grounds amid the coronavirus pandemic.

This past week has seen a rapid escalation in the number of positive cases of coronavirus in the UK, as the world comes to grips with the spread of the disease.

On Friday, professional English football was suspended until at least April 3, following in the footsteps of the Six Nations and NBA in moving to suspend action until further notice.

However, not all sports have been called off as of yet. The National League still went ahead this weekend, with six games on show across the country.

Sportsmail's Adam Shergold was in Newcastle on Saturday afternoon to report on Newcastle United's Premier League clash with Sheffield United.

However, with that contest postponed, fans have wandered down the road for the National League North game between South Shields and FC United.

Meanwhile, the horse racing hasn't stopped following the action at the Cheltenham Festival this week, with punters flocking to Uttoxeter for the races this weekend.

The British Horseracing Authority said that they would follow the government's guidelines and keep the sport open until told otherwise.

Executive Director of Uttoxeter Racing, David MacDonald, revealed that more than 10,000 spectators would be at the meeting this weekend.

'I have to say it's not been the easiest of weeks,' he told ITV Racing. 'It's been difficult. We've not known whether we'd be racing or not.

'The eyes of the world are on us, lots of football fans will be coming down.  We think it will be a huge crowd, definitely over 10,000.

'Extra precautions are in place, lots of hand sanitisers, lots of toilets and sink basins to wash hands, soap everywhere. We want everyone to come, have a good time and be safe.'

On Friday night, rugby league fans turned out to watch Salford Red Devils come from behind to beat Wigan Warriors, with the RFL also following the guidelines of the government to allow the sport to continue.