On a day when plans for a European Super League were announced by some of the continent's top clubs, it is easy to feel that the 'beautiful game' feels further from its humble roots than ever.

The six English clubs involved in the breakaway project are Liverpool, Manchester United, Manchester City, Arsenal, Chelsea and Tottenham.

The competition is set to rival UEFA's Champions League format which currently dominates the European football landscape.

The backlash has been both fierce and prompt, with ex-Manchester United defender Gary Neville telling Sky Sports, while covering a game, that he was "absolutely disgusted" with the plans and it was "pure greed".

In this jarring and dispiriting time for many fans of the game, it perhaps has never been more appropriate a time than now to look back at the unique and touching ways in which football has brought people in our region together over the years.

Down at Brunton Park, we have witnessed clashes with big name opposition, felt togetherness and solidarity in difficult times and periods of upheaval and tragedy and found an all important sense of communion with our fellow supporters as well as family and friends.

In many ways, as many supporters will unapologetically attest, in that lies the real inherent beauty of the game itself.

It has never been about the big name players, the stupefying sums of money spent during ever transfer window by the elite clubs or about which teams can attract the most generous sponsor to line their pockets.

Rather, it's about those fans who travel home and way, come rain or shine to show their beloved players that they're there with them every step of the way.

Football may be set to change forever, the next few weeks will prove crucial in the direction the game is set to take.

But until then, what we do have is the memories and the knowledge of the fact that, to us as fans, the game will always remain a favourite pastime and an opportunity, like no other, for communion with friends and family.