THIS IS THE NEWS THE NATION NEEDED... NOW WE ALL HAVE TO MAKE IT COUNT

FINALLY, we got the news we’d all been waiting for this week as the Government announced plans for a staggered return to normality — and with it the welcome news that grassroots sport is on its way back! As we have documented in the previous months of our grassroots supplement, the shutdown has had a devastating impact on sports clubs and those who rely on them — and what’s worse, the full impact will not be known for some time. But now we all have something to look forward to. From March 8 when schools re-open, children will at last be able to play the sports they love in PE lessons and after-school clubs, while on March 29 the anticipated further easing of restrictions will see outdoor sports such as golf and tennis return for adults and youngsters alike. Indoor swimming pools and gyms are set to follow on April 12. A month later, organised sports indoors for adults — such as five-a-side football and basketball — should be back on the agenda. In this edition former rugby league star Keith Senior underlines the importance of putting our mental health on a par with physical fitness when sport returns. This month we are also pleased to highlight the crucial role that grassroots coaches across the country will play as we come out of lockdown, and showcase some of the brilliant work being done in youth cricket. We also emphasise the importance of making sure the disabled community — one of those hit hardest by the pandemic — is not left behind. The last year has been so hard for so many but at last everybody connected with grassroots sport can see some light at the end of the tunnel. That really is something worth celebrating.