Non league on hold
NON-LEAGUE football fans across Merseyside have suffered a setback in their hopes of returning to matches from September.
Prime Minister Boris Johnson said at the start of July that spectators might be able to return to stadiums to watch professional sport in England from October, whilst the FA had hoped to have fans back in grounds for Non-League games from September.
Some sports, including football and cricket, have already resumed behind closed doors after the Covid-19 lockdown.
And the PM also said in July that a number of test events would take place from August 1 but any stadium reopenings would be subject to coronavirus guidelines.
“We will pilot larger gatherings in venues like sports stadiums with a view to a wider reopening in the autumn,” the PM said on July 17.
“From October, we intend to bring back audiences in stadiums. Again, these changes must be done in a Covid-secure way, subject to the successful outcome of pilots.”
However, late last week Mr Johnson confirmed that the three test events scheduled to take place over the weekend had all been cancelled due to an increasing number of coronavirus cases.
“We can’t just ignore this evidence,” Mr Johnson said in a press briefing. “We have to act rapidly in order to protect those we love, and we know measures such as these work.
“We’re postponing those changes for at least a fortnight. Pilots of larger crowds in sports venues and conference centres will not take place.”
While in a separate statement Mr Johnson said: “Very disappointing news that with the rise in infection rates we cannot press ahead with sports pilots with fans this weekend.
“I know the huge efforts cricket; snooker & horseracing have made to welcome fans back.
“We’ll keep working together on their safe return asap.”
Glorious Goodwood was due to welcome 4,000 racegoers to the Chichester racecourse this weekend, while 2,500 fans were due to be allowed into cricket matches at The Oval and Edgbaston for Surrey vs Middlesex and Warwickshire vs Northamptonshire respectively.
While the Crucible was expecting up to 300 fans at each session as the Snooker World Championship got underway on Friday.
The Football Association confirmed last month that the UK Government has approved its plan for the return of outdoor grassroots football.
The FA also confirmed that Step 1 and 2 will return no earlier than Saturday, September 5, while steps 3 and 4 can return on September 19, with steps 5 and 6 also being able to return from September 5.
While a September restart will also allow for – in principle – the full inclusion of clubs in FA Competitions, those being the FA Cup, the FA Trophy and the FA Vase.
However, this latest news is likely to come as a setback for those hoping to return in September with there now being a growing concern that more strict measures could be implemented by the Government in the coming weeks.