Borough gearing up for return to action
BACUP Borough manager Brent Peters is delighted to see light at the end of the tunnel and is looking forward to getting his team back out on the pitch after the government paved the way for clubs to return to action.
Last week FA guidelines were released and a structure put in place as to how the return of football will be implemented with four gradual steps.
The first of these steps was introduced on Monday with a return of outdoor grassroots football, meaning that those clubs outside of the
National League System can now return to action. And with further steps coming in on the 12th April, 17th May and then finally on the 21st June – when there will be no legal limits on gatherings and large events can take place.
“I’m delighted that things are slowly beginning to move on the football front,” said Peters.
“It’s been a long time out and our lads are eager to get back out there playing in whatever form that may be. I’ve also been chatting to my coaching staff at all levels, making sure we’re singing from the same page and working within the FA guidelines.”
When asked about the schedule of his teams’ return to action he replied: “I’m in constant dialogue with the county FA as to what will be happening next. As you can imagine the players are champing at the bit to get out there but it won’t be until I’ve received the green light from the powers that be.
“When that does happen we’ll gradually ease the lads back into training with some gentle sessions working with both my head coach, David Felgate, and fitness expert and mental skills coach, Jimmy Petruzzi.
“At Bacup we’re fortunate to have some very experienced coaches which makes my job a lot easier. What we don’t want is the lads burning out before the season even starts.
“With so much time to pass between now and the start of the 2021/22 campaign it’s important we strike a happy balance with the players hitting the ground running with a full tank.”
The manager also believes that the season could actually start earlier than usual with the possibility of some sort of winter break arrangement structured in as a precautionary measure.
“Usually the season kicks off in August but I have a sneaking feeling that the league could start earlier than that. I don’t wish to be negative but there’s nothing to say that we won’t see another spike in Covid cases. And if we’re to begin the season several weeks earlier it would give us a little bit of breathing space around December or January to take a break.”
‘Our lads are eager to get back out there play in whatever form that may be’