SHOWS THE WAY FORWARD

check’ – you never think this kind of thing is going to happen to you.

“You think ‘We’re just Ringwood Town, it won’t affect us’. It did, and thankfully we were prepared for it.

“It was more stuff to do and we’re all volunteers, but you have to do it. When it hits home, it makes you think ‘this is real-life stuff – it could be you’.” Indeed, King was relieved that Town had done all their homework to prepare for a possible coronavirus outbreak. It’s a pathway for others to follow.

“We put together a whole set of documents about the protocols and our risk assessment,” he explained. “I thought we would never have to refer to it, but, in hindsight, the time and effort we put into that was well worth it.

“When the two unfortunate lads tested positive, we referred to that and everything was clear. We knew what we needed to do.

“Our Covid officer Jane White was great in doing the test and trace log and Christchurch too were simply great on the night.

“The Covid coordinator at the Wessex League, Bob Purkiss, was also a tremendous help and ally. He was a really good sounding board.”

MB Cleaning were brought in to do a deep clean at the club, adding to work carried out by club officials.

King said: “We had given over the changing rooms entirely to the opposition and we used the clubhouse.

“Volunteers cleaned them and we backed it up with the ‘ghostbusters’, as I call them, doing a fantastic job. It builds confidence that we are on top of it.

“The two lads are doing well, they are making a good recovery.”