LEAGUE CHIEF – FOLLOW ADVICE
PITCHING In Northern Premier League chairman Mark Harris has reinforced The FA’s message on Non-League club’s adhering to Covid-19 guidance.
The Government has confirmed that organised sports, which include Steps 3-6 of the National League System, Tiers 3-6 of the Women’s Football Pyramid and outdoor grassroots football, can continue as an exemption to its latest planned measures in battling the coronavirus.
Football’s governing body reiterated the extreme importance of clubs, players, coaches, match officials, league officials, volunteers, parents, carers, and facility providers continue to strictly follow both the Government’s latest guidance and respective bespoke guidelines from the FA.
“It is vital that we all adhere to these guidelines and ensure it can continue in a safe and secure way,” The FA said. “Supporters are the lifeforce of our national sport and the FA hopes to see them return in greater numbers across the country as soon as it is safe and possible.
“However, we must continue to work together and play our part by following all the relevant guidelines if this is to become a reality.”
Their message has been backed up by Harris, who confirmed to The NLP that the Northern Premier League would still start this Saturday (September 19).
“This absolutely underlines the importance of social distancing,” he said. “The most effective way to stop the spread, which is a massive threat to the game, is social distancing.
“The message has got to go to clubs that they need to be paying particular attention to social distancing. It’s not easy, clubs don’t have lots and lots of stewards, but let’s remember one thing, that is a government requirement to be able to restart football so football clubs cannot turn round and say it’s too difficult, there’s not enough people, it’s too expensive because that’s a condition of playing football. If we can’t control that then we won’t have football.
“We are going to start on the 19th.
“Time will tell how many clubs will be starting then. We’ve got to start the season, we want to start the season and we want to get games under way for all the reasons we know about.
“The best way clubs can ensure we can carry on is by social distancing.”