Follow guidelines to support
The Toolstation Western League is asking fans to support their local football clubs on and off the field this season by observing the COVID-19 guidance. Whilst specific guidance varies from club to club, depending on their facilities, supporters are being asked to observe social distancing and avoid close contact with others not in their social or support bubble.
If fans need to access any of the ground’s amenities, such as toilets, food and drink outlets, they should check to see if any of them are not in use, and plan accordingly. Maintaining good hand hygiene, using sanitiser dispensers is also advised. Sadly, fans are still being urged to take extreme care when singing or celebrating, avoiding hugs, highfives and any close contact with anyone not in their household.
Like all its clubs, the Western League has appointed a Covid officer. Since his appointment George Mccaffery has been supporting club officials with their Covid questions. Unlike professional entertainment venues, Nonleague football is run by an army of volunteers, who must now ensure their games are Covid compliant, along with the host of other responsibilities they’ve agreed to undertake on a match day.
Mccaffery’s message to fans is simple: “Let’s keep playing, keep watching and follow the guidance.
“We all have a part to play in defeating the virus, especially fans. Don’t wait to be told what to do. Use your common sense and support your local club by helping the volunteers make sure that everything is Covid compliant. If you have any concerns about how a club is implementing its COVID-19 risk assessment, please contact a club official, either in person or by email. Remember that whatever your hope for your club this season, COVID-19 is the one opponent we all want to beat.”
■ The Toolstation Western League has also kicked off the 2020/21 season with a new look website, presenting all the latest news from the league, plus information on fixtures and results. The website can be found at www.toolstationleague. com and has been put together by James Healey from JRH Media.
■ This season the Toolstation Western League will be offering NHS staff free entry to all its League matches, in recognition of their exceptional work during the Coronavirus pandemic. Since 2015 the Toolstation Western League has run a scheme whereby serving members of the Armed Forces can gain entry to league games on the production of a military ID card. The NHS scheme will run until the end of the 2020/21 season, with clubs able to extend the offer further if they wish.