KIDS SPRING BACK TO LIFE AFTER LONG COUNTDOWN
GRASSROOTS sport is back and footballers celebrated by getting straight on to the training pitch last week.
The government allowed outdoor sport to return on March 29, giving the green light for team sports, as well as tennis and golf, to make a welcome comeback amid the coronavirus pandemic.
On the Sussex coast, it was cause for celebration and chairman of Eastbourne United Youth, Mark Newnham-Reeve, began to get the 170 to 180 boys and girls who play for his club involved in the game they love again.
Newnham-Reeve presides over teams from Under-sixes to Under-16s, of which some will join newly created spring leagues after their regular season was cancelled, while others will play friendlies until the new campaign begins.
After seeing three lockdowns wipe out the schedule, he told Metro: ‘It was devastating for the kids and the possibility of getting it back kept them going. We created a WhatsApp football advent calendar to count down the days.
‘Last Monday came and it was massive. We had four teams training that night and all the rest two days later. I’m sure the parents, as much as the kids, were delighted to be back.’
It is not all good news, however, with Newnham-Reeve saying he knows of teams who may not reappear.
‘The biggest struggle for grassroots has to be the financial aspect,’ he added.
‘Some clubs have missed out on the summer tournaments that bring them in money and I know of three or four clubs in our area who are struggling for a variety of reasons.’
But, hopefully, Eastbourne and everyone else have seen the back of lockdowns. ‘I hope I’m not tempting fate but I sincerely hope for the good of the kids, this it now,’ Newnham-Reeve said.
‘We have effectively had two disrupted seasons but all the pain will have been worth it never to go through it all again. I would take that.’