Grassroots football to kick off again

GRASSROOTS football has been given the goahead to restart immediately in parts of Lancashire, including Rossendale.

Earlier this month, the Lancashire FA announced that adult and youth matches and training sessions across the county would be suspended until January “at the earliest”, provoking an outcry.

Chief executive Simon Gerrard said the decision followed lengthy and detailed conversations between Lancashire FA, local and public health authorities and the police – in conjunction with partners.

On Tuesday night Lancashire FA announced that grassroots football can restart ‘immediately’ in eight areas following ‘updated professional medical health advice’.

Bosses said since the suspension was made on December 5 all parties have ‘worked tirelessly to find solutions’ and also ‘actively collaborated to share research and perspectives to identify methods to mitigate the risks originally identified’.

Lancashire Resilience Forum, which is leading on Lancashire’s Coronavirus response, said the control measures and guidance has been ‘strengthened’ to reduce the risks in training, matches and tournaments that were previously identified.

Under new measures, new Covid-19 marshals will be trained to support the grassroots community with implementing new guidelines and a new Test and Play pilot scheme will aimed to be rolled out in the New Year.

Local councils will respond to any breaches or exceptions through Covid-19 regulations.

Public Health teams in Lancashire will continue to work closely with Lancashire FA and local schools to bring testing to the grassroots community to enable the further safety of our football and wider community.