City’s plans on hold after unnamed player tests positive for Covid-19

The Ebac Northern League and Division Two club Durham City are awaiting guida n c e f ro m t h e Fo o tb a l l Association after a Citizens player tested positive for Covid-19.

The unnamed player displayed no symptoms of the virus and received a positive test less than 48 hours after featuring during the second half of his side’s pre-season fixture against Boro Rangers earlier this week.

A club spokesman confirmed the news as he told this paper: “We can confirm that one of our players has tested positive for Covid-19.

“We are communicating with the Northern League, the NHS and the Football Association, along with other clubs that the player came into contact with.”

N o r t h R i d i n g Fo o t b a l l League club Boro Rangers h ave i n f o r m e d T h e E c h o that their players and coaching staff are now self-isolating, while training sessions h ave b e e n c a n c e l l e d a n d their opening league fixture against Yarm & Eaglescliffe h a s n ow a l s o b e e n p o s tponed.

Durham City are due to get their 2020/21 season up and running with a visit to ta ke o n Su n d e rl a n d R C A i n t h e FA C u p e x t r a p r e - liminary round on Tuesday night.

City were then scheduled to follow that cup clash up with their first league game of the campaign against landlords Willington on Saturday week.

As yet, it is unclear what the positive test means for both of those fixtures – but the Citizens have put a halt on training sessions and asked players to get tested for the virus.

The Ebac Northern League committee held an emergency online meeting on Thursday afternoon to disciss the matter and conf i r m e d th ey a re “awa re o f the situation” but stressed that they are awaiting more information from the FA before deciding what steps to take.

A spokesman for the Ebac Northern League said: “We a re awa re o f the s i tu at i o n a n d a re s e e k i n g g u id a n c e from the FA, given the club’s FA Cup fixture next week, before we make a decision on the league match.

“It re i n fo rc e s th e n e e d for all players and clubs to strictly adhere to the government and FA’s Covid-19 guidelines.”

This paper has approached the Football Association for comment.