After the government issued a statement on the evening of January 4th 2021 putting the entire UK onto new COVID Lockdown restrictions the FA announced it will be suspending all ‘non-elite’ football with immediate effect.

The statement reads:
“We note the UK Government’s announcement this evening with regards to the new national COVID-19 restrictions and lockdown. As a result, the impact on ‘non elite’ football in England will include the suspension of fixtures and training across the following, with immediate effect:

• Steps three to six of the National League System (NLS)
• All indoor and outdoor youth and adult grassroots football, including under 18s (except organised outdoor football for disabled people which is allowed to continue)

It is extremely important that clubs, players, coaches, match officials, league officials, volunteers, parents, carers and facility providers adhere to the UK Government’s new national COVID-19 lockdown restrictions and we implore everyone to follow these.”

• Full FA statement here: https://www.thefa.com/news/2021/jan/04/covid-19-update-20200401

 

They have given no indictation how long this is expected to last, or how the rest of the footballing season at our level will be organised once we are out of lockdown. The board members of SCEFL met on Monday evening (4th January) and will be making a statement on the current circumstances on Tuesday 5th January.

As a club we are now very much in the hands of the football authorities to guide us through this difficult time. Below is a summary of what this national lockdown entitles us to do, and not do.

 

JANUARY 4th NATIONWIDE Lockdown (provided courtesy of SCEFL):

Summary: what you can and cannot do during the national lockdown

Taken from Gov.uk

You must stay at home. The single most important action we can all take is to stay at home to protect the NHS and save lives.

You should follow this guidance immediately. The law will be updated to reflect these new rules.

Leaving home

You must not leave, or be outside of your home except where necessary. You may leave the home to:

• shop for basic necessities, for you or a vulnerable person
• go to work, or provide voluntary or charitable services, if you cannot reasonably do so from home
• exercise with your household (or support bubble) or one other person, this should be limited to once per day, and you should not travel outside your local area.
• meet your support bubble or childcare bubble where necessary, but only if you are legally permitted to form one
• seek medical assistance or avoid injury, illness or risk of harm (including domestic abuse)
• attend education or childcare – for those eligible

Colleges, primary and secondary schools will remain open only for vulnerable children and the children of critical workers. All other children will learn remotely until February half term. Early Years settings remain open.

Higher Education provision will remain online until mid February for all except future critical worker courses.

If you do leave home for a permitted reason, you should always stay local in the village, town, or part of the city where you live. You may leave your local area for a legally permitted reason, such as for work.

If you are clinically extremely vulnerable you should only go out for medical appointments, exercise or if it is essential. You should not attend work

Meeting others

You cannot leave your home to meet socially with anyone you do not live with or are not in a support bubble with (if you are legally permitted to form one).

You may exercise on your own, with one other person, or with your household or support bubble.

You should not meet other people you do not live with, or have formed a support bubble with, unless for a permitted reason.

Stay 2 metres apart from anyone not in your household.

• Information courtesy of SCEFL: https://scefl.com/uk-enters-national-lockdown-4th-january

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