Page 3 - Deal Round Up October 2020

Keep Your Social Distance

It was good news that non-league football clubs at the lower levels were allowed to let in spectators which
is a life-line for many clubs. As long as there are enough volunteers to do the necessary jobs to put on a
game and to monitor that the COVID rules are being adhered to it should be plain sailing. It is a pity that
the lifting of the restrictions came too late for many arranged friendlies. The revenue from these sort of
games, particularly against clubs a couple of leagues above can often boost the budget massively and with
a couple of wins in the early rounds of the FA Cup, FA Trophy or Vase can make it a more comfortable
financial ride into the new year.
It’s when you get down to the real ‘grass roots’ level, where spectators don’t pay to watch, that it be-
comes more interesting! Often a volunteer will turn up two hours before kick off, get the wheelbarrow
out, trek across the pitch removing any dog mess and filling in any divots or rabbit scuffings with top
soil. Then he may put out a pitch side rope barrier to keep a distance from the touchline for the two men
and a dog or two dogs and a man that come to watch. A quick marking out of the ‘technical area’ on the
opposite touchline so that the managers and the substitutes can ‘social distance’ (until of course they get
onto play then they can get close up and personal with the opponents. That just leaves sanitizing the goal
posts, corner flags and match balls and the game is on! Now that’s proper football!!

Thank you for reading.
Bob Chivington
Editor, 07854529118

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