So, we have some guidance from Yeovil Town about what to expect with regards COVID-19 restrictions when they turn up at Huish Park for the FA Trophy match against Woking.
In summary:
- You will not need to show evidence of your COVID-19 status;
- If you are indoors, not sat at a table and not exempt, you will be expected to wear a face mask;
- If you are outdoors, wearing a face mask is up to you;
- Finally, the club is advising that fans take a Lateral Flow Test before they arrive at Huish Park and presumably only attend of it is negative.
Having checked with Torquay United, where we travel on Boxing Day, there are no further restrictions or advice in place at Plainmoor – but that could change.
So, that appears to be the position off the pitch for the next couple of game at least but, with a large number of Premier League and EFL matches being postponed this weekend, what are the rules on it?
Ciderspace’s own Huish Hugh has taken a look at what the protocols are for the National League……
At present there appears to be a glaring discrepancy the number of Premier League / EFL games off – over 50% – and FA Trophy games cancelled – just two at time of writing.
Now the FA Trophy comes under the auspices of the FA not the National League but it did get me thinking what protocols are in place across the three divisions of the National League.
As one suspected would be the case, there’s nothing visible from the National League on its Official Website. However it appears the NL is following the EFL, so: 14 registered players, including a goalkeeper, still available and fixtures are expected to go ahead.
However several points could do with some clarification. As the NL registration list is permanently open, there being no transfer window restrictions at this level:
is there an expectation that clubs will continue to do all in their power to keep games on – for example under the emergency goalkeeper loan rules a club without one available would in normal circumstances be expected to bring a keeper in, even as late as the morning of a match;
for those clubs which have them, what is the status of academy players? Will they count towards the 14? This would be problematic from the level playing field point of view, with clubs with academies potentially playing matches with a number of youths in the side while clubs in a similar situation without academies being allowed to postpone theirs.