With a much disrupted season, grassroots football is to return in April after a lengthy delay due to COVID-19. Boris Johnson announced grassroot level sports can return as of the 29th of March in his recent COVID-19 update.
The Prime Minister’s roadmap out of lockdown had many key dates. For those football lovers it will be the weekend of Easter Sunday that perhaps stands out from the rest.
Many teams will not have seen much action since December, however there is hope that the season can continue without further disruptions. The FA have also announced a season extension until June so all fixtures can be completed.
The continuation of grassroots football will be subject to COVID-19 figures. Therefore rules have to be followed by managers and players if proceedings are to go on. Another lockdown is not impossible but for players to get back on the grass for at least one game will mean so much.
Why does playing football mean so much this year?
With a rather gloomy past 12 months. Playing football is one thing that can help put a smile back on many faces during such difficult times.
Adults and children across the country will be counting down the days until they can lace their boots once more. Football is such a huge part of so many peoples lives and wellbeing. After being restricted to the comfort of their homes things now are starting to look onwards and upwards.
Sunday league is becoming an evolving part of the game and will hope to continue where it left off pre-lockdown. Games now being filmed and shared online, watched by large numbers of supporters also. Hopefully COVID-19 was just a minor speed bump for this raw and passionate level of football.
After speaking to players from High Easter FC in Essex, there was a sense of excitement about the return of the football. It shows that being back playing with friends on a cold and muddy Sunday morning might not be that bad after all.
