Beacon League waits before a return to action after lockdown

The Sunday afternoon league had planned to restart this weekend following the end of the second national lockdown.

But with the Black Country being place in Tier 3 of the government’s coronavirus structure, league officials opted to wait until they had received the latest update from the FA regarding the various protocols that need to be followed.

“We were waiting to find out what the ramifications of playing grassroots football under Tier 3 where,” said the league’s general secretary Dave Clinton.

“The guidance came through from the FA on Tuesday. It would have been nice to have been told a bit earlier but these things happen.

“We felt it was best to wait for the new protocols to be announced.

“For the sake of what has turned out to be a week all the clubs now know what they are doing and we feel a lot happier getting back under way when we have the full facts around us.

“We have just got to be ultra safe, we can’t take any risks.

“This is obviously far bigger than football. We are not risk-takers.

“We put football on for local clubs but we have got to make sure we put it on under the right circumstances.

“For the sake of a week, we feel everyone will get the benefit of knowing what they have to do.

“We have got to be very strict on social distancing when people come to watch matches. And the information we have received from the FA has reiterated that.

“Clubs have been made aware that have got be ultra careful and have good habits.”

The action will now resume on December 13 with a full programme of matches also scheduled for the following weekend.

The league will then shutdown for Christmas and the New Year period before kicking off again on January 10, when parks pitches reopen while they will look to accommodate individual clubs wanting to arrange games on January 3.