‘Blueprint’ highlights new issues
FOOTBALL should be back in a week, but whether clubs can cash in on good-sized crowds hungry to see live action again is open to question.
Although everything points to stage three of the lockdown exit coming into force next Monday, a States of Guernsey ‘Bailiwick Blueprint Document’ has choked some of the excitement with its talk of risk assessments required and potential restrictions on crowd sizes.
Spectators having to sign in at grounds is now likely for the time being.
A key guideline from the States is that anyone planning a gathering of over 100 people has to provide information that a specific risk assessment is in place and a record of people attending has to be kept.
These restrictions will probably be removed by the end of April.
Given that one or two of next week’s much-awaited FNB Priaulx and Jeremie Cup games could attract crowds in excess of 200, added to the circa 50 players, officials and ground staff which is the norm for a senior first-team game, means that clubs could face reducing attendances to around 50, unless they commit to having extra manpower available and gathering written contact details on the gate.
But the fact that at some grounds there are more than one access point, Port Soif, Northfield, Corbet Field and St Peter’s being four grounds that have more than just a main entrance, makes it not quite so simple to police.
At Port Soif, also, it is a regular occurrence that both pitches are used at the same time.
Deep cleaning of dressing rooms between matches is also a ‘Blueprint’ requirement.
'There are a number of issues that need to be addressed,’ admitted GFLM chairman Phil Corbet who agreed that the news had taken away some of the joy of the sport’s imminent return.
‘A number of clubs have come back to us to say they will be meeting to discuss this in the coming days and we, as a board, will meet on Thursday to discuss it,’ added Corbet.
Minis sessions are also an issue under the SoG guidelines.
Run by every FNB Priaulx League club locally with the exception of Manzur, Saturday morning minis draw hundreds of youngsters and parents.
One early consideration highlighted by the ‘Blueprint’ is that clubs might consider staggering times to ensure attendance on site does not exceed 100 at any time.
