Joint League Statement

Joint statement from The Carlisle Glass Longhorn Youth Football League, Carlisle City Sunday League, Cumberland County League, Egremont & District Sunday League, Penrith & District Junior Football League, West Cumbria Youth Football League, Workington & District Sunday League and Cumberland FA U16 Girls league.

Let’s Work Together to Keep the ‘Game On’

From September we have seen the return of competitive football across the numerous Youth and Adult Leagues with the County and whilst it is clearly not ‘business as usual’ we have been delighted to once again see playing fields hosting grassroots football.

All of those involved in administrating grassroots football within Cumberland have welcomed the return of football and recognise the benefits that this had on both the physical and mental wellbeing of all of those involved in the game.

However following the UK Government’s latest announcement regarding the introduction of local COVID alert levels, we all believe that in order to protect the game it is extremely important to emphasise that now more than ever we need all those who value and love the game to team up to support the region’s most vulnerable people during this difficult and confusing time.

As the Prime Minister himself recognised ‘sports clubs are the life and soul of our communities’ and whatever your view on the pandemic or the steps taken to address this, we can all agree that he is correct here.

Football clubs play such an important role and we thank all of those involved in the game who have worked together to ensure that its return was as smooth and as safe as possible. However, we recognise that this is an uncertain time for all, and that everything that can be done to keep the ‘game on’, should be done.

We are therefore all coming together to support The Cumberland FA’s “Game On’ campaign and appeal that clubs, players, coaches, match officials, league officials, volunteers, parents, carers, and facility providers continue to strictly follow both the UK Governments’ latest guidance on COVID-19 and respective bespoke guidelines from The FA, which remain the same, when attending or participating within all football activities.

In particular. We ask that all involved in the grassroots game follow:

· Social distancing wherever possible for players, and always in the case of spectators both before during and after games.

· Robust hygiene standards as per risk assessments, including not using changing rooms (unless within National League) and the wearing of masks in toilet blocks etc.

· Effective registering of attendees primarily via the NHS Test and Trace QR code system.

Together we can look to keep the ‘Game On’.