Grass-roots football: Could it be out of action until Christmas?

Bognor and Burgess Hill in their last game before the new shutdown - their Sussex Senior Cup game at Nyewood Lane on Tuesday night / Picture: Lyn Phillips

The new national lockdown, which runs from today until at least December 2, brings non-elite sport to a standstill.

Pearce said it was a pain for Bognor as they went into the break on the back of four straight home wins – but he insisted there was no way their level of the game could continue if fans were not allowed.

Bognor beat Tooting and Mitcham 2-0 in the FA Trophy on Saturday and Burgess Hill 2-1 in the Sussex Senior Cup on Tuesday.

He said: “Having to stop playing again now ruins everything – momentum is everything and we’ll have to start again and go from there.

“There’s nothing we can do about it. It’s going to be five weeks minimum as we have to have a week to come back to training after the initial four weeks.

“Then we’ll have to wait and see if it (the suspension of football) has to be extended.

“What you have to remember is you need people to play against.

“Even though round here we’re not as bad as the rest of the country (for Covid), some of the other areas we could be going to could be in lockdown longer.

“There’s no guarantee we’ll be playing before Christmas. And it’s getting colder and other illnesses start coming in.”

Pearce said that once the government said people were being prevented from meeting in larger groups, there was no way grass-roots football could continue.

“Our level of football couldn’t carry on - who’s going to pay the players? It can only carry on if someone will pay the players . At our level you cannot play behind closed doors without someone financing it.”

Pearce praised the fans who have been turning out since the season made a belated start. The Rocks have enjoyed good numbers at all five home games they have played

“The support is great. I was really pleased with the number of people who have been coming. It’s very much appreciated.”

Pearce is happy to be in the next round of the Senior Cup, a trophy the Rocks still hold. And he said one bonus of the enforced break was it would give injured players a chance to near or reach fitness.