Edge Hill Utd cautious in football comeback

The defending FNQ Premier League champions will err on the side of the caution as preparations ramp up for the revised 2020 campaign.

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The defending FNQ Premier League champions will err on the side of the caution as preparations ramp up for the revised 2020 campaign.

Edge Hill United were among the clubs to return to training in a 20-per-venue capacity, but the approval of an industry-wide COVID Safe plan has allowed as many as 60 per field.

Tigers president Terry McDonough said the club wouldn’t push that boundary as the senior men’s team got the defence of their treble back on track, instead opting for half-field set-ups at Tiger Park instead of the thirds approved in the Field Sports COVID Safe plan.

It means the players have more room to train, even though the type of training is still restricted during Stage 2.

No contact is allowed and headers are discouraged as teams can instead focus on shooting, passing, and plenty of fitness ahead of the competition’s schedule return.

FNQ Football is planning to resume the Premier League and other senior competitions on Saturday, July 11, the first day community sport can return under the government’s current roadmap to recovery.

For now, McDonough and his colleagues across the region’s football clubs are working towards a return of their sport in as much a capacity as possible.

Juniors are still limited in their activity, while the outlook of their season remains unclear as football looks to work within the limit of 100 people per zone.

Most senior clubs have multiple fields, which allow league officials some leeway when it comes to scheduling fixtures this season, though the mass concentration of young footballers typically seen at Endeavour Park will not be possible under the plan.

Originally published as Edge Hill Utd cautious in football comeback