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Updated North West County FAs Joint Statement on Local Covid-19 Restrictions

Update Statement Issued Wednesday 21 October at 5pm

CFA

The following information applies to Grassroots Football at NLS Feeder Leagues (Step 7) and below and applies to all member clubs and leagues affiliated or sanctioned by County FAs in Manchester, Lancashire, Cheshire, Westmorland, Cumberland and Liverpool.

Adult Football

From the guidance currently provided adult clubs and individuals (players, coaches and spectators) cannot move in or out of a ‘Very High’, Tier 3 region to participate.

For absolute clarity the above means that travel is NOT permitted from a Tier 3 to another Tier 3 area (for example, Greater Manchester to Lancashire and vice-versa), or from a Tier 3 to a Tier 2 area and vice-versa (such as Liverpool City Region to Cheshire West and Chester).  

Youth Football

With regards to youth football (Under 18s) the updated FA guidance of 23 September with its strict conditions remain in place. At this present time there are no new restrictions on movement of youth teams and players irrespective of which Tier you are in.

We cannot stress enough the critical importance of all involved in the game doing their level best to allow the grassroots game to continue. The key guidance remain as follows:

Social distancing wherever possible for players, and always in the case of spectators

Robust hygiene standards as per risk assessments but including the wearing of masks in toilet blocks etc.

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

All spectators are discouraged from attending adult games

Strongly recommend minimising spectators at youth games to one adult per child wherever possible

Provide local adult fixtures within your catchment area, as detailed in the statement above.

There may also be local restrictions per local authority/city region which supersedes any provisions in the FA guidance, for example, spectators attending matches.

We know that the additional government restrictions in the North West will cause further disruption to individuals in clubs and leagues. However, we remain able to play football to a significant extent, albeit effectively under licence. We are reliant on each and every one of us across the North West complying fully with the current restrictions and we thank you all in advance for that compliance.

The following defines which local authorities are aligned to which regions and which Tier they are in:

Lancashire - All Tier 3  Cheshire - All Tier 2  Greater Manchester - All Tier 3  Cumbria  Merseyside - All Tier 3 
Fylde
Wyre
Blackpool
South Ribble
Chorley
Preston
West Lancashire
Blackburn with Darwen
Hyndburn
Lancaster
Rossendale
Pendle
Burnley
Ribble Valley 
Cheshire West & Chester
Cheshire East
Warrington 
Bolton
Bury
Manchester
Oldham
Rochdale
Salford
Stockport
Tameside
Trafford
Wigan 
Carlisle – Tier 1
Allerdale – Tier 1
Eden – Tier 1
Copeland – Tier 1
South Lakeland – Tier 1
Barrow in Furness – Tier 2 
Liverpool
Sefton
St Helens
Knowsley
Halton
Wirral 

National Leagues System

Note for all clubs at levels Step 3-6 of the National League System

The FA gained clarity from the UK Government on travel into or out of areas with ‘Very High’ local Covid-19 alert levels by players in Steps 3-6 of the National League System and Tiers 3-6 of the Women’s Football Pyramid and DCMS have confirmed, in collaboration with The FA, that player travel for these fixtures is within the guidelines.

However, we ask that spectators follow the Government guidance and do not travel into or out of ‘Very High’ Tier 3 areas.

This guidance above is based on the current position and we will continue to review in line with any government reviews. 

CFA

To a read a statement from the Liverpool City Region's local authorities, please click on the link below.

CLICK HERE TO VIEW