Chesterfield awaiting Football Association guidance so they can return to full training

The government has announced that competitive grassroots football can restart and the FA is working on a “comprehensive action plan” to allow that to happen.

In a statement the FA said: "Please also note that guidance is being developed for clubs with teams competing in the National League System and will be shared with those clubs directly in due course."

It is believed Chesterfield will receive the guidance, which will centre around returning to full training, playing matches, use of facilities and travel, in the next few days.

Each club will have to produce a ‘Covid-19 risk assessment’ as part of the process.

This will be welcome news for the Spireites who have not played a game since March 14 just days before the country went into lockdown.

Since then caretaker manager John Pemberton and his players have not met up or trained as a team, although they have carried out individual fitness work.

The government has stated that supporters can attend grassroots games in small numbers as long as social distancing is adhered to, which is a small but important step towards getting fans back in stadiums.

The date for the new National League season has not been confirmed but the suggestion continues to be that it will be the middle of September with reduced attendances.

The National League hope to start the new campaign as close as possible to when the Football League season commences.

FA council member, Jack Pearce, said: “The first Saturday in October may be when we can start the non-league season – but it could be earlier, or it could be later.

“There’s no definitive date as yet, but if everything goes to plan following the easing of certain lockdown restrictions that came in last weekend, it may be that football can be played with reduced attendances in September.

“The higher echelons of the game can start behind closed doors – at our level, we can’t.

“The FA is talking to the Department for Culture, Media and Sport on a daily basis trying to get football back safely for players, officials and spectators.”