If playing on Boxing Day is optional, I don't think we'll be playing at Carlton. 

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CLUB STATEMENT FROM THE BOARD OF DIRECTORS   BY ALEXANDER MOLONEY

Further to the announcement from the NPLFurther to the announcement from the NPL a few days ago that all matches should resume from 19th December if both clubs agreed and from 26th December as a mandatory requirement, the Board of Directors and the 1st team manager held an emergency Board meeting yesterday and as result unanimously agreed that we could not comply with this request.
Consequently the match against Wisbech today ( 19th ) and Chasetown ( 26th ) have both been postponed and the opposing clubs are in full agreement with this action. Further and for the avoidance of doubt ( see below ), we are unable and unwilling to play any further matches until the situation regarding travel within Tier 3 areas, the maximum crowd limit of 200 supporters is revised and most importantly the restrictions on opening bars and food hatch is lifted.
We regret having to make this decision as we all want to see football being played but it is important we remain in business so we are around to recommence playing when the situation returns to normal next season.

There are many clubs in the NPL who have already gone public with exactly the same decision and we do not want to just reiterate what they have said as we totally agree with it, but briefly we arrived at this decision for the following reasons:-
1. Financial reasons 
We are a Limited Company and as Directors we have a legal obligation to operate in accordance with the laws of the land and to operate and trade in a sensible way.
To play with a maximum of 200 supporters ( for us in practice it would be much less than that as no visiting fans are allowed), without any bar sales or food sales would mean running at a substantial loss each home game and a large loss each away game. We would be bankrupt in about 3 weeks.
We have tried to minimise our running costs during the pandemic but there are still regular bills such as insurance, rent from Birmingham City Council, lease purchase monthly bills on the club minibus and a whole host of other items.
Even if we could reduce our playing budget to zero we would still struggle to make ends meet.
We cannot trade insolvently.
2. Covid Pandemic - duty of care
Despite taking all the recommended precautions we have an ageing Board, volunteer pool and many of our spectators also. We do not wish to subject them to an increased risk at Coles Lane. It is now the colder, wetter part of the year and although we have the correct number of covered seats at our ground for a step 4 club, there is not enough room to socially distance under cover. At half time when everyone wants to visit the toilets there is a crush which is difficult to control. The rate of infection is rising again and a new variant strain of the virus appears to be taking hold. We are likely to be in another lockdown in the New Year.
We note that Staffordshire County Council has ruled there shall be no spectators. We haven't contacted Birmingham City Council but fully expect them to make the same ruling.
3. Actions taken by the NPL Board
We appreciate we are taking the risk of being fined for failing to fulfill a fixture, but also note that despite being told many member Clubs want to play ( we were not asked ) there is only 1 game taking place in our division today which does not bear this out. The NPL had said that it would wait to see what changes the Government announced on 16/12 ( became 17th in practice ) but did not do so. The NPL had formed a "Trident Alliance" with the Southern and Isthmian Leagues to act together at this difficult time but have without discussion broken ranks with them in insisting on playing. We note that the other 2 leagues have decided to suspend all football activity until the New Year and then review the situation again then, when in all probability the situation will be unchanged or even worse.
4. In conclusion
Our fans know we run a tight ship. We are a prudent Club. We cannot play and will not play until conditions allow us to. We are desperate to play but equally desperate to remain in business for when the good times return.
Stay safe!

The Board of Sutton Coldfield Town Football Club 

 

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STATEMENT REGARDING OUR FIXTURES OVER THE CHRISTMAS PERIOD    BY RICHARD SCOTT   3 HOURS AGO

Kidsgrove Athletic can confirm that following discussions with the league and the respective clubs, we have decided to postpone our festive fixtures against Newcastle Town (Boxing Day) and Carlton Town (2nd January). The decision comes following the announcement by the Northern Premier League last night that playing these games is optional. As a club, we're disappointed that we have to postpone these fixtures because we know how much fans enjoy the Boxing Day and New Year games that take place every season. Everyone at Kidsgrove Athletic would like to take this opportunity to thank all our fans, sponsors and volunteers for all their support in this challenging year. We hope everyone has a good Christmas and a happy new year.

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CARLTON TOWN


CLUB COMFIRM BOTH CHRISTMAS GAMES WILL BE OFF FOLLOWING LATEST COVID 19 DEVELOPMENTS!

It has been a weekend of fast moving developments following latest announcements from the government, The Northern Premier League League and various clubs within the league.

Here in a nutshell for the benefit of supporters sums up the developments of the last couple of days

It was announced in midweek that clubs would be able to start playing again with 200 spectators in although Clubhouses must remain closed.

Loughborough and Carlton agreed to play although it was the only game on the fixture list on Saturday morning due to other clubs not wishing to play and bad weather.

Loughborough’s excellent surface then failed a pitch inspection, so the game was off.

In the meantime, Mosley, Glossop North End and Staybridge Celtic put out strong statements against resuming fixtures.

In Division One South East, Belper Town and Sutton Coldfield put out strongly worded statements stating they would not be playing fixtures in the current situation.

It then also became apparent that also in Division one South East, Leek Town, Newcastle Town, Chasetown and Kidsgrove had been informed their supporters were banned from attending games, making playing for them completely untenable.

At 4pm on Saturday, the government announced that a new strain of Covid 19 was transmitting between people rapidly and placed a significant number of people in a new draconian tier 4 category.

Nottinghamshire remains in tier three and clubs are currently allowed 200 spectators. but not allowed to sell food or drink or admit any away fans into the stadium and the Clubhouse would obviously have to be completely closed.

Talks have been taking  place with Gedling Borough Council to see if alternative parts of the ground could be used for sales with an outside licensee operating It, but although the Council were generally supportive of the club’s position, officers concluded this was not possible.

Folowing the back lash from a number of clubs not prepared to play without away Supporters and without food and drink available, The Northern Premier League have given clubs the option of playing over the Festive season or not.

Kidsgrove have today contacted the club to state that the New Years Day fixture away would be off and Carlton have agreed with Ilkeston Town to stage the scheduled Boxing Day clash at Stoke Lane later in the season when hopefully a significant rollout of the vaccine, will allow away Supporters to attend and Matchday Food and drink facilities to reopen

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