Ottery St Mary chairman speaks of on-going challenges in the face of the Covid-19 crisis

Ottery at home to Buckland Athletic. Ref shsp 06 20TI 7501. Picture: Terry Ife (Image: Archant)

The Otters chief says: “While we now have the time to really get stuck into small projects at the club as we have so much time on our hands, we are now being thwarted, and indeed, held up, as the companies that supply us are themselves in lockdown!

“That’s a shame for we have jobs that we could be cracking on with – and staying completely safe while doing them – but we can’t!”

He continued: “What has added to our frustration in recent days is that we have finally got notification of grant approval, which means we can/could do things like getting the all- important ground maintenance machinery serviced, but can’t as the places they need to go to are not working!

“This is all as indeed it ought to be given the lockdown the Government wants, but, and while it might seem like a small issue in terms of the grander scheme of things, the fact that we are able to do things – and yet cannot – greatly increases the stress levels on clubs and club committee members.

“That said, I have been left feeling so chuffed about the number of folks who have stepped forward to offer services and labour – but there’s nothing we can do to take it up, owing to the on-going restrictions.”

He added: “As I have said so many times before, of course, there is so much more to life than football and, at this particular time when we are, as a nation, battling a terribly difficult situation, it is important that clubs like ourselves, ones that consider themselves to be at the very heart of the community, do all we can to ‘keep going’ so that, when this is all over, we can be at the forefront of the local community getting things back on an even keel in as short a time as possible – stay safe everyone and see you all soon – I hope!”