COLFC in the Lockdown: Update #4

It is now nineteen weeks since the Purps played football and sixteen weeks since the postponement of our home fixture with Pickering as the Covid-19 virus began to take hold and our primary focus turned to supporting those facing isolation and vulnerability.

Throughout the “lockdown” City of Liverpool FC has mobilised to provide weekly food parcels to those in need and to raise funds to purchase PPE for care homes where both workers and elderly residents have been left criminally exposed to the dangers of Covid-19.

We are grateful for the tremendous coverage that these efforts have received from our friends at the Morning Star, Long Reads: Football, and Bido Lito:

https://morningstaronline.co.uk/article/s/colfc-community-more-vital-ever

http://longreadsfootball.com/city-of-liverpool-fc-delivering-off-the-pitch-during-covid-19/

https://www.bidolito.co.uk/long-read-this-means-more-football-merseyside-covid/

This weekend, as the government moves in its own shambolic English exceptionalist way to get us out and about and spreading the virus, or “running it hot” to quote the ludicrous Michael Gove, thoughts among supporters are inevitably turning to when semi-professional football will return.

Anticipation has been heightened by speculation about an imminent “new season” announcement from the FA and the Department for Culture Media and Sport.

In light of the way resumption of the professional game has been managed, this also means debate about the nature of non-league football post lockdown.

Clubs at our level would not last for very long without paying spectators, so how can we make sure that our supporters, as well as the players and volunteers, are as safe as they possibly can be?

The COLFC board has been working on measures that we think can mitigate the threat from Covid-19, should our local public health officials and the Independent Sage panel agree that the game should return.

The club’s proposals have been submitted to the NPL and we will provide full details to supporters in due course.

With a provisional timetable for the resumption of non-league football expected soon, our planning for the new season has stepped up.

In particular, annual memberships are up for renewal in July and supporters are urged to take advantage of the monthly payment options available.

Ranging from an all-inclusive “Purple” package (including membership, season ticket and entry to our fundraising COLlotto and P-ingo cash prize games) to a basic membership, details are available on the club’s new website:

https://cityofliverpoolfc.co.uk/news/annual-membership-purchase-and-renewal-window-is-now-open/

We urge members to take up the season ticket offer. This will help with our Covid-19 mitigation plans, as we seek to remove as much cash handling from our matchday operation as is possible.

The club is also working towards enabling further cashless entry options through contactless card payments and an exciting new partnership with Skiddle, an online ticketing company:

https://www.skiddle.com/aboutus/

Many of you will be familiar with Skiddle through purchasing tickets for gigs and events.

We are pleased that we are helping them to break new ground through this innovative ticketing partnership that will, in turn, introduce City of Liverpool FC to a whole new online market.

Again, both we and Skiddle will be providing more details to supporters in the very near future.

Following on from our previous update, the search for a suitable kit provider has concluded in the club signing a two-year deal with Puma Teamwear.

We are delighted to enter into this partnership, that provides us with value for money, quality kit and a security of supply.

Under this arrangement, for the first time, all COLFC teams will be wearing the same kit, which will no doubt become as popular and iconic as previous Purps rigouts.

Puma Teamwear will be announcing our partnership on social media, but for some reason they have prioritised Borussia Dortmund and PSV over the Purps’ Adi to Rudi Dassler defection!

When our season starts, the new Puma purple will be donned by two new COLFC teams.

Both will be competing at Veterans level and will be managed by Purps “originals” who have been with the club from the start – former first team coach and assistant manager Tom Spearritt and club member Fran Stanton.

We are sure that all our members and supporters will get behind these new ventures for the club, especially when more details are revealed. Stay tuned!

Two signings for the forthcoming season that the club can confirm are those of Craig Cairns and Tony Gray.

Craig is already a crowd favourite, having scored 28 goals in our 2018/19 NWCFL title winning campaign, while Tony brings the experience and quality in attack that Craig Robinson has been working hard to bring to the club.

Purps will remember Tony scoring a good goal against us for Warrington Town in last season’s FA Cup replay. Welcome back Craig and welcome to the purple madness Tony!

While the football talk is exciting, and the club has more announcements in the pipeline as we prepare for a return to action on the pitch, please be aware that the current crisis is not over.

This government is still, and with greater vigour, pursuing a dangerous herd immunity policy in England, sacrificing health and lives for economic gain and political ideology.

Please continue to look after yourselves and your loved ones, particularly those with disabilities and those with health conditions.

COLFC Board of Directors