Covid-19 lockdown: What it means for Harrogate Town and sport in the region

After more than 50,000 new Covid-19 cases were recorded for the seventh day in a row, Monday evening saw Prime Minister Boris Johnson announce that people in England must once again stay at home wherever possible.

From Tuesday onwards, schools will be closed to the majority of pupils, while only essential shops and food outlets offering a takeaway service will remain open for business.

In addition, indoor gyms, swimming pools, tennis courts, archery/driving/shooting ranges and riding arenas must all shut their doors.

And, unlike in Scotland, golf courses are being forced to close, much to the frustration of England Golf, the organisation declaring itself "extremely disappointed" with the decision to suspend play on its courses.

The good news for football fans and supporters of Harrogate Town, is that elite-level sport with testing regimes in place can continue.

This means that Premier League and English Football League (EFL) fixtures will take place as planned, and although no spectators will be allowed into stadiums, it will be possible to watch matches live on television or via streaming services.

Thus, Monday's Government announcement changes very little for Town, currently 16th in League Two, the fourth tier of the the English footballing pyramid.

Mandatory testing for all EFL clubs has been introduced this month, with the Sulphurites currently awaiting the results of swabs taken from players and staff on Monday morning.

Simon Weaver's team are due to visit Cambridge United this Saturday having seen their previous two fixtures called off after the recent cold weather left their Wetherby Road pitch unplayable.

The Northern Counties East League, home to Harrogate Railway Athletic and Knaresborough Town, has however suspended fixtures until further notice with steps three to six of the National League System deemed as 'non-elite' sport.

Training and matches in tiers three to seven of the women’s footballing pyramid are also prohibited, as is the case for grassroots football and all other outdoor team sports .

Top-level rugby union clubs are allowed to play on, though a return to action for the likes of Harrogate RUFC (National Two North) and Harrogate Pythons (Yorkshire Three) remains some way off.

Horse-racing will continue behind closed doors.