Merthyr Saints FC Plan For A Safe Return To Football

Updated: Jul 16, 2020

Following the FAW Webinar regarding a phased return to football, everyone at Merthyr Saints FC have started planning and discussing how we can make the club environment as safe as possible.

Moving forward with the phased return each club has appointed a Covid-19 Compliance Officer, our club chose Rhys Llewellyn to take on this role.

Rhys has already put in place club protocols that all teams and coaches must adhere too. Yesterday (14th July) all coaches in each age group were asked to complete an online course, specifically designed to improve knowledge of Covid-19 and understand how to set up a safe team sports environment. Today (15th July) all coaches of all age groups have completed the course mentioned above.

Rhys has the role of completing a Covid-19 Risk Assessment that has been provided by the FAW, along with the Covid-19 Club Checklist. Football at Merthyr Saints FC will not resume until these required guidelines are completed, as the safety and well-being of our staff, players and parents are paramount during these challenging times.

The plan moving forward within the next week, is for Rhys and coaches to discuss all training protocols that will be in place for all teams during future sessions. Once these protocols are agreed and everything is in place, Rhys will present the plan to Ron Jones. Ron Jones is the Director of Bryniau Sports (Facility Provider). Once he is happy with everything in place and can see the environments by all teams at Merthyr Saints will be as safe as possible, then we will start our phased return to football.

We understand that people are excited to return to football. As a football club in the community, it is our duty of care to make sure this is done in the safest possible way. All of us at Merthyr Saints play a role in ensuring there is no increase in Covid-19 cases in our area.

Rhys has spoken about his new role at the club below.

“I am happy to be leading the club during these unusual times, having spoke to the rest of the coaches yesterday it has been a positive response. Everyone at the club has been supportive with myself. Nobody wants to return to football as much as I do, but there has to be protocols in place and everyone has to be onboard with the plans moving forward.

Id like to thank all the coaches listed below for completing the online course yesterday as quickly as possible, a small but important aspect to the plans moving forward. As you can see we have a large number of people involved with the club, they have all taken steps to improve their knowledge of the virus so i am confident that our club will be as safe as it can be when we return. As well as numerous other guidelines that are still to be completed.”

Below is a list of coaches that have obtained the Covid-19 Safe Sport Coaches & Officials Certification.

U11s Boys

Adam Price

Gavin Davies

Lavinia Jones

Mohammed Azim Ali

U12s Girls

Christian Leigh

Darren Craze

Gareth Price

Lyndon Brooks

U13s Boys