Acorns getting ready for a top of the table clash

The Acorns resume their Thurlow Nunn League first division south campaign tomorrow with a trip to play fellow high-fliers Wivenhoe Town.

It is second versus third at the MEC Stadium, with spectators permitted.

The Acorns currently lie third in the table, a point behind second-placed Wivenhoe who are level on points with leaders White Ensign at the top of the table.

Harwich and Parkeston host Debenham LC in a friendly tomorrow (3pm kick-off).

As Harwich are not allowed to open the tea hut or social club, they have made the game pay what you like.

A bucket for supporters to place their entrance fee into will be at the gate.

Harwich resume their Thurlow Nunn League first division south season with a home game against Wivenhoe Town, on December 12.

Brantham Athletic are also in friendly action tomorrow.

They travel to play AFC Sudbury as they prepare for the campaign restarting, 12pm kick-off.

The Football Association have issued updated guidance for ‘non-elite’ football in England following confirmation from the UK Government that organised sports can resume.

The Department for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport [DCMS] has issued updated guidelines on the return to recreational team sport which permits the return of ‘non-elite’ football in England.

It includes all fixtures and training for Steps 3-6 of the National League System, Tiers 3-6 of the Women’s Football Pyramid, Regional NLS Feeder Leagues, Barclays FA WSL Academy League, FA Girls Regional Talent Clubs, outdoor youth and adult grassroots football.

Organised outdoor football activity is now permitted at these levels across all three tiers.

But it is extremely important that clubs, players, coaches, match officials, league officials, volunteers, parents, carers, and facility providers continue to strictly follow both the UK Government's latest guidance on Covid-19 and respective bespoke guidance documents from The FA.

Organised indoor football and Futsal is permitted in Tier 1 areas if the rule of six is followed and in Tier 2 areas if the rule of six is followed and it is possible for people to avoid mixing with others they do not live or share a support bubble with.

Indoor football is not permitted in Tier 3 areas.

In all three tiers there are exceptions for indoor disability football, sport for educational purposes and supervised sport and physical activity for under 18s, which can take place with larger groups mixing. Training for teams in Tier 3 must have minimal contact.

Adults can travel to play grassroots football in-between Tier 1 and Tier 2 but adults cannot travel in and out of Tier 3 to play grassroots football.

There are exemptions for travel in and out of Tier 3 for under 18s, disability teams, volunteers, elite players and for those travelling for work.

Players and essential club staff at steps 3-6 of the NLS, tiers 3-6 of the Women’s Football Pyramid, the Barclays FA WSL Academy and Regional Talent Clubs can travel into and out of Tier 3 areas.

Clubs at Steps 3-6 of the NLS and Tiers 3-6 of the WFP remain permitted to accommodate a phased and limited return of spectators in Tier 1 and 2 areas if they follow the UK Government's latest guidance on Covid-19 and The FA’s guidelines for the NLS or WFP.

There are no spectators permitted in Tier 3, as set out in Government guidance.

Regional NLS Feeder Leagues, Tier 7 of the WFP and outdoor grassroots football also remain permitted to accommodate socially-distanced spectators but must follow the rule of six and Government guidance on restrictions in certain tiers.

Clubhouses can operate in Tier 1, but must do so by table service (ordered and consumed at the table) only and observing the rule of six.

In Tier 2, clubhouses must close unless they operate as if they were a restaurant. This means serving substantial meals, like a main lunchtime or evening meal.

They may only serve alcohol as part of such a meal and all food and drink is to be ordered and consumed at the table.

Tables can only be same-household and takeaway must be eaten or consumed off the club premises.

Under UK Government guidelines, bars, pubs, cafes and restaurants in Tier 3 areas must be closed except to sell by takeaway or click-and-collect.

All clubs are required to have a designated Covid-19 officer, to complete and publish bespoke risk assessments and action plans and continue to support Test and Trace efforts.

The 2020/21 FA Youth Cup will continue to be played under the relevant ‘elite’ club protocol and the Buildbase FA Trophy and Buildbase FA Vase are set to resume in December, along with the Vitality Women’s FA Cup.

The FA have yrged everyone to strictly follow the UK Government’s national Covid-19 restrictions.