CORONAVIRUS: NI youth soccer academy suspends training and matches for two weeks

The Coronavirus pod and COVID-19 virus testing procedures set-up beside the Emergency Department in Northern Ireland

Hanover FC Youth Academy made the decision after one of the senior players tested positive on Saturday with Coronavirus.

Hanover FC had issued a statement on Saturday evening confirming that one of their senior players had tested postive after the game against Coagh United.

The club said it had not been informed prior to the game that the player had been tested and the club house went under a deep clean.

The youth academy, which runs several teams from Under 7s to Under 13s, said that ‘as normal practice’ their teams fulfilled all fixtures in the IFA Grassroots and Mid Ulster Leagues on Saturday.

The Academy stressed that the children would not have been in contact with the senior player and were not at risk.

Following concerns the club said: “Given the recent events surrounding Hanover Football Club, as the club’s Academy, we feel that it is only right we address the situation from our perspective.

“First and foremost, our thoughts and best wishes are with the senior player who has tested positive. We wish him well and a full and speedy recovery. We would also like to acknowledge the swift actions of the club to rectify the situation fully when it became apparent.

“As is normal practice on Saturday mornings, all of our Academy teams will be fulfilling fixtures in the IFA Grassroots and Mid Ulster Youth Leagues. Yesterday (Saturday) was no exception. However, we would like to stress that our Academy kids do not frequent the Hanover FC Clubhouse before or after games on Saturday mornings. This has always been the case. We are very confident and certain that this outbreak has had no effect whatsoever on any of our kids. They would not have been in contact or at risk at all.

“Having said that, as is the procedure at Hanover FC Youth Academy, the safety and well being of all our kids is paramount and will always be our number one concern.

On that, we have decided to shut down all football operations for a period of 2 weeks from now. This will include training and competitive fixtures. The 2 week period will fall in line with that of the senior club and we feel it is only right that the club acts as one body.

“In conclusion, we cannot stress enough how safe our kids have been and always will be. We will return to football duties week beginning Monday 23rd March 2020. Please contact the page if you have any questions.Thank you as always for your continued support and understanding.”