Durham City and Northern League await advice after positive Covid-19 test

The Ebac Northern League and Division Two club Durham City are awaiting guidance from the Football Association after a Citizens player tested positive for Covid-19.
Durham City and Northern League await advice after positive Covid-19 test.Durham City and Northern League await advice after positive Covid-19 test.
Durham City and Northern League await advice after positive Covid-19 test.

The unnamed player displayed no symptoms of the virus and received a positive test less than 48 hours after featuring during the second half of his side’s pre-season fixture against Boro Rangers earlier this week.

A club spokesman told The Echo: “We can confirm that one of our players has tested positive for Covid-19.

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“We are communicating with the Northern League, the NHS and the Football Association, along with other clubs that the player came into contact with,” added the club spokesman.

North Riding Football League club Boro Rangers have informed The Echo that their players and coaching staff are now self-isolating, training sessions have been cancelled and their opening league fixture against Yarm & Eaglescliffe has been postponed.

Durham are due to get their season underway with a visit to Sunderland RCA in the FA Cup extra preliminary round on Tuesday night and follow that up with their first league game of the campaign against landlords Willington on Saturday week.

As yet, it is unclear what the positive test means for both of those fixtures – but the Citizens have put a halt on training sessions and asked players to get tested for the virus.

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The Ebac Northern League committee held an emergency online meeting on Thursday afternoon.

They have since confirmed that they are “aware of the situation” but stressed that they are awaiting more information from the FA before deciding what steps to take regarding the matter.

A spokesman for the Ebac Northern League said: “We are aware of the situation and are seeking guidance from the FA, given the club’s FA Cup fixture next week, before we make a decision on the league match.

“It reinforces the need for all players and clubs to strictly adhere to the government and FA’s Covid-19 guidelines,” they added.

The Echo has approached the Football Association for comment.