With the government roadmap unlocked on Monday, some grassroots teams in Grimsby can’t wait to get back on the field.
Since the last lockdown, recreational activities such as football and other sports have been canceled unless they are at the elite level. However, with the introduction of the vaccination program, it seems like normal life is about to make a comeback.
Local teams like the Ancient Mariners have been forced by what they love, but everything could change next Monday.
Chairman Peter Cribb said: “We as a club can’t wait to get started again.
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Peter and his daughter Samantha
(Image: Peter Cribb)
“The announcement that we could play again has boosted morale massively. It made a huge difference in how well we all got along during the lockdown and it can only go from strength to strength now.”
“Personally, I can’t wait to see everyone again. The only social contact some of us have had is the WhatsApp group we’re all in. It’s great to be able to keep in touch, but it’s not the same as an actual conversation in real life. “
For Peter and the team, however, it’s not just about football. “The Ancient Mariners are a big, happy family. We all strive to make everyone happy and do everything we can to benefit the group as a whole,” he said.
“During the lockdown, we used a variety of techniques to get people talking. We had a joke of the day, articles by David Bowie, and even daily quizzes.
“It may sound silly, but they are the things that kept us going during the coronavirus pandemic.
Members of the Grimsby Ancient Mariners, Walking Football Club
(Image: Rick Byrne)
“In my opinion, the team is an asset to the community. We don’t reject anyone, everyone plays regardless of their abilities. We currently have at least 70 members, all from different backgrounds.
“Some are widowers, others are in cancer remission; recovering from strokes and even heart attacks.
“But we make sure that we take care of each other as well as possible, even if we can’t play football together.”
For Peter, the lockdown has affected his sanity.
He said: “I’ve been shielded since the pandemic started when I was recovering from a stroke, but the last lockdown was certainly the most severe.
The Ancient Mariners will start on March 29th
(Image: Peter Cribb)
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“If I don’t get a chance to go out, I’ve gotten into a bad place mentally and have certainly put my stroke recovery back a few months.”
Looking ahead, Peter and the other organizers have made sure everything will be okay when the Ancient Mariners return to Bradley Pitches on Monday morning.
“We have set up hand sanitizing stations and introduced a disposable system to keep contact to a minimum. We have also ordered a reversible bib for every single player so that no one has to share it, they can have their own and feel safe.” about that.
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“I’m not going to lie, it took a lot of work and preparation to get us down, but it was definitely worth it.”
With restrictions easing, Peter is hoping to bring 30 members of the team to an international tournament in the Netherlands in October, but for now he’s just glad that there is a date for him and the club to look forward to.
