CITY of Liverpool FC (COLFC) sent a message of solidarity and support to essential workers following its annual general meeting last week.

The club gave its full support to the conditions laid down by the National Education Union and the RMT union that a return to work should only happen when it is safe to do so.

COLFC is continuing its own activities in support of the community. The Purple Pantry fund has raised almost £3,400 so far as donations from members, supporters and sponsors continue to fund weekly food parcel deliveries.

The club has also begun to fund purchases of personal protective equipment for care home workers and others doing vital work at this time who have been left without such essential items.

“As the coronavirus emergency continues to affect us all, COLFC’s community operation remains focused upon providing support to the isolated and vulnerable,” read a statement following the AGM.

“Working with donations from members, supporters and sponsors, our Purple Pantry Food Union continues to provide weekly food parcels delivered by our team of volunteer drivers.”

The AGM itself was conducted remotely via Zoom and saw the re-election to the board of three existing directors.

“While football is no longer part of our weekly routine, the AGM is an essential part of the club’s operations,” read a statement from the board.

“In the election of members to the board of directors, three retiring directors (Paul Manning, Peter Furmedge and Cathy Long) were re-elected to the board for a further three-year term.

“The fourth retiring director, Peter Manning, was not seeking re-election and will be standing down from his role as club secretary.

“Peter received many well-deserved words of gratitude from those members present. In addition, Gary Walthew was also elected to the board.”

On the pitch, the non-league seasons have been declared void and results expunged, but FA competitions such as the Liverpool FA Senior Cup are yet to be cancelled.

City of Liverpool defeated Everton’s Senior Cup side in the quarter-finals and a semi-final against Bootle awaits should the competition, currently suspended rather than cancelled, be able to resume at some point.

“While such football talk will hopefully provide a welcome distraction from events surrounding the coronavirus, and the government’s ongoing refusal to drop the subliminal (and not so subliminal) ‘nudge’ messaging in favour of clear and honest information and instructions, we remain deep in a crisis in which England’s death toll is emerging as Europe’s worst,” continued the statement from the board of directors.

“As such, we continue to urge you to continue to look after yourselves and your loved ones by following the strictest guidance on social distancing and the isolation of our vulnerable elders, those with disabilities and those with health conditions.

“Hopefully, we will soon be able to see the beginning of the end of the current crisis.”