DESPITE the continued postponements of non-league football matches even after the November lockdown came to an end, it’s still been a busy couple of weeks for Northern Premier League side City of Liverpool FC.

Three new players arrived at the club over the past fortnight, and the team also progressed in the FA Trophy thanks to a dramatic 2-1 win in the first round proper against Buxton.

The cancellation of games in the Northern Premier League, and across much of non-League and grassroots football, raised doubts as to whether the 2020-21 season would be completed at this level.

It also worried many clubs whose future relies on fans through the gates and games being played.

But there has been positive news on this front, too, with the FA announcing that clubs in Tier 3 areas of the country will be able to welcome spectators back to their grounds up to 15 per cent of the capacity, in line with the original Stage 1 guidelines for spectators returning to football, released earlier this year.

As of last week, many clubs in Tier 2 areas were unable to fulfil their fixtures even with other Tier 2 sides, as the Trident Leagues took the decision to postpone fixtures across the board due to a number of clubs residing in Tier 3 areas.

This latest announcement from the FA, which has worked with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport to reach this decision, should mean that football is able to resume in the coming weeks across the National League System.

Safety measures will need to be adhered to, and if this is not the case the FA say that the decision could be reversed.

“It is extremely important that spectators remain in their household or social bubble in groups of six, do not mix with any other spectator groups, or travel between tiers to attend fixtures, as enforceable by law,” read the statement published on Thursday.

“If breaches of spectator limits or social distancing are reported, clubs and leagues may face returning to fixtures being held behind closed doors.”

Though City of Liverpool FC’s Northern Premier League fixture against Dunston, due to be played last Saturday, was postponed, the FA Trophy game at Buxton on Tuesday went ahead as scheduled.

It was one of many games played during 2020 where the late drama behind closed doors deserved to be played out in front of spectators.

An impressive display against a team from the division above was rounded off with a superb long-range strike from Jack Hazlehurst in the 88th minute, his second of the game, sparking wild celebrations from the players.

“I thought the goal to win the game was worthy of winning any game,” said COLFC manager Michael Ellison.

“We got what we deserved.

“We’ve got good footballers in the side we’ve got goals in us, but when we defend like that, keep our shape like that, we’re a hard side to beat.

“We had a plan and we wanted to go on the front foot early doors, which is what we did, got the goal and that gives you something to defend. 

“[Jordan] Barrow, Jay McCarten and our back four were tremendous.”

Given the uncertainty around the return of league football in recent weeks, these FA Trophy matches have given the Purps purpose in December and have meant their season has been able to keep going.

They travel to National League North side Darlington in the next round on Wednesday, and a return to league fixtures is imminent.

“We’re in the next round which is great, it keeps our season alive,” added Ellison. 

“It gives us something to plan for and whoever we get, we’ll go after them.”

City of Liverpool also welcomed three new signings in recent weeks — forwards Connor McCarthy and Morgan Smith and midfielder Zac Aley — further strengthening the squad for the challenge which lies ahead in the rest of the 2020-21 campaign.

A campaign that now looks more likely to be completed than at this time last week.