Maltby Main and local football clubs hope for a Covid-free Christmas

All three are due to play next Tuesday (3pm) as part of a busy programme in the Northern Counties East League amidst a background of rising concern about the Omicron variant.

Main host Penistone Church in the Premier Division while in Division One Parkgate go to Dronfield Town and Swallownest are away to Worsbrough Bridge Athletic.

And after two seasons cut short by the pandemic, no local clubs want a third campaign to be interrupted or curtailed.

Maltby chairman Dave Watts said: "We have had two expunged seasons now and a third one would be disappointing. We as a club don't feel stopping the season for a time would benefit anybody and if we were to have a break, would that break then turn into an ending of the season again?

"Covid isn't going to go away and we believe we have to play through this and around it and deal with it. I am no scientist but variations of a virus are always going to be there.

“People are prepared for Tuesday. Programmes have been printed, food has been bought, booze has been bought for clubs that have bars, grass has been cut, kits have been washed, people want paying.

“It is best for everyone, clubs and communities, for football not to be stopped.”