THE football world may have ground to a halt, but four teams representing organisations at the Covid-19 coalface on the Isle of Wight have joined a new national competition for the emergency services.
The Emergency Services Football League (ESFL) will see teams from the NHS, police, fire service and prison services compete in a bid to become the best in the country.
The competition will follow a structure similar to the Champions League, with squads split into eight regional groups, before a national knock-out.
It is hoped the first fixtures will start in July if the government’s and FA’s social distancing guidelines allow it, with the final scheduled for June 2021.
Scores of teams have joined, included four from the Island, with the Isle of Wight NHS Spartans leading the way, with the police, fire service and prison officers of HMP Isle of Wight.
Paul Emmett, of the Spartans, said: “In 2017, we played a one-off game against the police, then last year, we planned a rematch.
“But before it came around, a gym session encounter with a prison officer led to our first game.
“The eagerness for it to be more than just a single game became clear.
“Last year, we had games against the Prison Service, police, fire and teams from across the Solent and it quickly became obvious we wanted to not only raise funds and awareness for local charities — raising over £6,000 along the way — but enjoy a game of football.
“It was clearly a great way for NHS staff from many departments to become friends and even an additional support network.
“With many games being postponed, we heard about the national ESFL — up against other services we would usually work so closely with — and give one Island team bragging rights.
“We look forward to playing them in the ESFL once again when it is safe to do so.”
HMP Isle of Wight’s first match, against the Spartans, was at St George’s Park, Newport, in aid of Ben Rothwell, a former officer diagnosed with, and died from motor neurone disease.
Island police officer, Paul Neill, said: “Hopefully, this will make the bond between the emergency service workers even tighter and will become a fixture on the calendar for years to come.”
Firefighter, Mark Augustus, added: “Once it starts, it will hopefully be a great spectacle.”
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