Jonathan Smith's Chesterfield FC column: postponement of National League season is a blow

The 33-year-old, who is studying for a degree in sports journalism, has kindly penned this column for the Derbyshire Times...

It’s been a testing time for everyone since the outbreak of coronavirus and for us footballers at Chesterfield FC it has been no different.

Since our game last weekend at Dover we have been unable to get together as a team and train and our league schedule has been put on hold for the time being.

Our fitness coach Tom has put together plans for us to keep in shape and stay as fit as possible but with the gyms also shutting it is making it very testing.

My normal week would always be about peaking on a Saturday so for that focus to be taken away I am finding it challenging but I am discovering other ways to keep myself occupied, mainly my two young daughters.

We have all been told by the club to socially isolate and the club have been first class in keeping us all informed of what is going on and encouraging us to look after our families.

It is a blow to have the season postponed as since John Pemberton has come we have improved as a team.

We are now playing good football, believing in ourselves again and picking up better results so this can only bode well for future of the club.

However, in this current dark reality of the country trying to tackle this virus that is spreading through the world like wildfire I suppose that football does not matter.

There is still a sense of sadness amongst football fans I speak with, that the game will be missed and the entertainment it provides to the millions of people each weekend would be a welcomed relief at the chance to turn on the TV and watch something other than a news update.

I look forward to getting through the other side and returning to the pitch.