FC CLACTON co-owner Stephen Andrews says the club are already planning for next season after their Thurlow Nunn League campaign was halted.

The Seasiders finished 11th in the premier division, after the FA Council last week ratified the decision to end the non-league season from steps three to seven, due to the coronavirus pandemic.

It is a testing time for all football clubs and Andrews admits the current lockdown is having an impact.

However, he says the club are staying positive and are making 'exciting plans' for the future.

Andrews said: "For FC Clacton, coronavirus has left us in a surreal situation.

"The FA were very quick to stop all footballing activity and we immediately complied, so supporters were left with no first ream or reserves football to watch but there is always so much more happening than that which stopped overnight!

"Most weeks we would have around 70 volunteers facilitating over 500 boys, girls, men and women representing the club in all our teams plus FA Wildcats for girls aged 5-11, our own Panthers for girls aged 11-15, plus our new under-sixes getting ready for the Colchester League and our under-nine Girls for the Girls League.

"It's a huge weekly operation and we all miss it terribly!

"We have also had to cancel bookings in the Clubhouse and other Community activities.

"Our youth managers have set our players fun tasks and keep in touch.

"With the 2019/20 season now officially over, the club is already looking to the new season and have lots planned, on and off the pitch.

"So this has given us time to pause, reflect and make exciting plans, but the lockdown will off course have an impact.

"By now our under-sixes group would have been split into teams, getting to know each other,preparing for the new season and, together with our other new teams, would be playing friendlies - all of which is on hold and we will all have to work hard to catch up before September when the youth season starts."

FC Clacton are now looking towards next season.

If anyone would like to join at any age group, visit www.fcclacton.com, or contact Stephen on 07771 520157.

The club would also like to hear from anyone interested in managing their youth sides and are always keen to hear from sponsors.