National North
The word crazy understates the week Farsley Celtic manager Neil Ross has had.
Covid is causing chaos for clubs at all levels and Farsley only had eight first team players available three hours before the FA Trophy clash with Southport on Saturday.
Rather than forfeit the tie, Ross sent out an SOS message to some of Farsley’s under 23s squad at very short notice.
They responded and youngsters Matty Ingham, Sam Drake, Louis Fialdini, and Reggie Waud – who was on his way to play for Maltby Main at Athersley Rec – started the game.
“We had training on Thursday and we went through the team and how we were going to play and then between Thursday night and Saturday afternoon we had covid case after covid case,” Ross told Non League Yorkshire.
“At midday on Saturday we had eight players so covid hit us quite hard and the game was obviously very close to getting called off.
“At 12.30pm I spoke to a few of the under 23s and asked them if they were available and they were.
“Because of the ruling they had to be registered to the club so we couldn’t bring in anyone from elsewhere.
“We had to look at the under 23s group and a few of them stepped in at the last minute and came and played really well.
“One of them was on his way to play for Maltby because he’s dual-registered with them.
“I rang him and he turned round and came over (to Farsley).”
Farsley lost 3-0 to in-form Southport and the youngsters played again in the Tuesday night win over Garforth Town in the West Riding County Cup.
For Ross, to see the under 23s thrive in a sink or swim environment, he sees it as a huge achievement.
“It has been a massive success(full week) from that point of view,” he said.
“It was great to be able to put these lads into a competitive game to see how they did.
“They stood up really well to the test and I don’t anything bad to say about the lads.
“(What impressed me) was the way they came in and played with no fear.
“They stood up and were counted against a National North side in Southport who are flying at the top.
“They put in a great performance and then stepped up against Garforth when people might look at and think it may be a banana skin.”
Ross hopes his selection issues are easing ahead of the huge local derby with Guiseley at The Citadel on Boxing Day.
Striker Jimmy Spencer remains suspended but hopes to have at least Dave Syers, Adam Clayton, Chris Atkinson and Joel Byrom available.
“We should be looking a lot better now as we’re getting the majority back,” he said.
“A lot of the lads who got the symptoms have finished their isolation either today or yesterday.
“It is a case of doing a little bit (of training) with them before the game on Boxing Day.”
A lot is at stake when the two sides meet as Farsley sit in 17th and Guiseley in 18th,
Guiseley can go above Farsley with a win while the Celts will go four points clear of their local rivals if they record a victory.
“It is massively important, you only have to look at the table to see that they are one of the teams we need to be winning games against,” Ross added.
“It is a six-pointer and plus it is a local derby as well.
“There’ll be a big crowd so I’m looking forward to it.”