Chesterfield have vaccinated several of their players

[Oldstripy]

National League club Chesterfield insisted they have not jumped the coronavirus vaccine queue by having players immunised against the virus.

Mirror Football has learned that several members of manager James Rowe's first-team squad have been given vaccine injections by a nearby medical centre.

But after asking Chesterfield for clarification, the club claimed that some members of staff who had the injections were suffering from underlying health issues that made them vulnerable to the disease.

They also said that they were given vaccine shots that would have otherwise been wasted.

A club statement said: “A small number of Chesterfield players and staff – most of whom are classed as vulnerable people – have received the COVID-19 vaccine.

“In line with the NHS’ directive – that doctors and staff have the discretion to ensure that they can make full use of any unused vaccines, rather than have any go to waste - the people concerned were called at very short notice to receive the vaccine.

“They were only contacted after the surgery had exhausted all other viable options.

“Those involved were keen that these vaccines were not wasted, which would have been the case had they not received them.

“We continue to support the NHS’s brilliant work and have provided COVID-19 testing facilities at our stadium throughout the pandemic, so ***** care can be administered.”

Government guidelines have been designed to ensure that high-risk groups like the elderly and those with underlying medical issues are immunised first.

Over ten million people have already been treated in the government vaccination roll out.

Chesterfield are adamant that they have not bypassed the roll-out procedure.

But clubs in the National League could argue it does give them a competitive advantage.

Chesterfield, who are in 15th place in the National League after slipping out of the EFL in 2018, have had to postpone games this season after a Covid-19 outbreak at the Technique Stadium over Christmas.

At the weekend, Mirror Football revealed that the club had placed four players on furlough – after allowing manager Rowe to bolster his squad with a dozen new signings.


Chesterfield admitted that the decision had been taken to take taxpayers' money to help pay the wages of Milan Butterfield, David Buchanan, Luke Coddington and Scott Boden after the quartet were told they were no longer in Rowe's plans.

When all attempts to find new clubs for the players failed, they were placed on the furlough scheme.

All incoming transfers were ratified by the National League.

And the HMRC confirmed that Chesterfield had not broken any rules on how the scheme is implemented.

Their actions do raise the question as to whether clubs should be allowed to bring players onto their payroll whilst using government money to help pay squad members who no longer feature in the manager's plans.

But on Wednesday, Blackpool striker Adi Yussuf became their 13th signing when the Spireites succeeded in a deadline day swoop to bring the striker into the club on loan.

It is understood that the four furloughed players have NOT been offered the vaccine.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footb...covid-23437997

[Notts78]

National League club Chesterfield insisted they have not jumped the coronavirus vaccine queue by having players immunised against the virus.

Mirror Football has learned that several members of manager James Rowe's first-team squad have been given vaccine injections by a nearby medical centre.

But after asking Chesterfield for clarification, the club claimed that some members of staff who had the injections were suffering from underlying health issues that made them vulnerable to the disease.

They also said that they were given vaccine shots that would have otherwise been wasted.

A club statement said: “A small number of Chesterfield players and staff – most of whom are classed as vulnerable people – have received the COVID-19 vaccine.

“In line with the NHS’ directive – that doctors and staff have the discretion to ensure that they can make full use of any unused vaccines, rather than have any go to waste - the people concerned were called at very short notice to receive the vaccine.

“They were only contacted after the surgery had exhausted all other viable options.

“Those involved were keen that these vaccines were not wasted, which would have been the case had they not received them.

“We continue to support the NHS’s brilliant work and have provided COVID-19 testing facilities at our stadium throughout the pandemic, so ***** care can be administered.”

Government guidelines have been designed to ensure that high-risk groups like the elderly and those with underlying medical issues are immunised first.

Over ten million people have already been treated in the government vaccination roll out.

Chesterfield are adamant that they have not bypassed the roll-out procedure.

But clubs in the National League could argue it does give them a competitive advantage.

Chesterfield, who are in 15th place in the National League after slipping out of the EFL in 2018, have had to postpone games this season after a Covid-19 outbreak at the Technique Stadium over Christmas.

At the weekend, Mirror Football revealed that the club had placed four players on furlough – after allowing manager Rowe to bolster his squad with a dozen new signings.


Chesterfield admitted that the decision had been taken to take taxpayers' money to help pay the wages of Milan Butterfield, David Buchanan, Luke Coddington and Scott Boden after the quartet were told they were no longer in Rowe's plans.

When all attempts to find new clubs for the players failed, they were placed on the furlough scheme.

All incoming transfers were ratified by the National League.

And the HMRC confirmed that Chesterfield had not broken any rules on how the scheme is implemented.

Their actions do raise the question as to whether clubs should be allowed to bring players onto their payroll whilst using government money to help pay squad members who no longer feature in the manager's plans.

But on Wednesday, Blackpool striker Adi Yussuf became their 13th signing when the Spireites succeeded in a deadline day swoop to bring the striker into the club on loan.

It is understood that the four furloughed players have NOT been offered the vaccine.

https://www.mirror.co.uk/sport/footb...covid-23437997

If staff members are vulnerable then I have no objection with injections being applied. However I don’t believe for one moment that a professional footballer would be classed as vulnerable in respects to the illnesses and diseases that place people at higher risk to COVID.

[Elite_Pie]

Strange if true. So they are saying "Those involved were keen that these vaccines were not wasted, which would have been the case had they not received them". I must admit I find that very hard to believe. Why would they have been wasted? Was there really nobody in the Chesterfield area who would have accepted these vaccines if offered apart from footballers?

[matt_magpie]

Strange if true. So they are saying "Those involved were keen that these vaccines were not wasted, which would have been the case had they not received them". I must admit I find that very hard to believe. Why would they have been wasted? Was there really nobody in the Chesterfield area who would have accepted these vaccines if offered apart from footballers?

Does it actually put the integrity of the competition at risk? For example back to the Maidenhead game, should those key players had had a vaccine before and then were fit to play, obviously no vaccine then but you get the gist.

[uysapie]

Should be Cheaterfield.

[ivansneck]

Strange if true. So they are saying "Those involved were keen that these vaccines were not wasted, which would have been the case had they not received them". I must admit I find that very hard to believe. Why would they have been wasted? Was there really nobody in the Chesterfield area who would have accepted these vaccines if offered apart from footballers?

Because at the end of the working day, any vials that have been opened have to be thrown away (it won't keep overnight) even if they still have vaccine in them. Volunteers usually get a jab at the end of the day so that it's not wasted. If the Chessie players were volunteering then that's great

[legs77]

Exactly its better in someone's arm than being thrown away.

This is common that extras jabs are given in all hospitals over the UK.

[Ayeayeskipper]

https://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-englan...shire-55936490

Why let it go to waste.

[cher1]

Exactly its better in someone's arm than being thrown away.

This is common that extras jabs are given in all hospitals over the UK.

Agree entirely. I do think though that Chesterfield were being disingenuous at best when they released a statement saying:

A small number of Chesterfield players and staff - most of whom are classed as vulnerable people - have received the Covid-19 vaccine.

Bearing in mind it was 3 players and 3 members of staff, the word 'most' seems unlikely to be true....

[Ayeayeskipper]

Exactly its better in someone's arm than being thrown away.

This is common that extras jabs are given in all hospitals over the UK.

Might be an idea for us young uns to wait around till the end of the day like you would a bakery.