Players return for training

In line with Government guidance, City have put in place stringent COVID-19 training ground procedures to protect players, staff and their families, while allowing preparations to continue ahead of the potential resumption of the Sky Bet Championship season.

City players will be tested for COVID-19 at the training ground today (Friday, May 22nd) and then, subject to a negative test, return for training from Monday subject to the following measures:

• Players and staff attending training at Failand will be subject to an ongoing EFL-designated COVID-19 testing programme
• Players and staff will submit a health questionnaire and temperature reading remotely every morning before being permitted to travel to the training ground
• Staggered arrival times to ensure social distancing
• Designated and appropriately distanced parking spaces
• A maximum of five players will be allowed to train on the same pitch at the same time, leaving the greatest distance as possible between them, which will be at least two metres
• A one-way system to walk to and from the car park to training pitches
• All players and staff using an alcohol-based hand sanitiser upon entering and leaving the training ground
• Players and staff arriving in training kit and washing kit themselves at home each day
• Any balls and equipment used being disinfected before the next player takes to the training pitch
• Players and staff bringing their own water bottles and supplement drinks to each session
• Any injuries assessed without being touched and players sent home for further isolated treatment
• Players returning to their respective cars immediately after their individual session has completed and head straight home, with no car sharing.

The changing rooms, gym, medical rooms, offices and canteen will continue to remain closed, while an external cleaning team will regularly sanitise toilet facilities.

City’s Head of Performance Andy Rolls said: “The health and well-being of the players, staff and their families is the most important thing. We have spent the last few weeks looking at best practice and taking medical advice for how the players can return to a supervised but safe individual training programme in line with government advice.

“The procedures we put in place will be strictly adhered to under the direction of myself and Sam Morse (Bristol City Facilities Operations Manager) as COVID-19 officers and all players and staff understand how critical this is. The players have been very diligent with their home training programmes and we know they will apply themselves equally well to these adapted training methods.”

City Women, based at SGS College WISE Campus and whose Barclays FA Women’s Super League season was suspended on March 13th and the club’s Academy, whose games programme for the 2019/20 season was terminated by the English Football League and Premier League on May 1st, have had no return to training date set.

All City’s teams greatly value the support they receive from fans but we would respectfully continue to ask that, as per public health guidance, supporters do not shake hands with or ask players and coaches to sign autographs or pose for photographs.

The club will ensure its return to training policies are in line with the EFL's protocols.