Peterborough Sports' inactivity ahead of big FA Trophy clash leaves Dean concerned

The honest thoughts of a frustrated Peterborough Sports boss Jimmy Dean in the wake of his team’s superb 3-2 FA Trophy win over Basford United on Saturday.

The win powered his side into the last 32 of the FA Trophy, where they will travel to National League South outfit Bath City.

And this is where Dean’s frustration kicks in.

With the Southern League Premier Central campaign currently suspended due to the coronavirus pandemic, Sports are facing the prospect of not being able to play any games between now and the trip to Bath on January 16.

And to make things worse, with Peterborough being placed into Tier 4 in the latest Government Covid-19 restrictions, it means Sports are not even allowed to train together.

The earliest possible date for a League restart is January 9, but there is no guarantee of that, and with Bath set to continue playing - they have four League games scheduled for between now and entertaining Sports - it doesn’t seem like an even playing field.

“It depends on the rules, but it can’t be fair if we have to go straight into that game with not being able to have a friendly or even a training session after having had Christmas off,” said Dean.

“Last time in lockdown, we had the players training at home because we thought we were only off for a month, and we had them doing runs and everything but this time it is a little more difficult.

“That said, we certainly have to get our heads down and come up with a plan that works for the players, and works for us. We aren’t even allowed to train at the minute and it is a big problem.

“The last time (for the Trophy games) we got the boys in for a couple of friendlies and training sessions, but we can’t do that now. We are going to have to see what comes of this.

“There is a lot of talk of a national lockdown in January, and if that does happen then nobody is playing football.

“The game is supposed to be played on January 16, and if that is definitely happening then we need to be back in early January for that, to try and train and get a couple of games.

"That would be the plan because this is certainly a game we want to prepare for and we want to do well in.”

And he added: “No-one is cheating, but I feel we are being cheated.

“We have worked really hard to get where we are, and the truth is every game we have played in the Trophy we have treated it like a cup final because we want football back so much, and winning these matches gives us another opportunity to play a match.

“That is how it has been.

“We went to Diamonds and won 5-1, we went to Hitchin and won 4-0 and the reason we worked so hard during the lockdown and treated the games so seriously is because it meant we got to play the following Saturday.”

Dean admits a January 9 restart for the Southern League ‘would be ideal’, as it would give his team the chance to get match-sharp for the trip to Bath, who are managed by former Birmingham City, Northampton Town and Cheltenham Town defender Jerry Gill.

And, with a Wembley final date now so close, the Sports boss admits he can’t stop himself dreaming of glory.

“We have probably got no chance of getting to Wembley, but the truth is we are only four wins away,” he said.

“Everybody has to dream, and dreaming is all I do!

“I know I might be over-zealous and over enthusiastic, but I think that is part of what makes me me, and makes Peterborough Sports.

“Before every game I go to bed and I dream about what could be, and that is how much it means to me, and I am doing the same again now.

“It is a really hard tie, let’s be honest.

“Bath are from a league above, they are a massive club, but this is why we do it.

“These are the challenges and moments you want in your life and in football, so let’s have a go! It is going to be an exciting day for us.”