Football for all - that's Selsey's aim once sport returns to normal

The club lies dormant while football waits to see when it is allowed to return as lockdown restrictions are gradually eased.

And Pearce said staff, players and fans had no choice but to be patient.

But he said many were champing at the bit to start a new season which would see the men’s first team – who play in SCFL division one – share their home with Chichester and Selsey Ladies, whose first XI play in the FA Women’s National League southern premier division.

Pearce said: “We are all okay at Selsey but, stating the obvious, we don’t know when we are back.

“We have provisional friendlies in place and these will get moved back according to when we are allowed to start pre-season.

“The league will have to give the clubs at least six weeks to get the lads ready so it’s all down to government guidelines and we will respect them – people’s health and lives are the most important thing at this present time.

“When we get back we will be looking to continue on the building of the football club on the pitch which over the past two seasons has gone well.

“We have a model in place in which we believe in and we have a vision of where we at Selsey FC would like to be on and off the field.

“It’s not a case of just getting the first team and moving forward, it’s a process of building all the teams to create a good squad that needs to be built up.

“Players in years and seasons to come need to see a pathway towards senior football and not just get to 16 and then stop with no pathway to senior first-team football.

“This model gives them this opportunity and we as a club want to build on and off the pitch.

“We have a great clubhouse and facilities and now we need to make sure we offer all these benefits to our local community and the surrounding areas.”

Pearce said the arrival of Chichester City Ladies – now renamed Chichester and Selsey Ladies, as we reported last week – at the High

Street Ground further boosted the club’s vision of football for all.

“We will be looking to continue our links with them and not be separate entties. We need to offer boys, girls, men and women the chance to play and be involved in a one-club atmosphere.

“And with the added benefit of the new disability team, this is a great place foreveryone to be involved, from toddlers right through to adults.

“Most importantly at the moment though everyone must stay safe and be patient.”