Our National League Heroes Offer Their Services To NHS Volunteer Scheme

The coronavirus outbreak is also bringing out the best of people as the nation comes to terms with these unprecedented times.

Sometimes in the dark hours, the small things can be of comfort. Hands have been put in the air to aid the fight, with more than 700,000 saying the NHS can count on them to help doctors and nurses compat the global challenge.

At a time when footballers are being widely questioned, some of the National League’s stars are writing their own positive headlines.

Barrow manager Ian Evatt has signed up to the NHS Volunteer Responders scheme, as has Bromley winger Adam Mekki.

Oxford City goalkeeper Craig King has joined Billericay’s Jake Robinson and St Albans City's Dave Diedhiou in putting their name down to help defeat Covid-19.

Another is Hemel Hempstead defender Connor Essam and he told us exactly why he is joining the thousands of others in serving the health service.

He said: “I first saw the idea on Twitter so I did a bit of research and after a little looking I felt like I had to do this to give something back.

“Just look at how well the 8pm applause has gone down - the NHS are under massive pressure and I felt I could offer something.

“I work 9-5 as a financial advisor. Usually my spare time is taken up with football, but now there’s a gap that I need to fill. I’m due to hear really soon how I’m going to be helping and I can’t wait.

“I live alone and the lockdown has made me even more determined to get out and put my spare time either after work or at the weekends to good use. There really is only so much TV you can watch!

“There’s no way I could compare what will happen to what they do but if I can help relieve some strain then that’s I can ask.”

Essam like the rest of the football world is waiting to see what happens next.

He accepts things haven’t gone totally as planned for Hemel this season but believes good things are around the corner under Sammy Moore.

The Tudors are 11th with 44 points on the board but the first quarter of the season makes looking at the National League South standing now quite difficult viewing.

The former Dover, Eastleigh and Leyton Orient man said: “It’s been an interesting season, that’s fair to say.

“We had bad injury problems for the first few months but we were playing so well and we were up at the top.

“Then get everyone back and we couldn’t buy a win! Nobody seems to know why.

“Our aim has always been the play-offs and they’re not yet out of our reach but football comes second at the moment for everyone.”

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PICTURE BY FULLYLOVE PHOTOGRAPHY