The secretary of a West Belfast football club says its young players have been left "devastated" by the latest lockdown restrictions in Northern Ireland.
Belfast Celtic Young Men/Ladies have 18 teams catering for over 240 players from the age of five.
Like many junior clubs here, they are now facing up to at least four weeks without any training or matches.
That follows Wednesday's announcement from the NI Executive that there will be no indoor sport or organised contact sport involving the mixing of households, except at elite level.
Belfast Celtic YM&L secretary Ryan Whelan said the latest lockdown rules will have a "huge" impact in the community.
"The young kids will be devastated," he said.
"We start from five-year-olds right up to our two senior men's teams and a senior ladies team.
"We are based at Falls Park and it is a brilliant club to be involved with.
"We did expect some restrictions to be announced this week, but it is absolutely gutting. Running a football club is a seven day job, and we have put in so much hard work during this coronavirus pandemic to keep things running as smoothly as we can.
"Like many clubs, we have worked tirelessly to introduce various Covid-19 measures to protect the health of our members.
"Today is gutting, and tonight we have to go and tell our kids that they won't be back for four weeks. It is devastating for them."
The latest measures will be the second time Belfast Celtic YM&L have had to suspend all activity.
They endured a similar lockdown in March which would go on to last three months.
"We closed down for three months when the first lockdown happened, and then we came back when the small group training measures were introduced," Ryan added.
"We were running extra sessions at that time to make sure all the kids were involved.
"We were limited to what we could put on the pitch, so the club had to pay extra money for facilities and sessions.
"Like every club in the area, we worked to stay within the guidelines.
"I accept that there are Covid cases increasing, but I am not sure there is much evidence to suggest that outdoor activity is causing this increase.
"That's where my frustration comes from. Nobody seems to be able to give us answers or give us a say."
Following the NI Executive's announcement on Wednesday morning, the Irish FA released a short statement saying it is seeking clarity on the new measures and how they impact on football here.
In it, the association said: "The Irish FA notes today’s announcement by the NI Executive around COVID-19 restrictions.
"We are actively seeking more detail and clarification to understand fully what this means for football in Northern Ireland at all levels."
Ryan added: "Everyone in our club is there for the love of football, and it keeps them physically fit and helps their mental health.
"Now I have to stand in front of kids tonight and tell them they won't be back for four weeks. The parents are devastated as well.
"The leagues were due to start next week for the kids, but that has all been put back again. Most programmes were supposed to start next week.
"I understand about mixing in crowds and things like that, but why can't they even let us return to the small group, non-contact training. Something to keep kids active and enjoying football.
"Sometimes the small clubs get lost in this conversation.
"The Irish FA issued a statement earlier saying they were seeking more clarity on the situation, so that's where we are at right now.
"From what I can see, there aren't too many elite sports here, so these measures are going to have a massive impact."
