The absence of football will leave a gaping void for many involved in the game, but Gavin Price has no problems in filling the time.
Price is on furlough from his position as Elgin City manager until the end of May.
Away from football, Price has also been forced to change his routine after the restaurants and bars he owns in Aberfeldy and Kenmore were forced to close during the current lockdown measures.
Price has set up the Feldy-Roo food delivery service, which is providing free meals for over-70s and other vulnerable people in his hometown of Aberfeldy, who are self-isolating during the pandemic.
The initiative has proven hugely successful, with more than 100 lunches and 100 dinners being delivered each day to ensure Price’s mind is firmly away from Borough Briggs.
Price said: “Football normally consumes you 24/7. Week-to-week you prepare for games.
“It’s a strange feeling not to have that and it does create a bit of a void. I’m sure we will get back to it. I’ve certainly got plenty stuff to occupy me.
“I’m not a very good person for doing nothing. I like to keep going. It has been good in that sense, that I’m still occupying the mind and keeping active every day.
Price set up Feldy-Roo to help deliver meals during lockdown.“I’m getting something back from it by going out at nights and seeing people.”
Feldy-Roo has rocketed since its launch on March 19, on which 11 meals were made and delivered.
The 45-year-old takes pride in the role he is playing in his local community, adding: “It’s snowballed out of all expectations.
“It was record numbers of 109 meals on Friday, having put out the same for lunch.
“It’s a positive thing for the town – I’m from here and grew up here.
“I had the resources with the staff to get the thing off the ground in the beginning, but to scale it up the way it wouldn’t have been possible without getting others involved.
“We are bringing our community together at these times, with all different generations involved.
An online crowd-funding page has raised more than £15,000, with Feldy-Roo also receiving a grant of £5,000 from Highland Action Partnership.
Price has been thrilled with the response, which he hopes can sustain the project for several months.
134 lunches, 79 newspapers set up to go out free to our isolated over 70s Aberfeldy, Kenmore, Acharn, Fortingall, Fearnan, Weem this morning. The Tay Cafe in Aberfeldy cooking for the #FeldyRoo team this morning. @thecourieruk @davieclegg pic.twitter.com/7IoNz4Oip4
— Gavin Price (@gavprice74) April 8, 2020
Price added: “I realised after a couple of days it was starting to expand. I roped in a few people I know that have got good experience in community councils in terms of raising funds.
“I set up a Go Fund Me page which there is now £13,000 in, and we have had a grant of another £5,000 given to us.
“We are probably raising close to £20,000 now. It’s looking likely we will get a substantial grant that will make us able to carry out the project over a 12-week period.”
