Lives come before football says Mansfield Town star CJ Hamilton

Although still allowed out to exercise, the public have been otherwise told not to meet up as the UK fights its battle against the worldwide crisis.

Hamilton is keeping himself as fit as possible in case the football season returns and said: “I think the lockdown was needed probably a couple of days earlier.

“As soon as they told certain people to stop working, everyone started going out and meeting each other which is the total opposite of what you're supposed to do.

“You are spreading the virus round and killing off a lot of people that are trying to help people in the NHS and spreading it to older people too.

“I think it's a good thing the lockdown has come now so people can stay in, self-isolate, and chill with your family.”

Hamilton believes he will find staying home easy.

“I phone my family every day and I am keeping myself busy – I am one of those who can entertain myself with anything,” he said.

“I have my girlfriend living with me, I have my Playstation and I can watch movies – so I am staying mentally switched on.

“It is a weird situation and I don't think anyone has ever experienced this before. Everyone wants to go out and do things but it's safer to stay in.

“As long as everyone can stick to that we can get through this thing and get back to normal.”

He admits lives comes before football, saying: “The first thing you want is everyone being healthy.

“So if we had to call the season off, it's got to be done if people's lives are at stake.

“Everyone can appreciate the amount of hard work teams have done this year to try to get their clubs in a better position, but that has to be balanced.”

Hamilton is hard at work each day working on instructions from the club.

“I have a programme to complete every day and then send a message,” he said.

“We are given three runs to do with a little breather in between.

“It's about self-discipline. Everyone has been told to stay at home and if we follow the rules this can be done quicker and we can move on.”

But Hamilton urged everyone to get out and do something energetic for the good of both their physical and mental health during the lockdown.

“My girlfriend and I have been out for a walk to exercise our lungs and try to keep fit and mentally healthy. The weather has actually been all right.

“Just to go out for a short walk, even half an hour, you're giving yourself a bit of exercise - anything from a jog to a walk can be beneficial.

“Being stuck in all day it can give you that bit of a blow-out you may need.”