While the announcement of a Government roadmap for easing lockdown restrictions has provided a semblance of clarity in many areas, grassroots football remains in turmoil.
On the surface, grassroots football can return on March 29 for adults and children, prompting the FA to release the following statement:
“With this new clarity around timings, we will continue to work with Government on plans for a safe return for grassroots football across England and will communicate updated guidance as soon as we can.
“We can also confirm that the 2020-21 grassroots season has been extended until the end of June in order to provide additional flexibility and time for leagues to complete their fixtures this season if they wish to do so.
“Please note: the extension does not apply to the National League System (NLS) Steps 3-6, Regional NLS Feeder Leagues and the Women’s Football Pyramid from Tier 3 and below, including County Leagues at Tier 7, as the process to determine the preferred route forward for these competitions is currently ongoing. We will provide a further update on this in due course.”
It is this final section that seems a little odd. Steps 3-6 includes the Southern League, Western League and South West Peninsula League, so no extension for those clubs. Regional NLS Feeder Leagues will include both divisions of the Devon Football League.
The Women’s County Leagues also have no extension.
It all adds up to the seemingly inevitable cancellation of the season for many of our local clubs and, therefore, difficult to see the point of an ‘extension’ for the vast majority.
Further up the football pyramid, the FA also has to contend with the chaos ensuing from the decision to void the National League North and South seasons, while the National League Premier continues.
However, within 24 hours of the decision, 18 clubs had signed a Let Us Play petition, calling for the decision to be overturned or rectified.
Clarity is also required on promotion and relegation from the National League downward, as the whole system is obviously dependent on what happens at the top of the pyramid