As expected football from steps 3-6 of the National League System and below along with regional football including tiers 3-7 of the women’s football pyramid, Junior, Youth and grassroots football will be suspended from midnight Wednesday with no training or fixtures allowed to be played until at least after Wednesday 2nd December 2020.
This means that Nottingham Forest, Mansfield Town and Notts County will carry on as normal but Basford United, Carlton Town, Worksop Town, Nottingham Forest Women and all teams in below leagues will put pause to their campaigns from Wednesday 4th November.
In a statement the FA suggested it “As a result of the UK Government’s new national COVID-19 restrictions, and subject to Members of Parliament voting tomorrow [Wednesday 4 November 2020] and the publication of bespoke guidance from the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport [DCMS], the impact on ‘non elite’ football in England will include the suspension of the following during this period:
- All fixtures and training for Steps 3-6 of the National League System [NLS]
- All fixtures and training for Tiers 3-7 of the Women’s Football Pyramid [WFP]
- All fixtures and training for the Regional NLS Feeder Leagues
- All fixtures and training for The Barclays FA WSL Academy League
- All fixtures and training for FA Girls Regional Talent Clubs
- All fixtures and training for indoor and outdoor youth and adult grassroots football.
Our aim is to ensure that the 2020-21 season is completed at these levels and will liaise with the relevant leagues in the NLS and WFP and the County Football Associations [CFAs] to provide support and establish appropriate options to do so if required.
The UK Government has confirmed that school sport can continue as an exemption during this period.”
The FA continued “In addition, the UK Government has confirmed that all Emirates FA Cup First Round fixtures will go ahead as planned this weekend between Friday 6 and Monday 9 November 2020. The ten ‘non-elite’ clubs that remain in the competition will be able to play their fixtures under ‘elite’ protocols. In line with the new national COVID-19 restrictions, these ‘non-elite’ teams are only permitted to train together until Wednesday 4 November 2020.”
“Further updates on fixtures and dates for the 2020-21 Vitality Women’s FA Cup, FA Youth Cup, Buildbase FA Trophy and Buildbase FA Vase will follow in due course.”
“Re-starting football at these levels has taken substantial determination and commitment from stakeholders across the game and we would like to thank everyone for their vital contributions. However, health and wellbeing remain the priority, so it is extremely important that clubs, players, coaches, match officials, league officials, volunteers, parents, carers and facility providers adhere to the UK Government’s new national COVID-19 restrictions during this period.”
*Main image @steveb2307 leagues like the Notts Senior League have been told to suspend fixtures.
