2020/21 Season Continuation or Curtailment survey

The FA’s Leagues Committee has regularly discussed the impact of the COVID-19 pandemic on football at Steps 5 & 6 of the National League System.

As part of these discussions, and given the impact of the current lockdown, the Committee has this week canvassed the opinions of Clubs as to how the season should continue or if a curtailment is required.

Given the current COVID-19 restrictions as set by the Government, there is little prospect of playing competitive football at non-elite levels (i.e. Steps 3 to 6 of the NLS) until the start of March at the earliest. Even if the national lockdown is lifted, it is unknown when Clubs will be able to admit paying spectators and/or generate secondary revenue through clubhouses etc (as was the case with some of the restrictions that were in place prior to 4 January 2021).

The Committee considered a comprehensive list of options and this survey presents to Clubs what it believed were the most feasible options in order to address the conclusion of the 2020/21 season in one form or another.

Before completing this survey Clubs were strongly encouraged to read this full accompanying document provided by The FA at the time of its circulation.

Continuation and Curtailment Options

The question clubs were asked was;

Does your Club hold an immediate view as to what should happen to the 2020/21 season? (Select one option only)

– Yes, we believe that the season should be terminated immediately, and the season declared null and void.

– Yes, fixtures should cease immediately, with restart planned for August 2021. The aim would then be to complete the ‘2020/21’ season between August 2021 – May 2022.

– No, we believe that various options apply depending on the restart date and wish to supply answers for varying restart dates

 

Should Clubs have wished to make an alternative proposal an email was provided for suggestions to be made to.

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The deadline for this survey has now passed and results will be discussed by the FA Leagues Committee shortly.

Any decision to then continue with or to terminate the 2020/21 season at Steps 5 & 6 rests with The FA Council, following a proposal from The FA’s Leagues Committee.

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