The FA have confirmed that the 2020/21 season will begin in September.
The news is part of a phased return to competitive action across Non League and grassroots football.
From July 31st, teams can start competitive training with overall group sizes of up to 30 people.
The NCEL and NPL, who both have to issue constitutions, will no doubt issue more advice, but the FA have said that clubs can begin playing pre-season fixtures in August and even hold festivals.
Then in September, leagues and FA competitons will commence.
Whilst this is great news for everyone involved in the game, clubs face huge challenges in the next four weeks to be ready for the new season.
Most clubs have been training for a month or so and as such teams assembling sides is not really a problem. Most clubs have also done their ‘transfer business’.
But the safety element of hosting matches is one issue as clubs will have to make sure their grounds and clubhouses meet social-distancing. It is also unclear how many spectators will be allowed to attend matches.
The number of volunteers some clubs have is also a problem as many have over 70s running large parts of their match-day routines. Will people in the at-risk group be willing to volunteer?
The other issue is travelling and changing facilities and it mustn’t be forgotten that the world is still in the middle of a pandemic.
Current guidelines advise no car-sharing and limited use of dressing rooms. In cricket, grassroots players have to turn up changed.
In the NPL and NCEL, clubs face long journeys and with coach travel possibly off limits, travel expenses issues for players will increase.
There is also the very real possibility of players travelling for two hours to get home from matches whilst dressed in muddy kit.
All these issues are ones that need resolving fairly quickly.
yes, I can defo see the semi-pro game having to operate like sunday league – players just pitching up in kits at 2.30, and all sloping off at 5.05pm seperately still in their kit. Needs must I suppose – as I’ve said previously, if clubhouses etc arent operating on matchdays for distancing etc, I reckon clubs/grounds could be run by a few folk. 1 to operate the turnstiles, 1 putting out the corner flags and switching on the floodlights etc. Limited numbers on benches/squads, and getting more supporters thru the door. Will be v odd.