JUNIOR FOOTBALL SUSPENDED FROM NOVEMBER 5th

A statement from the West Riding FA (Tuesday 3rd November 2020)

The Football Association [The FA] has provided an update for ‘non-elite’ football in England following the UK Government’s announcement on new national Covid-19 restrictions that will be in place from Thursday 5 November 2020 until Wednesday 2 December 2020.

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.

The FA’s 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.

In addition, the UK Government has confirmed that all Emirates FA Cup First Round fixtures will go ahead as planned this weekendbetween 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, The 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 The FA 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.

The FA remains in dialogue with the DCMS, leagues, competitions and CFAs and will provide further clarification for ‘non-elite’ football in England following the debate in the House of Commons tomorrow.

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A statement from the Harrogate League secretaries (Monday 2nd November 2020)

As you will all now be aware, we will enter another national lockdown on Thursday 5th November until 2nd December 2020, during which time all amateur and grassroots sports will be suspended. Therefore the Harrogate & Wharfedale JFL and Harrogate & District JFL have made the decision to postpone all league games from Sunday 8th November until Sunday 10th January 2021. The decision to postpone until the 10th January was taken based on the fact that the only possible playing Sunday in December would be the 13th. The leagues wouldn’t expect teams to play on the 6th after players had not training for 4 weeks and from the 20th December we have taken the stance that it will be the Christmas break for families and the likelihood of games taking place is low over the festive period.

The return date is of course subject to us being allowed to return to Grassroots Football. We will of course be staying in close contact with West Riding County FA and will keep all clubs updated of any new information. Both leagues are incredibly disappointed that we have another enforced break to junior football within the county and wider areas, but if we all do our bit to help fight the current climate we are in, we will all come back on the 10th January 2021 bigger, better, stronger than ever and raring to go. We will keep in constant contact with all clubs during the break and will be working hard behind the scenes to ensure the moment we get the green light we can be ready to go. Keep safe.

Amy Morrell (H&D JFL Secretary) and Katie Tiller (H&W JFL Secretary)