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Northern League Statement - Resumption of fixtures?

Submitted by Rob Jones on Wednesday, 16 December 2020

Saturday’s fixtures to be postponed

A further emergency meeting of the League Management Committee has been held to discuss the responses from clubs to the Government's changes to the Tier Three restrictions, which allows up to 150 spectators to attend NLS fixtures at Steps 5/6 but still maintains the existing restrictions on use of clubhouses and whether this would allow a possible resumption of fixtures following this week's national tier review.

A number of clubs were prepared to resume fixtures with effect from Saturday 19th December 2020 and attempt to carry on under what are extremely challenging Tier Three restrictions.

Some clubs have been told by their local councils that they are not permitted to sell refreshments.

The majority of clubs indicated that it wasn't financially viable for them to play games with attendances set at 150. Without any income from food and beverages, clubs would still have significant levels of expenditure with no grants being made available to cover any deficit.

Some clubs felt that a change to Tier Two restrictions allowing attendances to rise to 300 could allow a return, but any such decision is now unlikely to come before Thursday or possibly later this week.

As a consequence the LMC has decided to postpone this weekend's fixtures.

Update from the EBAC Northern League

Submitted by Rob Jones on Friday, 27 November 2020

Hi All

As you will all be aware the current lockdown ends at midnight on the 2nd December 2020 and will be replaced by a three tier system based on total number of Covid cases in an area; the number of cases in over 60s; rate at which cases are rising or falling; the proportion of test results coming back positive and pressure on the NHS.

Decisions made by the Government will unfortunately see 36 of the league's 40 clubs placed in areas covered by Tier Three restrictions which would allow football to be played at Steps 5/6 but would require them to be played behind closed doors thereby removing significant income streams for all our clubs.

Although the FA has stressed that their key objective is to conclude the 2002/21 season and implement promotion and relegation, either through completion of the fixtures schedule or by a mathematical formula if the season is incomplete, it is the feeling of the LMC that it at this stage it’s simply not financially viable to ask clubs to play without spectators being present.

Impact of the tier system

Submitted by Rob Jones on Thursday, 26 November 2020

LEAGUE STATEMENT

There is a meeting tonight between the FA and Steps 5/6 leagues and we will be discussing the implications for the league of the Government’s announcement today on which areas are in which tiers.

A meeting of the League Management Committee will then be held as soon as possible about the way forward and we will let clubs and spectators know how we will proceed as soon as possible.

We share everyone’s frustration with the situation but ask everyone to keep abiding by the new rules so that everyone keeps safe and well.

Fixture Change

Submitted by Rob Jones on Monday, 23 November 2020

The following changes to our fixtures have been announced by the EBAC Northern League:

Bishop Auckland Away Saturday, 5th December 2020

North Shields Home Tuesday, 8th December 2020

Whickham Away Saturday, 12 December 2020.

Transfer News

Submitted by Rob Jones on Thursday, 19 November 2020

We welcome back Aaron Croft to Sunderland LGV Park after a brief spell at Billingham Synthonia. We look forward to seeing him in the role of Coach/ Player once the lock down restrictions are lifted.

Unfortunately we have lost the services of Anthony Callaghan to fellow Northern League Div I Club Thornaby FC. We wish him well at his new club.

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