The mixed story over resuming seasons
The Wessex League restarts after lockdown this Saturday with two league games and other member clubs in FA Vase action.
The story is a mixed one among other clubs at the same level of the non-league pyramid - steps 5 and 6 - following the introduction of the three tier system.
The Combined Counties League is also restarting this weekend. Of the league’s 40 clubs, only two said they didn’t want to play home games this month. A third, Jersey Bulls, cannot play at present due to their island’s Covid-related restrictions.
Jersey Bulls - who won all their league games last season, only to be denied promotion due to the FA cancelling steps 3-6 - have only played four league matches this season, all away.
Their last league game was on September 26.
The Eastern Counties League is back this Saturday, the Southern Combination League is resuming next Tuesday, while the Hellenic League is restarting on Saturday, December 12.
In the Hellenic, clubs in tier 3 areas will be suspended from playing unless they can arrange fixtures against each other.
The situation is different in the Midlands and north compared to down here in the south. The Northern Counties East League have decided not to play any league games until January, while in the Midland League games have been suspended until Saturday, December 19.
In the United Counties League, covering the East Midlands region, clubs who want to resume playing can do so, but opinion is split among them as many are in tier 3 areas.
In the Wessex League,
36 of the 39 clubs across the two divisions are currently placed under tier 2 restrictions.
That will limit the sale of food and drink at those grounds while the three Isle of Wight-based teams - Cowes Sport, Newport IOW and East Cowes Victoria - are in tier 1.
Clubs within the Wessex League under tier two restrictions should liaise with their local authority over the sale of refreshments on match-days.
Fareham and AFC Portchester return to Wessex action next Tuesday, with Baffins welcoming Horndean in the delayed 2019/20 Portsmouth Senior Cup the following evening.