League season curtailed, FA has confirmed

NON-LEAGUE clubs across the North East have played their final league game of the season after the FA confirmed that the season was being curtailed.

Northern Premier League quartet Dunston UTS, Marske United, Morpeth Town and South Shields and clubs across both tiers of the Ebac Northern League will now turn their focus towards next season after the FA announced the decision in a statement released on Wednesday evening.

Clubs plying their trade in steps three to six of the non-league system have been without a league fixture since November after the government implemented tighter Covid-19 restrictions that brought a halt to non-elite football.

Since that decision was taken, the governing body have contacted clubs around the country to gather information on how their views on how the league season should proceed. After analysing the responses received and taking into consideration the financial and administrative issues of restarting the season, the FA have revealed that a second consecutive season will be brought to a premature end.

The FA also revealed that they will “revisit” discussions over a potential restructure of the non-league system which was scheduled to take place at the end of last season. The 2021/22 season is scheduled to start in August and there is genuine hope that supporters will return to grounds around the country after the government revealed their ‘roadmap’ out of the pandemic earlier this week.