TIME NOW TO TALK – AND LISTEN
We’re all in this together – and it’s more important than the football. This week, with the announcement from the National League, it finally looks like season 20192020 is heading towards a close. There’s still a number points up in the air but we can see the woods for the trees.
That greater degree of certainty means we can begin to draw a line under the season, or the season that never was in many cases and begin to look at the more important picture, the future of the game at our level.
Like the world beyond, it’s been sad to see Non-League ripping itself apart, throwing accusations, a multitude of solutions spouted with little practical thought and too many sitting back hoping someone else will solve the chaos.
I fully agree with Nick Robinson, chairman of the Isthmian League, that those having to make the decisions “just couldn’t please everyone”.
As he pointed out in his column here last week, the arbitration decision shows that they acted fairly in reaching their decision and I’d urge everybody to read the full decision if only to understand how much work and stress these volunteer administrators of our game are under – this alongside the implications of Covid-19 in their own personal and work lives too.
Even before the leagues made their decision, I said the season needed to be called to an end ASAP and I stand by it now. It was the best decision for the majority to give some certainty to clubs who in the current climate have a worrying myriad of other uncertainties to deal with.
I’ll admit I was surprised by the null and void at the time as I thought points-per-game – given its use for play-offs in the past – was the obvious choice, but I understood the reasoning.
My fear lies in PPG as our precedent for deciding a season in a climate where there is a continued risk of secondary outbreaks disrupting next or future seasons.
Potential of a curtailment would encourage some to frontload their season. Spend big in the early months with over-inflated wages to rack up points in case PPG came into play. It would be like Aesop’s fable of the Hare and the Tortoise, but as we know in Non-League football it’s not always fairytales and in a curtailed season settled by PPG the brash and cocky Hare would get the prize and I’m not sure that’s for the greater good of Non-League.
Which returns me to my point. As the last season draws to a conclusion we need to consider how Non-League as a whole climbs back from the abyss and moves forward stronger.
At this level we have something unique. The ‘family’ feel, the sense of camaraderie and respectful rivalries; all elements that have apparently been lost from the higher echelons of the game. We need only to look at the closer cohesion of the Step 3 and 4 leagues in recent seasons to see how co-operation across Non-League can bring bigger and wider benefits to all.
Those claiming ‘elite-status’ under government guidelines were the same who, just weeks ago, were complaining that over-professionalism was killing football at their level. I get it, I fully understand why individuals have bent their stance if it gives them the opportunity to get on or succeed, but it doesn’t make it right and certainly not right for the greater good of the game.
Discussion
Throughout this crisis, I have been looking at the opportunities created rather than the barriers encountered. Non-League needs to do the same.
There is much talk about seasons starting in September, October or even in the New Year at Non-League level. That, though, is out of the hands of football. What we can do however, is plan together and not all go off half-cock with different agendas, different start dates and different messages.
Even if football can restart in the autumn, it will likely be with restrictions, likely fewer revenue streams and quite possibly higher costs to get games on. Many might not be able to achieve that alone, but together there is a greater chance of a solution to get football back where we want it to be. We need leagues, the FA, fans groups, media and as many interested parties as possible to pool their thoughts and come up with some creative solutions. We won’t all agree but without listening to differing opinions you can never stress-test your own and nobody is perfect.
Discussion is key. I’m not one to advocate that everybody is entitled to an opinion because sometimes those opinions are based on falsehoods and maltruths. Like an A-level essay if you can show me some factual basis for your opinion I am willing to listen and learn and Non-League needs to adopt a similar stance.
As we reach the end of June, Non-League needs to take stock, look at the facts and draw up a blueprint for the survival of the game at our level. We need to consider where we want to get to, look at the hurdles and how we can best overcome them, to bring football back and bring our community back together.
I’ve started the ball running but if you’d like to get involved, please get in touch on Twitter @timfuell or email hello@nonleaguefootballshow.com