WE’RE FIVE ALIVE! CUP DRAFTS GET THUMBS-UP
A NUMBER OF Step 5 clubs across England are gearing up to take part in ‘Champions League’-style special cup competitions once they are allowed to resume playing next month. Most of the Step 5 leagues have asked their members whether they would be prepared to take part in supplementary competitions to compensate for their league seasons again being curtailed early. Clubs are not compelled to take part – a principal objection is the prospect of having to play games without spectators and therefore no income stream – but it appears the majority are in favour of getting back on the grass. The NLP contacted the leagues to assess their current state of play...
Combined Counties League – Officials have unveiled The Fripp Smith Trophy, in honour of league stalwarts Gordon Fripp and Ted Smith, who passed away this year. Clubs have until Friday to apply, should they wish. Talks over whether to proceed with the Divisional League Cups from this season are ongoing. Eastern Counties League – Clubs have been balloted as to the possibility of a cup contest and the results are being presented to the management committee today.
Essex Senior League – Sixteen out of 18 clubs have voted in support of plans to run special cups in April and May – provided that paying spectators are allowed by the Government.
Hellenic League – Clubs have until Tuesday to decide whether they wish to take part in a special cup competition. Around 50 per cent have done so already. Midland League – The initial consensus was that any Supplementary Cup competition would be deemed unviable and that decision is unlikely to change. North West Counties League – There are no plans to introduce special cup competitions because the vast majority of clubs had indicated they would not want to play as it was not commercially viable.
Northern Counties East League – Committee voted against staging an extra competition as fans would not be allowed in until at least May 17. However, clubs are free to play friendlies behind closed doors after March 29. Northern League Thirteen of the 20 clubs in each of the divisions at Steps 5 and 6 were in favour of staging the cups – provided that paying spectators are allowed by the Government.
Southern Counties East League – All but one of the 38 clubs say they would be interested in taking part in a Supplementary Cup competition starting after April 12 – once there is confirmation that spectators would be allowed in. The Southern Combination – Planning to introduce one-off cups in April and May to provide clubs in their Steps 5, 6 and 7 divisions with games.
Spartan South Midlands League – Clubs also have until this Friday to say whether they wanted to take part of special cups in April and May, but the responses received so far had been a “mixed bag”. United Counties League – Clubs have been asked if they want to enter special cup competitions in April and May, one for each division. They have been asked to respond by Friday. Wessex League – Officials have held talks with the Hampshire FA about staging a single cup completion from April onwards – and have also invited the county’s Step 3 and 4 clubs to take part. Western League – Officials are aiming to complete the Les Phillips Cup semi-final and final but a Supplementary Cup competition is not considered feasible.