Grassroots football given the green light for return
Grassroots football has been given the green light to return from the end of March – but a number of North East nonleague clubs could still face a wait before they return to competitive action.
Prime Minster Boris Johnson outlined his “roadmap” to easing Covid-19 restrictions in the House of Commons before giving a public address just hours later and it was revealed that the return of the grassroots game will resume no earlier than the March 29.
Supportersareexpectedto beallowedtoreturntogrounds around the country from the middle of May – but that scenario opens up questions over how the 2020/21 season will be completed for clubs in stepsthreetosevenofthenonleague pyramid.
Northern Premier League clubs like South Shields, Morpeth Town, Marske United and Dunston UTS have been without a league fixture since before Christmas and Ebac NorthernLeagueclubshavealso experienced a similar delay after “non-elite” football was broughttoahaltinNovember.
However, the Northern League committee have suggested that they could look to hold a cup competition throughout April and May if
supporters are able to return to grounds around the region and clubhouses and catering facilities are able to open.
In a statement released in January, the league said: “Should the situation improve more quickly than is expected, the league would look to offer some competitive football in the form of a cup
competition in April/May to enable clubs to recoup some of the missed income and reengage with supporters, but this wouldn’t be mandatory and would only be considered if safe to do so.”
The two major cup competitions in non-league football find themselves in very different situations.
The FA Trophy will continue throughout lockdown as it is classed as an elite competition and that means Darlington’s bid to reach the semi-final will continue with this weekend’s quarter-final home tie against Hornchurch.
However, this season’s FA Vase is currently on hold with the competition sitting at its fourth round stage.
Last year’s final between Northern League clubs Consett and Hebburn Town is still yet to be played – although there has been a suggestion that the tie could take place in May as part of a series of test events to allow supporters back into games.
Bookmakers hope racing can again demonstrate its flexibility by pushing back the date of the Grand National to ensure betting-shop punters are able to enjoy the annual “celebration”.
Coronavirus put paid to the 2020 National – along with so many other major sporting events – and after Prime Minister Boris Johnson’s announcement on Monday, this year it is set to take place just two days before the earliest possible reopening of nonessential shops.
Racing administrators have had to adapt to a series of challenges posed by the pandemic over the past 12 months, first with a halted fixture list, then a suspension of attendance for owners and spectators and shop closures also impacting on revenue.
Only recently, the winter weather has brought its challenges, too – but racing administrators were quick to draw up rescheduling plans to save big meetings lost to the freeze.
Ladbrokes Coral PR director Simon Clare is suggesting the sport can show more of that pro-active spirit – and give itself a much-needed financial boost – by delaying the Randox Grand National, currently scheduled to take place on Saturday April 10, so that it can be run with shops open again.
The National is by far the biggest betting race of the year, worth an estimated £300million in turnover.
Clare said: “Now we’ve seen the dates for the Government road map – which are provisional – and the fact that there is potential for betting shops to open on April 12, the obvious issue is the Grand National. It is the biggest betting race of the year – the race which millions of people enjoy as a national celebration.”