Season to resume on 11th April with round-robin cup competition

As the return to football draws ever nearer in April, the management committee met recently to review the data provided by our clubs through the consultation along with the many discussions had with local authorities, private pitch providers and the Essex County Football Association.

Firstly, we are incredibly pleased with the massive majority of clubs eager to return to football next month which is great to see considering such a length lay-off. For those not wishing to continue, the committee can confirm that there will be no penalty to any side wishing not to participate further and your place in the constitution is assured for the 2021/22 season.

There was clear appetite shown within the consultation from clubs to play for as long as possible but there were also very few able to confirm the availability of a pitch for June, with many grounds retaining existing April or May close dates to facilitate cricket. We disappointedly noted that some local authorities, two of our largest hirers, have already decided that no further football would be permitted in their boroughs this season at all, placing over twenty of our teams without a home pitch for the rest of the campaign, this rising to over forty by May.

Given the above considerations, it is deemed that a new cup competition using a group format and a smaller, fixed number of games is the only viable option to ensure that a competitive competition can be completed that fits in around severely restricted ground availability. To that end, it is necessary for the existing league and league cup competitions to be curtailed. This will naturally disappoint some clubs who we recognise had successful starts to their campaigns and we can assure all clubs that movement between divisions will still occur, both upwards and downwards according to their respective performance this season.

The remaining cup finals from the 2019/20 season shall proceed on midweek dates in the spring and we will liaise with finalists on the revised dates as soon as we have been provided with these from senior ground venues.

Corinthian Champions League-style competition

As determined above, a cup competition will be sanctioned and organised by the league to run in the spring and this will commence on Sunday 11^th April, acknowledging the request from a significant number of teams to be allowed preparation time following a near four month break and those wishing to not play on Easter Sunday. Sides can of course opt to play friendlies over Easter should they choose and Mike Locke will happily appoint a referee.

The format of the competition will be a round-robin, group-based structure, containing around six sides in each group, with each side playing each other once with three points for a win and one for a draw. The side with the most points will be declared as the winners and receive a winner’s trophy. Placement in such groups will be determined on a league ranking system meaning that sides will be grouped with teams of similar ability, as opposed to an open draw.

Entry to the competition will be open to all existing teams in the competition who are able to provide a minimum of two “home” pitch dates, at their usual venue or an alternative ground, between the dates of 11^th April and 23^rd May. Deadline for entries to be received will be Friday 19^th March, the draw and fixtures to then follow shortly after.

Flexibility on kick-off times is expected from all clubs entering given the significant constraints on venue hiring. It’s crucial that any variations to venues and kick-off times are communicated to the league to ensure we can appoint an appropriate match official.

Costs associated with these fixtures (pitches and referees) will be as per our existing cup competition rules with home sides providing a pitch and away sides covering the cost of the match official.

All players taking part will need to have been registered with their teams on the Whole Game System before the deadline for player registrations and transfers which is the 31st March. No matchday registrations shall be permitted in this competition thereafter. Players will only be able to participate for one team. Note also that the new FA player registrations module goes online from 17^th March which will give you a two week window to complete any business.

All other rules will be in line with our existing league and cup competition rules. The arrangements specified are also based on the present government and FA advice for the return of grassroots football.

TO ENTER THE CUP COMPETITION, PLEASE CLICK THIS LINK

Summary

To end, the management committee have always committed to providing our teams with meaningful and competitive football for whatever the time and ground resources would allow and believe that this solution being tabled presents the best option to fit with the majority of expectations.

Looking further forward, it is becoming clear that almost all adults in the country will have been offered their first vaccinations by the time the new season is due to start in September and we can all therefore hopefully look forward to an uninterrupted and celebratory 2021/22 campaign.

For the time being, we wish you the best of health and look forward to seeing you in action again next month.