We note the UK Government’s announcement on Monday 4 January with regards to the new national COVID-19 restrictions and lockdown.
As a result, the impact on ‘non-elite’ football in England will include the suspension of fixtures and training across the following with immediate effect:
· Steps three to six of the National League System
· Tiers three to seven of the Women’s Football Pyramid
· Regional NLS feeder leagues
· Barclays FA WSL Academy League (unless under elite status)
· FA Girls Regional Talent Clubs (unless under elite status)
· All indoor and outdoor youth and adult grassroots football, including under-18s (except organised outdoor football for disabled people, which is allowed to continue)
· Vitality Women’s FA Cup (which is currently classified as ‘non-elite’ at this stage in the competition)
It is extremely important that clubs, players, coaches, match officials, league officials, volunteers, parents, carers and facility providers adhere to the Government’s new national COVID-19 lockdown restrictions and we implore everyone to follow these.
Dialogue will continue with the Department for Digital, Culture, Media & Sport, leagues, competitions and County Football Associations and we will provide further updates for the 2020-21 Vitality Women’s FA Cup, Buildbase FA Vase and ‘non-elite’ football when relevant.
We would like to thank the football community once again for its hard work, resilience and understanding during such an incredibly challenging period.