Following the announcement by the FA last Thursday afternoon that last seasons results had been expunged from steps 3 to 7 of the National League Structure both in the men’s and women’s games. So, in making that decision there would be no promotion or relegation at all for anyone, even though two teams in the men’s game to my knowledge had mathematically secured promotion.

The reorganisation of the men’s football pyramid at steps 4, 5 & 6 would not take place as planned, but would be deferred until the beginning of the 2021/22 season, meaning that next season four promotion places would be up for grabs again in all step 6 leagues in the country.

The FA’s decision has created many conversations and large discussions on social media, with the consensus of opinion that they should have gone down the “points per game” route, which would have rewarded those clubs who had been successful this season, earning them promotion. Some of those clubs would have invested heavily on and off the pitch as I am sure many would have started planning improvements or even started them to meet the higher ground grading requirements of their new level on the non-league ladder, even though they won’t need to be compliant until March next year.

A selection of clubs all over the country and at all levels between Steps 3 to 6 of the men’s non-league, as well as tiers 3 to 7 of the women’s non-league structure drafted and sent a letter to the FA on 30th March The letter on 31st March had been signed by 132 clubs, these included from the West Midlands (Regional) League Shifnal Town, Bewdley Town, Wolverhampton Casuals and Dudley Town.

The full list of the clubs who have signed the letter are shown at the bottom of the 5-page document attached to this article.

Finally, on the FA’s decision to expunge the season, some clubs have questioned the fines and suspensions on social media or have asked their County FA’s to refund the fines and cancel all outstanding suspensions. But their request was met with a stone wall on “No Chance, all suspensions must be served and will be carried over into the new season”. Last night on twitter many people questioned how can this happen for a season that never was, so if that’s the case there were no bookings or suspensions, you can’t have one without the other I have to say that the FA Disciplinary Regulations 2019/20 clearly state that any suspensions not completely served in a season where the offence was committed will continue in the following season.

Also, in the past seven days, one step 6 club from Division One of the Midland League has folded and another from the Hellenic League has resigned from Step 6 and have applied to re-join a step 7 league

NKF Burbage who joined the Midland League from the Leicestershire Senior League at the beginning of the 2016-17 season after finishing runners up. They earned promotion in their first two seasons after finishing as champions of the Midland League Division’s 2 and 3. Their first season in Division One the club finished sixth. Last season was placed 12th when the season finished.

The club issued the following statement on their Twitter Account
“It is with great regret that NKF Burbage announce that the club is to fold now the 2019-2020 season is over. The club has been on a fantastic journey over the past 11 years, through Leicestershire Sunday then Saturday football and latterly via the Midland Football League.
However, that journey has come to a natural end. The club wishes to thank all past and present playing and coaching staff; committee members past and present and not least our supporters who have been with us through some extraordinary experiences.”
“Thank you and stay safe.”

The second club Marlow United who were promoted as champions from the Thames Valley League at the end of the 2018/19 season into the step 6 Hellenic League. After playing 22 League games last season in their new league where they were twelfth out of seventeen League Division One East, Marlow have issued a statement resigning from the Hellenic League and reapply to re3join the Thames Valley League effective from the start of next season.

The statement they issued cited high costs of playing midweek football after Saturday fixtures were postponed due to inclement weather. The full statement from Marlow United was:-
"It is with regret that Marlow United Football Club have withdrawn from the Hellenic Football League and have requested of the FA, through the Hellenic League to be returned from step 6 to step 7 of the NLS.
The current national crisis will impact, on this and many other clubs, greatly, going forward.
However, prior to this the club has struggled largely due to the extremely inclement conditions endured this season meaning many Saturday fixtures were necessarily canceled and rescheduled for midweek which has impacted severely on the club’s financial position.
An average 100-130 Saturday attendance is much reduced on a Tuesday evening to around 40-70 resulting in costs exceeding income and while this could have been overcome the way is no longer clear going forward.
The football club relies heavily on sponsorship, fundraising and match attendances. as the economy begins its recovery, which is a while away yet, there is no realistic chance of any substantial sponsorship and it may be many months before fundraising events can be held. With this in mind there is simply no way forward for the football club at step 6 level.
With no clear way to generate meaningful funds we had little choice other than to terminate our Hellenic League membership by the 31 March deadline and reapply to join the Thames Valley Premier League.
We would like to thank the Hellenic League and its officers for the opportunity afforded this season and we wish the league and its member clubs every success for the future."

These two clubs could well be the first two of many that are forced to make serious decisions regarding their future.

Many clubs will have lost their end of season income generated from presentation evenings, hosting cup finals, social events charity games, the list is endless. The full effect is bound to become apparent in the next two/three months I am sure, no one wants to see clubs forced to close their doors, but some clubs may be left with no alternative.