This season has probably seen the worst weather for outdoor football since the competition began.
We have had floods, that make our football competition seem totally insignificant to those people who have been caught up in local disasters, and now we still have snow all over the country.
Remember that if necessary Lions can help with the costs of hiring pitches with floodlights or all-weather pitches. Football Clubs needing such help should apply to their local Lions who will consult with the Committee.
Nevertheless I hope you will all agree that we are approaching the time when we must make unpalatable decisions. I thank you all for you tolerance & patience, but we believe that if Clubs can take advantage of the next school half term which will be in February & then the Easter Holidays we should be able to make up the time, once we all get through the preliminary & round 1.
For example my local school website gives the following time table:-
Spring Term Summer Term
4th January – 12th February 19th April – 28th May
22nd February – 31st March 7th June – 23rd July
Thus there is a half term break from 13th February until 21st February, & Easter holidays from 1st April to 18th April.
We realise these dates will not be consistent country wide but it gives the general idea.
If the nominated home team is unable to find a pitch but the nominated away team can, or a neutral ground can be found, whether on an all-weather pitch or not, then the nominated home team should accept a change of venue.
Then the Committee has reluctantly decided that provided that the existing rules have been followed, in that the now nominated home Club offered 3 dates when a game could have been played but bad weather caused postponements, then any preliminary round match not completed by Sunday 31st January will be decided by the toss of a coin conducted by the appropriate committee member representing the District in question.
If, however, none of the 3 dates were accepted for any other reason than bad weather or postponement agreed by both football managers, then the declining team will forfeit the round. The Committee District Officer’s decision in conjunction with the committee chairman will be final.
For completion of round 1 the same comments will apply save that the date to be completed by will be Sunday 21st February.
The committee will then review, if necessary, the deadline for round 2 & possibly round 3 games.
The booked dates are Sunday 9th May for the semi-finals & Sunday 23rd May for the Final, and these are the dates we must meet.
We do stress that tossing a coin is a “one-off” solution which we shall reluctantly enforce as a very last resort.
Kind Regards,
Paul Withers, Committee Chairman
