Season Start date confirmed and Cup Competition update
Fri 21st August 2020 | Announcements | By Gary Langley
League Chairman, Paul Lawler has been in touch with all 60 members of the North West Counties League today to discuss and clarify the plans for the start of the 2020-21 season and the implications of what will happen with the cup competitions, both outstanding and new season.
The NWCFL have said from the outset that we will play games when safe to do so and when authorised by Government guidance. We have also stated that as we plan for the new season we will have factored in planning for a number of situations, including contingency for a number of outcomes, and this remains the case going forwards.
Season Start Plans
The League season will start as planned on Saturday 3rd October. Given the current spectator guidance, FA Competitions and existing club preparation plans, the Management Committee has agreed to continue with this date as planned rather than bring it forward.
In order to concentrate on the League campaign, the Macron Challenge Cup and The First Division Challenge Cup competitions have been suspended. We will review this position towards the end of the season should the fixture programme allow - we may potentially run one or both competitions in a different competition format in May in order to provide additional revenue opportunities for clubs.
The Committee has decided to complete the Macron and First Division Cups for last season in September and we have invited the semi-finalists to participate.
Macron Challenge Cup Semi Finals will be played over one leg at the first drawn club, therefore the ties are:
- AFC Liverpool v. Runcorn Town Friday 4th September
- Shelley v. 1874 Northwich Saturday 5th September
The First Division Cup semi finals are slightly different as the first legs have been completed. The outstanding second leg match between Sandbach United and Wythenshawe Town would be played with AFC Liverpool progressing to the Final due to the resignation of FC Oswestry Town.
First Leg results
- FC Oswestry Town 0 AFC Liverpool 3
- Wythenshawe Town 1 Sandbach United 2
Second Leg:
Sandbach United v. Wythenshawe Town Saturday 5th September
The finals would be played on the ground of the club drawn first following a numbered draw. In the event of the first drawn clubs ground not being available the tie will be played on the ground of the second drawn club.
A Provisional date has been set for the finals of these competitiond and these are Saturday 12th September for theFirst Division Cup Final which would be AFC Liverpool v. Sandbach United or Wythenshawe Town.
The Macron Cup Final is set for Saturday 26th September and as it stands this reads as AFC Liverpool or Runcorn Town v. Shelley or 1874 Northwich
Finally on County Cup competitions - many County FAs are suspending their competitions for this season, but those clubs who are entering a competition being run, they will be required to schedule County Cup games around the League fixtures so should be prepared to play two games in a midweek if necessary.
League Fixtures
We are unable to produce a set of fixtures until the Northern Premier League’s have been published. They have to wait for the EFL and National League so they expect to issue their fixtures by the end of August at the earliest. As a result we expect to issue fixtures in early September, but we will provide more detail nearer the time.
Clubs who are involved in local lockdowns or are subject to quarantine restrictions will have their fixtures delayed until a time they are authorised to play.
Season Start date confirmed and Cup Competition update
Fri 21st August 2020 | Announcements
By Gary Langley
League Chairman, Paul Lawler has been in touch with all 60 members of the North West Counties League today to discuss and clarify the plans for the start of the 2020-21 season and the implications of what will happen with the cup competitions, both outstanding and new season.
The NWCFL have said from the outset that we will play games when safe to do so and when authorised by Government guidance. We have also stated that as we plan for the new season we will have factored in planning for a number of situations, including contingency for a number of outcomes, and this remains the case going forwards.
Season Start Plans
The League season will start as planned on Saturday 3rd October. Given the current spectator guidance, FA Competitions and existing club preparation plans, the Management Committee has agreed to continue with this date as planned rather than bring it forward.
In order to concentrate on the League campaign, the Macron Challenge Cup and The First Division Challenge Cup competitions have been suspended. We will review this position towards the end of the season should the fixture programme allow - we may potentially run one or both competitions in a different competition format in May in order to provide additional revenue opportunities for clubs.
The Committee has decided to complete the Macron and First Division Cups for last season in September and we have invited the semi-finalists to participate.
Macron Challenge Cup Semi Finals will be played over one leg at the first drawn club, therefore the ties are:
- AFC Liverpool v. Runcorn Town Friday 4th September
- Shelley v. 1874 Northwich Saturday 5th September
The First Division Cup semi finals are slightly different as the first legs have been completed. The outstanding second leg match between Sandbach United and Wythenshawe Town would be played with AFC Liverpool progressing to the Final due to the resignation of FC Oswestry Town.
First Leg results
- FC Oswestry Town 0 AFC Liverpool 3
- Wythenshawe Town 1 Sandbach United 2
Second Leg:
Sandbach United v. Wythenshawe Town Saturday 5th September
The finals would be played on the ground of the club drawn first following a numbered draw. In the event of the first drawn clubs ground not being available the tie will be played on the ground of the second drawn club.
A Provisional date has been set for the finals of these competitiond and these are Saturday 12th September for theFirst Division Cup Final which would be AFC Liverpool v. Sandbach United or Wythenshawe Town.
The Macron Cup Final is set for Saturday 26th September and as it stands this reads as AFC Liverpool or Runcorn Town v. Shelley or 1874 Northwich
Finally on County Cup competitions - many County FAs are suspending their competitions for this season, but those clubs who are entering a competition being run, they will be required to schedule County Cup games around the League fixtures so should be prepared to play two games in a midweek if necessary.
League Fixtures
We are unable to produce a set of fixtures until the Northern Premier League’s have been published. They have to wait for the EFL and National League so they expect to issue their fixtures by the end of August at the earliest. As a result we expect to issue fixtures in early September, but we will provide more detail nearer the time.
Clubs who are involved in local lockdowns or are subject to quarantine restrictions will have their fixtures delayed until a time they are authorised to play.
