Only two days after the Government’s roadmap out of lockdown was announced, the Football Association’s Alliance and Leagues Committees agreed, subject to the approval of FA Council, that the 2020-21 league season for Steps 3-6 of the National League System should be curtailed with immediate effect. Whilst disappointing for some, this news was hardly unexpected. However, it still raises the question of how and when non-league football will return.

From the Government’s perspective, formally organised outdoor sports, for adults and Under-18s, can restart from March 29th and won’t be subject to gatherings limits, but should be compliant with guidance issued by national governing bodies. As with last year’s restart, this places the onus on restarting the national game back on the FA. Unlike last year, the FA don’t have the impending start of a new season to focus their minds.

Indeed, the FA’s own website states that the game’s governing body will “continue to work with Government on plans for a safe return for grassroots football across England and will communicate updated guidance as soon as we can”. The latest update for Clubs at the Western League and Southern League level, came on March 11th, when clarification was provided on the return of spectators, suggesting that all fixtures will need to be behind closed doors until no earlier than May 17th, except for any person spectating for safeguarding purposes.

Many clubs operating in the National League System, let alone the Western League, run Reserve and Under-18 sides, playing at the grassroots level. The FA believe that “the current understanding at the Department for Culture, Media and Sport is that spectators for non-elite football will be under the same categorisation as outlined for all spectators in the roadmap”, which is strange, considering the same roadmap suggests organised outdoor sport “can restart from March 29th and won’t be subject to gatherings limits”.

In reality, a behind closed doors ruling is completely impractical for grassroots football, where many matches are played on park pitches. The latest guidance to football clubs suggests a two tier approach, where spectators are banned from National League System grounds, but not those accessible to the general public. A lack of clarity on spectator access and the use of facilities is simply not an option, with competitions including the FA Vase, scheduled to restart from April 10th.

What had been an unprecedented situation in March last year has now set a precedent that Club officials can look to for clues as to what the latest restart might entail. Unlike last year, the FA have still not issued any guidance on the return to squad training, but given that we can only meet one person from another household for outdoor exercise from March 8th to March 29th, it is unlikely the return to group training will happen before then.

Training is only the beginning, with clubs no doubt required to facilitate regular cleaning for players and equipment, as they were last year. In 2020, changing rooms opened around the same time as gyms, scheduled this year for April 12th. This is also the date earmarked for the reopening of pub beer gardens, which is potentially good news for clubhouses, although the requirement for table only service will remain, a fact reiterated by the FA on March 11th.

The FA have always maintained that for licensed premises, it is the responsibility of the licensee “to assess the capability to open in accordance with Government guidance”. This guidance currently states that the “Government will continue to enforce restrictions and require businesses to demonstrate robust strategies for managing the risk of transmission and to ensure social distancing rules are followed. Local authorities and the police will continue to provide support and advice to newly reopened settings, enabling them to operate safely”.

This was the situation at the end of last year, when the hospitality industry became subject to the Tier system. On that occasion, football clubs received contradictory advice on what constituted an acceptable use of clubhouses, specifically concerning take-aways, with local authorities across the region interpretating the Government guidance differently. Whilst consistent “support and advice” from local authorities and the police will be welcomed, enforcement and its consequences cannot be overlooked. Indeed, many grassroots pitches are maintained by local authorities, making their interpretation of the guidance critical, not only to the return of matches, but also the use of shared equipment and facilities, such as changing rooms.

On the positive side, club volunteers can reflect on a huge amount of administrative work that has already been done. However football intends to restart, the chances are that the risk assessments and social distancing mitigations, such as one way systems, will still be needed. Once the FA have published their guidance, clubs will hopefully be in a position to adapt their previous efforts and put them in line with the current regime. Some clubs may prefer to play it safe and wait for the start of pre-season in July, when the Government road map suggests that all restrictions could be lifted. However, for those clubs still playing competitive matches and even those hoping to play friendly games, the FA must provide as much clarity as it can on how football can return to a temporary, if not new, normal.

Ian Nockolds