Guess it depends on what tier Cheshire ends up in as well.
1st game post lockdown annnouced
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Can understand the league restart being put back but we are allowed to play and tier 2 clubs can have fans, so we should be trying to work round that and get started again ASAP.
If nothing changes with the tiers and with the prospect of these restrictions and lockdowns in place for months to come, questions do have to be asked of how the season can be finished as we don’t went another null and void situation. If playing behind closed doors was feasible for a short time for some clubs to try and get games in, then maybe that’s something worth considering, especially if there’s some form of funding? I suppose we also have until June to get games played which gives us more time.
None of this makes sense though. The way I’m looking at it is we’re in a better situation now, with lower infection rates, than we were four weeks ago when fans could attend tier 3 games. Back then, it wasn’t safer enough for step 1 and 2 clubs to have fans but now it is.
Have we actually seen any evidence from government that football matches in the open air are a big source of infection? I highly doubt it. You can go to a packed Primark store from next week but can’t go to a football match in the open air with a few hundred people. It’s just doesn’t make any sense and yet again we’re seeing decisions made by people who have no clue or care about football at our level.
If nothing changes with the tiers and with the prospect of these restrictions and lockdowns in place for months to come, questions do have to be asked of how the season can be finished as we don’t went another null and void situation. If playing behind closed doors was feasible for a short time for some clubs to try and get games in, then maybe that’s something worth considering, especially if there’s some form of funding? I suppose we also have until June to get games played which gives us more time.
None of this makes sense though. The way I’m looking at it is we’re in a better situation now, with lower infection rates, than we were four weeks ago when fans could attend tier 3 games. Back then, it wasn’t safer enough for step 1 and 2 clubs to have fans but now it is.
Have we actually seen any evidence from government that football matches in the open air are a big source of infection? I highly doubt it. You can go to a packed Primark store from next week but can’t go to a football match in the open air with a few hundred people. It’s just doesn’t make any sense and yet again we’re seeing decisions made by people who have no clue or care about football at our level.
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- Jun 24, 2013
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While I agree with your sentiments in principle, I think you are underestimating the task the NWCFL fixture Secretary would have to undertake. Give some clubs groundshare it would be difficult to arrange Tier 2 v Tier 2 club fixtures as an interim measure (was that the sort of solution you had in mind?) and add to that we have the usual weather issues which traditionally bring postponements at this time of year.
There are a lot of clubs affected by Tier 3 restrictions, so the league would look decidedly lopsided and with potentially poorer weather some clubs may never catch up as a consequence. As frustrating as it is, we need the league competition to be as fair as possible to all its member clubs.
- Jun 24, 2013
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I think any “funding” was likely to one of loans rather than handouts. At this level, with the likely precarious financial situation some clubs might find themselves in, loans are not the generous gesture of support the FA/Government would like to think they are.
I’d read about June extension proposals. Also read that the FA weren’t keen. Anyone confirm if this is possibly on the cards?
Tez,
Appreciate there are no easy decisions here and yes loans wouldn’t be as generous and unaffordable for some teams. Very unfair how clubs higher up the pyramid get grant funding when we need it more. Yet another example of our league being treated differently. A lot of clubs in our league are Tier 3 so many will currently be unable to have fans, and most will likely feel they can’t afford to play behind closed doors.
Yes I meant Tier 2 teams could play each other which is maybe about half the league? Presumably Tier 2 could play Tier 3 in a Tier 2 area but no away fans could travel? So you could get some games on and appreciate it won’t be a total level playing field, but then nor is it in the higher leagues where you will get teams playing behind closed doors and others with fans.
I read about the June extension from Ollie Bayliss on Twitter. Not sure how likely it is though?
Appreciate there are no easy decisions here and yes loans wouldn’t be as generous and unaffordable for some teams. Very unfair how clubs higher up the pyramid get grant funding when we need it more. Yet another example of our league being treated differently. A lot of clubs in our league are Tier 3 so many will currently be unable to have fans, and most will likely feel they can’t afford to play behind closed doors.
Yes I meant Tier 2 teams could play each other which is maybe about half the league? Presumably Tier 2 could play Tier 3 in a Tier 2 area but no away fans could travel? So you could get some games on and appreciate it won’t be a total level playing field, but then nor is it in the higher leagues where you will get teams playing behind closed doors and others with fans.
I read about the June extension from Ollie Bayliss on Twitter. Not sure how likely it is though?
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- Jun 24, 2013
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I read somewhere that fixtures couldn’t be reversed. Anyone confirm?
Loans, whatever the substance are not the solution for struggling Tier 3 clubs - as i’m sure you’ll agree, it’s almost akin to a payday loan scenario, no good can come of it.
With regard to the Tier 2/ Tier 3 split - not sure, but suffice to say, there must be enough of a split to give the league some concern?
Loans, whatever the substance are not the solution for struggling Tier 3 clubs - as i’m sure you’ll agree, it’s almost akin to a payday loan scenario, no good can come of it.
With regard to the Tier 2/ Tier 3 split - not sure, but suffice to say, there must be enough of a split to give the league some concern?
Agree that loans aren’t the way forward.
I believe there are nine Tier 2 teams in our league and 11 Tier 3. A lot more evenly spread than the NECL where most are Tier 3.
There’s probably quite a lot of scope for some of those teams to move to Tier 2, maybe in the next review on December 16. Avro, Irlam and Ashton will all come under GM restrictions and a lot of talk of them being Tier 2 soon. Skem has a Wigan postcode but would come under Lancashire restrictions which maybe are less likely to move, and then maybe Hanley could be another potential mover? We’ll have to see but I’m sure our league are hoping for a few more Tier 2 movers to make that December 19 restart possible.