Season start and finish confirmed.

[Oldstripy]

The National League will publish fixtures on Tue 8 Sept at 1pm.

The National League starts on Sat 3 Oct.

Due to the FA Cup, the first National North/South ties will be the following midweek.

The season finishes on Sat 29 May, with play-offs over the first 3 weekends of June.

https://twitter.com/Ollie_Bayliss/st...25804457336839

[slack_pie]

Any news on when and where our FA Trophy semi will take place? And anyone know if it'll be on BT Sport?

[Oldstripy]

Any news on when and where our FA Trophy semi will take place? And anyone know if it'll be on BT Sport?

will show th

Still waiting for decision from FA as soon as I see it on Ollie Bayliss twitter I post it on here, I think BT sport show the semis and final.

[MAD_MAGPIE]

The National League will publish fixtures on Tue 8 Sept at 1pm.

The National League starts on Sat 3 Oct.

Due to the FA Cup, the first National North/South ties will be the following midweek.

The season finishes on Sat 29 May, with play-offs over the first 3 weekends of June.

https://twitter.com/Ollie_Bayliss/st...25804457336839

So with the season starting two months later than usual and finishing a month later than usual it has been shortened by a month. At eight months long that’s roughly 32 weekends so means roughly 14 mid week games to complete.

Usually we hit the halfway point at Christmas. So it’s whether they try to squeeze in the extra mid week games before Christmas or put them in October and later on say March onwards when the weather might be better. We will find out next week.

This season will really benefit any teams that have squads with strength in depth, and those that go on a wining run as the games will come thick and fast. Likewise the opposite for any teams that have small squads and suffer with injuries to key players, or go on losing runs will not have much time to address the issues. It has all the hallmarks for a unique and interesting season to say the least.

[Notts78]

So with the season starting two months later than usual and finishing a month later than usual it has been shortened by a month. At eight months long that’s roughly 32 weekends so means roughly 14 mid week games to complete.

Usually we hit the halfway point at Christmas. So it’s whether they try to squeeze in the extra mid week games before Christmas or put them in October and later on say March onwards when the weather might be better. We will find out next week.

This season will really benefit any teams that have squads with strength in depth, and those that go on a wining run as the games will come thick and fast. Likewise the opposite for any teams that have small squads and suffer with injuries to key players, or go on losing runs will not have much time to address the issues. It has all the hallmarks for a unique and interesting season to say the least.

FA Cup and Trophy games are all on a Saturday too. So at least 2 Saturdays per team to consider. I think we will see Saturday and Tuesday games all season and will probably look to keep April or May free from mid week games to deal with a back log of any postponements which will happen whether due to weather or further COVID issues.

[sidders]

Those dates are merely a statement of intent. The likelihood that they will be realised is no better than 50/50.

[MAD_MAGPIE]

FA Cup and Trophy games are all on a Saturday too. So at least 2 Saturdays per team to consider. I think we will see Saturday and Tuesday games all season and will probably look to keep April or May free from mid week games to deal with a back log of any postponements which will happen whether due to weather or further COVID issues.

Of course I’d forgotten about the FA Cup and Trophy games as well. Plus if the weather over winter is wet and cold that could lead to the odd postponement. Then there is a risk of an enforced break due to Covid 19 and whether the odd game could be played behind closed doors or not. Say for example if Nottm went into a two week local lockdown.

It seems it would be prudent to adopt the methodology of “while the sun shines make hay” and play two games a week from the start of the season and take it from there. There are so many unknowns and variables that could impact this seasons fixtures.

Next week we will find out the intent.

[Nigel_M]

I can't see any point in playing with neither a physical crowd nor a TV one. Professional sport exists to provide entertainment not just to put games on for the sake of it.

The season therefore shouldn't start until crowds are allowed - even if restricted numbers.

They should set out clearly in advance what the rules are if a full 46 games can't be played. I would say initially they should make the season 2 blocks of 23 games, making the priority playing every other team once before any cup games are played. If needs be the season could then end there or that could be the default unless say 40 games have been completed. That seems better to me than some arbitrary points per game system that favours those who've played more of the weaker sides.

[countygump]

I can't see any point in playing with neither a physical crowd nor a TV one. Professional sport exists to provide entertainment not just to put games on for the sake of it.

The season therefore shouldn't start until crowds are allowed - even if restricted numbers.

They should set out clearly in advance what the rules are if a full 46 games can't be played. I would say initially they should make the season 2 blocks of 23 games, making the priority playing every other team once before any cup games are played. If needs be the season could then end there or that could be the default unless say 40 games have been completed. That seems better to me than some arbitrary points per game system that favours those who've played more of the weaker sides.

This^^^

Lower League/Non League football without gates = bankruptcy.

[jonnyt1]

Of course the season will finish. There is no pandemic just casedemic