Fixture Scheduling - 3 February
The continuing thaw has cleared the snow from all pitches but it will not signal the end, just yet, of postponed matches with fixtures having fallen to the on-going rain in midweek. The next problem will be waterlogged pitches caused by the rain following the snow that has melted possibly causing the fixture headache to continue for more time.
Fixture Co-ordinator Dave Jesson, has managed to resolve almost all of postponed matches to 26th January and is now turning his attention to the waterlogged fixtures from last Monday onwards. If there are many more matches called off some clubs will be faced with the need to play two midweek fixtures in some weeks to cope with the backlog.
It must be stressed that this is not something the Hellenic League wishes to do but The FA set a completion date for Premier & Division One league fixtures of 27th APRIL for leagues throughout the country to finish their competitions. The reason for this is to enable decisions to be made in good time concerning promotion and relegation at all levels of the non-league pyramid.
The FA is, however, offering a degree of latitude where matches do not involve teams in a promotion or relegation scenario but will allow such scheduling to be managed by individual leagues. The Uhlsport Hellenic League will continue to review the scheduling of matches with a view to an end of April completion, at this time, unless it is impossible to find a suitable earlier date. |
