North East Football League announce 2020 format
The North East Football League committee last night finalised kick-off for the 2020 season from Monday 10th August with a new cup competition also in the mix but no leagues will be contested.
No League competitions will be played in 2020 and the final positions from the end of last season as at December 2019 will determine start up status for 2021 season with kick-off in March 2021.
The fixture schedule will continue until the end of November and, if necessary, into December.
Seeded knock-out competitions will take place with a qualification process from each group (see details below).
An extra open cup competition, the 40-year Commemorative Cup, (1980 - 2020) shall be open to all club first teams (optional) irrespective of grading.
The Reserve Cup shall be played as normal for all reserve teams (also optional) and closing date for entries for both is Friday 31st July.
2020 COMPETITION FORMAT
The Tully Bookmakers Challenge Cup will be the top seeded competition followed by the Kilmessan Shield and Fitzsimons Cup with seeded competitions for teams in Division 3 and Division 4 (Gerry Reilly Cup, O'Neill Shield and Jimmy Mangan Cup).
The following Groups were formed at the NEFL meeting on Tuesday 30th June.
Group A - Muirhevna Mor, Bay FC, Bellurgan Utd, Albion Rovers, Ardee Celtic, Torro Utd, Glenmuir Utd, Abbey Celtic.
Group B - Rock Celtic, Carrick Rovers, Square Utd, Kingscourt Harps, Redeemer Celtic, Drogheda Town, Bailieboro Celtic, Newtown Utd.
Group C - Parkvilla, Duleek, OMP Utd, Chord Celtic, Kentstown Rovers, Oldcastle Utd, Trim Celtic 2nds, Kells Celtic.
Group D - Boyne Harps, Trim Celtic, Athboy Celtic, Enfield Celtic, Donacarney Celtic, Johnstown, Trim Town, Virginia.
Group E - BJD Celtic, Navan Town Cosmos, Ardee Celtic 2nds, Glenmuir Utd 2nds, Virginia 2nds, Athboy Celtic 2nds, Electro Celtic 2nds, Oldcastle Utd 2nds.
Group F - Fordrew Rovers, Torro Utd 2nds, Carrick 2nds, Square 2nds, Newtown 2nds, Slane Wanderers, Kells Celtic 2nds, Castle Villa, Robinstown 2nds.
Group G - Bohermeen Celtic, Kilmessan, Kentstown 2nds, Millmount Celtic, Donacarney 2nds, Albion 2nds, Rossin Rovers, Park Celtic Summerhill.
Group H - OMP Utd 2nds, Parkvilla 2nds, Robinstown, Chord Celtic 2nds, Lourdes Celtic, Albion 3rds, Johnstown 2nds, Enfield 2nds.
QUALIFICATION PROCESS
TULLY BOOKMAKERS CHALLENGE CUP (top two in each Group)
Quarter finals - 1A v 2B; 1B v 2A; IC v 2D; 1D v 2C.
KILMESSAN SHIELD (third and fourth placed teams)
Quarter finals - 3A v 4B; 3B v 4A; 3C v 4D; 3D v 4C;
FITZSIMONS CUP (fifth and sixth)
Quarter-finals - 5A v 6B; 5B v 6A; 5C v 6D; 5D v 6C.
GERRY REILLY MEMORIAL CUP
Quarter-finals - 1E v 2F; 1F v 2E; 1G v 2H; 1H v 2G.
O'NEILL SHIELD
Quarter-finals - 3E v 4F; 3F v 4E; 3G v 4H; 3H v 4G.
JIMMY MANGAN CUP (new)
Quarter-finals - 5E v 6F; 5F v 6E; 5G v 6H; 5H v 6G.
Teams finishing outside of sixth position in groups do not qualify.
FEES
Similar to the shortened season of 2018 - a pro-rata figure of 50 per cent will apply regarding affiliation fees.
The same percentage ratio will apply to the rule governing the amount of games a player can participate for a club’s
first team (for clubs with two or more teams) e.g rule presently states eight first teams games, for shortened season
this would equate to four games.