2020 finalised and NEFL look ahead to 2021
Outstanding games in the North East Football League 2020 season will not be completed apart for teams involved in the last 16 of the 40th Anniversary Cup.
That competition was introduced last year to mark the 40th anniversary of what started off as the Mid-Meath League in 1980, changed to the Meath & District League and in more recent times became the North East Football League.
The NEFL committee met this week via Zoom and set a date for the annual general meeting for Tuesday 9th March via Microsoft Teams.
Secertary Gerry Gorman told the Meath Chronicle today about the current plans for football.
"Due to the ongoing Level 5 restrictions, it would not be possible to complete the 2020 season in full by the extended deadline of Sunday 21st March, a date which was advised from the FAI in late November 2020 following representations on our behalf by the Leinster Football Association," commented Gorman.
"As a result, the 2020 season will not be resumed, one exception shall be the 40 Year Commemorative Cup which is down to the last 16.
Thos games will be integrated with all other competitions at the start of the 2021 season with a view to have it concluded within the first quarter period," added Gorman who has been involved with the league for those 40 years since serving as the inaugural secretary in 1980.
At the March annual meeting NEFL clubs will consider the following.
"For 2021 the aim at this point is to complete a full season starting in mid-May at the latest," explained Gerry Gorman.
"Should the start be delayed to that point or close to it, it would require the full co-operation of all teams to play two matches per week for a total of 12 games during June and July as part of the overall fixture list.
"The hope is an earlier starting date will be granted, but should it be put further back into June or beyond would likely force a rethink towards a reduced campaign in order to finalise everything on or before the end of November," he concluded.
THE 2019 PREMIER CHAMPIONS - TRIM CELTIC