Boris Johnson makes announcement on future of non-elite football

Boris Johnson makes an announcement on the future of non-elite football in the House of Commons on Monday night, and it’s not good news.

The Premier League, EFL, and National League, along with its North and South divisions, can continue to play. However, leagues/tiers below are to halt again, and that how now sadly been confirmed.

Whilst we’re talking about other competitions, one of the biggest question marks was currently over the FA Cup. The First Round takes place next weekend. Whilst elite sport can continue in lockdown, 10 clubs involved fall into the ‘non-elite’ bracket.

The Government has confirmed that the 10 ‘non-elite’ clubs CAN play in the FA Cup this weekend. The FA “remain in regular dialogue with the Government in relation to both men’s and women’s ‘non-elite’ football and will provide a further update on this in due course.”

A further update has been given. Ollie Bayliss posted a clip that lasts around one minute and a half, of talks going on before making the announcement we were all dreading.

Boris Johnson “I bitterly regret that we have to curtail for 28 days (non-elite) football clubs”.

He didn’t say, however, if that starts from Thursday or with immediate effect.

BREAKING:

Boris Johnson “I bitterly regret that we have to curtail for 28 days (non-elite) football clubs”. pic.twitter.com/UXq1rpPH3q

— Ollie Bayliss (@Ollie_Bayliss) November 2, 2020

He adds: “I’m happy to provide all the scientific data on which these decisions have been made.

“I think what the house will appreciate is that for any particular human activity, you can always find an arguable exemption from these measures, or for many of them.

“The difficulty is, is that to be consistent, and to have a package that works,  you need to have a thoroughgoing series of measures that we have described.”

“I bitterly regret that we have to curtail for 28 days (non-elite) football clubs and sporting activities”.

“I believe that is necessary to get the R rate down.”

The decision has seemingly been made, yet it’s not been confirmed by the Football Association, who did say in a statement earlier that talks were ongoing and that they would provide an update.

LEAGUES EXPECTED TO BE HALTED

Northern Premier League Premier Division
Southern League Central Division
Southern League South Division
Isthmian League Premier Division
Northern Premier League Division One North West
Northern Premier League Division One South East
Southern League Division One Central
Southern League Division One South
Isthmian League Division One South Central
Isthmian League Division One North
Isthmian League Division One South East
Northern Premier League Premier Division
Southern League Central Division
Southern League South Division
Isthmian League Premier Division

Northern Premier League Division One North West
Northern Premier League Division One South East
Southern League Division One Central
Southern League Division One South
Isthmian League Division One South Central
Isthmian League Division One North
Isthmian League Division One South East

Combined Counties League Premier Division
Eastern Counties Football League Premier Division
Essex Senior League
Hellenic League Premier Division
Midland League Premier Division
North West Counties League Premier Division
Northern Counties East Football League Premier Division
Northern League Division One
Southern Combination League Premier Division
Southern Counties East League Premier Division
Spartan South Midlands League Premier Division
United Counties League Premier Division
Wessex League Premier Division
Western League Premier Division

Combined Counties League Division One
East Midlands Counties League
Eastern Counties League Division One North
Eastern Counties League Division One South
Hellenic Football League Division One East
Hellenic Football League Division One West
Midland League Division One
North West Counties League Division One North
North West Counties League Division One South
Northern Counties East Football League Division One
Northern League Division Two
South West Peninsula League Premier Division East
South West Peninsula League Premier Division West
Southern Combination League Division One
Southern Counties East League Division One
Spartan South Midlands League Division One
United Counties League Division One
Wessex League Division One
West Midlands (Regional) League Premier Division
Western League Division One
Plus all levels from 12 to 20

Fans reacted after seeing Boris Johnson makes announcement on the future of non-elite football…

Those complaining about 5th and 6th tier clubs been classed as elite may have a different view now, at least they can still keep playing

— christopher holmes (@mrcrh11) November 2, 2020

I think we all knew that was going to happen sadly, even if games were still permitted to go ahead, crowds would have been banned anyway. Just hope the government will lift these restrictions on December 2nd and not make another bloody U turn!

— Dale Skitt (@daleskitt) November 2, 2020

Thats it then,gonna be a long month,especially saturday,sunday and tuesday evenings.?

— Stuart cripps (@Stuartcripps4) November 2, 2020

Be like 4 weather postponements this time of year

— trevor knell (@trevk37) November 2, 2020

It better only be 28 days @BorisJohnson !!!!!

— John Albon (@John_Albon5) November 2, 2020

Perhaps if we are all in this together then Elite Football ( Premier League ) should be shut down as well . Oh wait that can’t happen because of the money coming into these clubs through Tv ! In it together not

— Martin (@Cook209Martin) November 2, 2020

BoJo talking about “consistency” makes me chuckle!

The only thing consistent about this government is their complete lack of consistency!

— Matt Carrington (@MainStreetMatt) November 2, 2020

Let’s just hope this means the games on 5th December onwards continue as normal with crowds as we have been doing since September and it’s just a case of rearranging postponed games in the Spring

— Colin Peppiatt (@ColinPeppiatt) November 2, 2020

FUCK SAKE.

— Ty Jenner (@TyJenner) November 2, 2020

It is SAFER playing football outdoors than it is in a classroom.

If schools can stay open then grassroots for children HAS to continue @BorisJohnson

If not we want FULL scientific evidence as to why! https://t.co/PikFlNZx9Z

— Dijkinho (@Dijkinho) November 2, 2020

That explains that then and no Non-league football for 28 days.

— Andrew Buxton (@buckers43) November 2, 2020

Man’s a fucking idiot. Talks about consistent message. Sets up a 3 tier system to simplify it then has 2 regions under tier 3 with diff rules and talks about tier 1+, 2+ etc clueless

— Andrew Brito-Coll (@abritty21) November 2, 2020