Resumption of ESBFL “CUP” fixtures w.e.f. 10th April 2021

The following 9 teams have decided not to continue with this season and will not participate in any more league activity for the time being:

Boxted Lodgers FC First and Reserves (KO Cup / Reserve Cup & Tommy Thompson Cup)
Brantham Athletic FC Reserves and A (KO Cup / Reserve Cup & Tommy Thompson Cup)
Felixstowe & Walton United FC Reserves (KO Cup)
Parkeston Welfare Park FC (KO Cup & Tommy Thomson Cup)
St Osyth FC (KO Cup & Tommy Thompson Cup)
Stanway Athletic FC (KO Cup & Tommy Thomson Cup)
West Bergholt FC Reserves (Reserve Cup only)

The Fixture Secretary is working on the fixtures to ensure we get on with the cups and are able to start the supplementary cup as soon as possible. This is not as easy and straightforward as it may seem.

You should be aware that we will only be able to publish fixtures on a week by week basis obviously due to not knowing who will get through. The aim is to complete all fixtures both the existing and new cups by the end of May.

We are also working on the format of the new cup(s) and need to consider the amount of weeks available to play!

Of course you will be able to arrange friendlies if you don’t have a game and we would be happy to advise on teams which may be available.

The fixtures for the first week with some for the second will be published later this week and as I have said on a week by week basis thereafter.

We all need to be flexible and we will try to accommodate requests in relation to pitches and so on and we will help where we are able. Some teams have said they are happy to loan (hire) their pitch if available and so on.

There will be more guidance issued by the FA before the 29th and I will circulate this.

One question raised is that of spectators.

I am clear that we must not advertise for people to watch our games (at least as at 29th though the situation is reviewed and updated every 3 to 6 weeks) but I know many of you have pitches accessible to the general public.

The ECFA guidance on “Spectators” was published earlier on this web-site.

Best wishes
Alison Stanford
ESBL Secretary