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21/03/2021

Proposals as to How the Yorkshire League could Restart

 

YCA Competitions Controller Andrew Zigmond has sent an e-mail to all clubs, as reproduced below.  The wider membership may like to know the possibilities being considered.  All is of course subject to the ever-moving goalposts and periodically changing restrictions, as the planned “road map” of easing of lock-down gradually unfolds – or not.

 

Dear All

 

After consultation with the committee I am setting out below my proposals as to how the Yorkshire League could restart.  If some form of Yorkshire League is to resume in October I would need entries no later than JULY 31st.

 

IT WOULD BE HELPFUL IF ALL CLUBS COULD RESPOND TO LET ME KNOW IF THEY WISH TO RE-ENTER IN OCTOBER AND, IF SO, HOW MANY TEAMS. NIL RESPONSES WOULD ALSO BE HELPFUL.

 

Before we go into the detailed proposals, a few caveats.  The first is that it will be impossible to find a proposal that satisfies everyone, and that the 2021-22 season is likely to be a transitional one.  The second is that this is the first part of the process and when I have a better idea of how many teams wish to enter I can start setting out the structure in earnest.

 

Essentially I am proposing three possibilities.

 

a)  The "best case" scenario; that all thirty current teams are ready to resume play and a full Yorkshire League program begins in October as per normal. I personally think this is unlikely - leaving aside the fact that some players may still be reluctant to play, some clubs may not restart until the Autumn and will want a bit of time to regroup.

 

OR

 

b)  Restart the Yorkshire League in January.  In this case it would be impossible to play a full eleven-round league so we would possibly need to revert to four divisions (and retrieve the AG Sunderland Cup) - assuming all thirty teams re-enter that would make the split 8 8 7 7.  I would stress that this is only planned as a temporary measure and that we would be aiming to revert to a standard format in 2022.

 

OR

 

c)  A hybrid of the two.  Some players will be eager to restart in September and I see no reason why they shouldn't be able to do so.  Depending on the number of entries there are two possible options:

 

 

i)  A Woodhouse Cup running throughout the season (over 11 rounds) with the other divisions restarting in January. In this instance some reshuffling of divisions may be required;

 

OR, if six or less teams enter the October league,

 

ii) Play and complete a league event in September with a further seven‑round league structure beginning in January.

 

 

 

The committee are considering holding an AGM in August if restrictions permit (or on Zoom if they don't) where the exact structure and composition of divisions can be finalised.  A decision can also be made as to whether any league structure for 2021-22 should allow promotion and relegation or if all options should be kept open for 2022-23.

 

There is the external factor of what social distancing restrictions venues may be required to impose and whether clubs can comply with these.  Ultimately the responsibility for providing suitable venues lies with the individual clubs not the YCA.  Perhaps worse is the risk of a third wave leading to further lockdowns but that's a bridge that will need to be crossed as and when we come to it.

 

Andrew