Below is a snippet taken from a recent email from the Football Association. With this in mind we are currently in talks with Stourport regarding a new fixture date and also Haughmond following the postponement of our fixture at the weekend.

"After the previous two seasons have been impacted by COVID-19, we find ourselves with the real hope that a full and uninterrupted season can be completed in the National League System and Regional NLS Feeder Leagues. As such we also need to plan for both required processes to be undertaken over the close season to ensure that allocations can be finalised, any appeals process can be undertaken, and constitutions confirmed with Leagues in readiness for AGM’s ahead of the Season 2022-23 start at the end of July/early August.

We understand entirely that ‘season end dates’ had not been confirmed formally ahead of the Season, with Step 5 and 6 Leagues only being required to achieve as high completion rate as quickly as possible as we commenced the Season under the profile of contingency planning. We also have the addition this year of a play-off match between some Step 5 and 4 Clubs at the end of the Season and with this, need to be mindful of the financial impact of contracted players beyond the end of April.

The Leagues Committee discussed the end dates for the Season last week and additionally in a meeting with representatives of the Leagues and Alliance Committee today. With this in mind and I can confirm the following dates. While the majority of Leagues are working to these dates, we are aware that a small number of Leagues at Steps 5 and 6 will require some alterations to fixtures, to which we apologise. For Regional NLS Feeder Leagues, it is imperative that those Leagues where promotion candidates reside, that the promotion candidate is confirmed for the allocations process.

Season end dates are therefore as follows:

Step 5: Saturday, 23rd April (with playoffs scheduled for the weekend of April 30th)

Step 6: Saturday, 30th April (with playoffs required to be concluded by Sunday, May 8th)

Regional NLS Feeder League: Saturday, 7th May"