Newark Football Alliance committee explains reasoning behind postponement

The Newark Football Alliance has postponed competitive football while Nottinghamshire county remains in Tier 3.

The decision was made in the week leading up to the return of Sunday League football nationally.

Friendly matches can still go ahead for Sunday League teams as organised outdoor sport is allowed under government rules.

A spokesperson for the Alliance said: “We have teams in Grantham, Bottesford and Barkestone who are not affiliated to the Notts FA and are outside of Nottinghamshire and, as per FA guidelines, clubs of open age football teams cannot cross borders to play.

“Also players of teams cannot play for a team affiliated to Notts FA if they live outside the border.

“If all our teams cannot play then as a committee a decision was made that we would suspend our league until everyone can play.”

Under this decision, it would mean that Leicestershire and Lincolnshire, as well as Nottinghamshire, must all hold at least Tier 2 status before the Newark Alliance’s return.