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Sunday 13 September 2020

Next Steps Along the Bumpy Road

Watching the excellent BBC coverage of Stocksbridge Park Steels against Stalybridge Celtic in the FA Cup on Saturday afternoon you could almost feel as though football life was back to normal as supporters enjoyed the game, swapped ends at half-time and clapped their teams off at the end of a well-contested tie.

But many bumps in the road lie ahead, in England where clubs are being warned to comply with the new Covid-19 guidelines that come into force on Monday, in Scotland where friendly fixtures outside the top-flight are now being played, albeit behind closed doors, and in Wales where the grassroots game remains in limbo amid fears an entire season may be lost.

A busy week ahead sees the league season begin at Steps 3 and 4 of the non-league game in England, the Northern, Southern and Isthmian Leagues having again worked together to attract a joint sponsor and also in the FA Women's National League where some very competitive football will be played at very affordable prices.

It is also the opening round of the FA Vase and the next stage of the FA Women's Cup.

Information about as many games as I can will be on twitter throughout the week.

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