For the second year running, Hassocks will not complete their senior campaign as the Football Association have confirmed that the 2020-21 Southern Combination League season is to be curtailed.
The announcement came following the government’s roadmap for easing lockdown restrictions across England. Grassroots football can return from March 29th for both adults and children, but the FA have decided to curtail non-league football from steps three to six.
In a statement, the FA said: “Our alliance and leagues committees have now considered the large amount of data and information submitted by clubs across the National League System (NLS) Steps 3-6 as part of a survey to gather views on the continuation or conclusion of the 2020-21 league season, in addition to the information set out in the Government’s roadmap this week. “
“The results of the survey showed that over 76 per cent of all clubs across Steps 3-6 indicated a preference to curtail the 2020-21 league season if it could not be restarted with limited spectator numbers and hospitality before 1 April 2021.”
Hassocks had not played a Premier Division match since Saturday 12th December when losing 1-0 at Eastbourne United. The Southern Combination League campaign had also been suspended throughout the whole of November as part of the ‘circuit breaker’ national lockdown put in place.
The Robins sat in 12th place in the Premier Division at the time of curtailment, having won six and lost seven of their 13 matches played. The 18 points won were just two short of Hassocks’ total from the 25 games they managed before the 2019-20 season was declared null and void.
Although the regular Premier Division season will not resume, no decision has been taken on what happens to Under 23 and Under 18s football. A Southern Combination League meeting is due to take place in the coming days to decide.
