AS FANS return to “elite football” in many areas of the country this week, and Premier League and EFL clubs continue to fulfil their fixtures, Non-League football has been left in limbo.

This is especially the case for regional leagues in the north where many areas are in Tier 3 of the new Covid restrictions.

A statement from the Trident Leagues (the Northern Premier, Southern and Isthmian Leagues) on Thursday evening was supposed to provide clarity on the situation for clubs in these divisions, but failed to do so, and reveals what appears to be a lack of communication, organisation and understanding between the FA, the government and the leagues themselves.

Many Non-League clubs had successfully and safely fulfilled fixtures with fans present for two months prior to the latest lockdown.

But as supporters return to games in the Premier League and the English Football League (EFL), and things seem to be moving forward at the top level, it appears the progress of Non-League football has been put in reverse.

While many — certainly not all — Premier League and EFL teams in Tier 3 areas will be able to continue reasonably comfortably without fans, in Non-League, supporters are the clubs’ main source of income.

This weekend’s Northern Premier League fixtures have been postponed, as have the round of games due to be played on Tuesday.

Some Non-league clubs find themselves in a situation where they are allowed to play FA Trophy games but not permitted to fulfil league fixtures.

The situation hasn’t been helped by the fact that decisions weren’t made until the end of last week. The statement from the Trident Leagues on Thursday which was meant to clear things up was delayed, and when it came said little more than “a further statement will be made in due course.”

Though the Northern Premier League has postponed games across the board, it would have been possible for teams in Tier 2 regions such as St Helens, Warrington, Cheshire, Liverpool, Knowsley, Halton, Sefton, North Yorkshire and Cumbria to play their matches in front of spectators.

With tiers set to be reviewed every 14 days (the next review is December 16), it would make sense for those currently in Tier 2 to play any fixtures they are able to between other Tier 2 sides while they can. 

If an area drops from Tier 3 to Tier 2, those clubs can then do the same and, though some will no doubt move in the other direction, they will have been able to fulfil some of their fixtures and bring in some much-needed match day income while they were in Tier 2.

The same could more easily be applied to the Southern and Isthmian leagues where there are fewer Tier 3 areas.

If the current decision of the Northern Premier League to postpone matches across the board remains in place beyond this week, it could threaten the completion of the season, and also threaten the very existence of some clubs.

Labour MP Kate Osborne has written to Oliver Dowden, the Secretary of State for Digital, Culture, Media and Sport, highlighting the problems facing Non-League clubs, and the inconsistencies across the game.

“I am writing to you regarding the financial viability of asking Non-league clubs to play without spectators in Tier 3 restricted areas,” Osborne, the MP for Jarrow, wrote on Thursday.

“For clubs in the Non-League set-up, the primary source of income is from home match days, without that income stream, the current measures will kill grassroots football and further damage our local economy. 

“I know that the Non-League clubs in my constituency had put an enormous amount of effort and money putting Covid secure measures in place in anticipation for December 2.

“It is time for common sense to prevail for Non-League football teams, most have around 1-200 fans in most grounds at that level which means it is a safe and socially distanced environment.”

Safety is paramount during the pandemic, and it has been at Non-League clubs who successfully welcomed fans from September until the November lockdown, working hard to get games on in a safe environment to keep clubs going.

Now there are contradictory guidelines that mean people can go shopping indoors, and could even gather in queues outside shops during lockdown, but cannot attend well managed Non-League football matches outdoors.

Non-League clubs need clarity, common sense and help. Instead, they are being presented with obstacles, confusion and delay. 

The FA, the government and the leagues should have had a clear and realistic post-lockdown plan to keep Non-League football afloat either through grants (not loans) or games, but haven’t. They need to do so asap, or parts of the league pyramid which is so important to the game in this country could begin to crumble.