Premier Cup

The SFA Cups Committee met to consider the 2020-2021 Premier Cup Competition in light of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. The committee are aware that due to ongoing coronavirus restrictions that clubs in the National League System, who participate in the Premier Cup, will start their leagues seasons far later than normal this season. This will necessitate many more midweek fixtures than in a “normal” season. Furthermore, at present there is still no certainty regarding the attendance of spectators which is of course a great concern for these clubs.

Given that there will be precious few dates to play the matches, even without weather interruptions and the likelihood of further disruptions through possible new lockdowns, be they on a local or larger level, the playing of this years Premier Cup would be problematic. For clubs at this level the priority will of course be playing regular league fixtures, therefore the Cups Committee believe that it is in the best interests of our member clubs that Premier Cup does take place and consequently the competition is cancelled for the 2020-2021 season. The Cups Committee did not make this decision lightly but felt that it is necessary in the best interests of the game in Somerset, which will always be the committee’s priority.

Please note that as the Premier Cup is cancelled, your clubs non participation in the competition will not affect your entry into the FA CUP, FA Trophy and FA Vase. This decision relates to the 2020-2021 season ONLY and the Cups Committee look forward to running the competition in season 2021-2022

Somerset FA County Cups (Excluding Premier Cup competition)

The SFA Cups Committee to consider the 2020-2021 county cup competitions in light of the ongoing coronavirus outbreak. Obviously they were keen to play the various county cup competitions this season and indeed, a number of clubs have expressed a desire to enter. However, the committee are aware that the coming season will be nothing like “normal” and there will  numerous obstacles to getting games played and the competitions completed.

The committee believes that most clubs will want to return to playing on a regular basis and this will best be served by a regular fixture list in their respective league competition. Given that there will likely be further lockdowns, be they on a local or larger level, the potential for disruption throughout the season is great (even without the prospects of a bad winter, weather wise), the priority must be for league seasons to take place to give all clubs regular fixtures and county cup fixtures would only exacerbate any such disruptions from lock downs for league fixtures. Furthermore, county cups by their nature, will often see teams travel great distances across the county, the cups committee felt that this may not be warranted at the present moment, particularly with changing rooms and showers currently not being available.

Therefore the Cups Committee have decided that ALL Somerset FA County Cup competitions will be postponed for the 2020-2021 season. The Cups Committee did not make this decision lightly but felt that it is necessary in the best interests of the game in Somerset, which will always be the committee’s priority.

This will mean that the competitions will not start at the normal times. The committee will review the situation in the New Year and, if there has been little or no disruption, and leagues are nearing completion of their regular fixture programmes long in advance of the normal season end, they will consider if there is a possibility of playing some of the competitions on a limited basis in the time remaining. This will however likely be the exception rather than the rule, and in all probability there will be no county cups played this season.

The committee are of course disappointed that there will be no county cups in 2020-2021, but look forward to welcoming all clubs into the competitions for the 2021-2022 season.