By Tyler Lloyd
The FA has suspended all three National League’s indefinitely due to the Coronavirus outbreak.
Originally the outbreak meant that the divisions were to be postponed until April the 3rd but has now recently resulted in being extended due to a board meeting.
The National League quoted that they were looking on “how best to conclude” the remainder of the season. However, it is not known if the fifth division, South and North will be cancelled with results becoming expunged. Quoting from the National League article, “The National League is currently obtaining specialist legal advice, is consulting regularly with The Football Association and other stakeholders and is committed to involving its member clubs in a pending decision on how best to conclude the 2019/20 season.”
However, with this huge cloud of uncertainty over whether the National League, North and South will continue, the question then would be what does this mean for Hampton and Richmond and how could we end the league? Well, The Beavers currently sit eighth placed in the league on 47 points with, two games in hand over seventh placed Dorking Wanderers, who sit in the final play-off position on 50 points. Ensuring that the Beavers pick up a minimum of four points out of six against Hemel Hempstead and Tonbridge will see them grab the last spot for the play-offs. This would also ensure Hampton maintaining a good run to the end of the season. The maximum amount of points The Beavers could get is 74 points which would easily secure them a play-off spot but would be a hard challenge for any team to win their last nine fixtures. This would happen if the league were to resume, but another option the league could go, would be to expunge the remainder of the season. This will mean that the league would be null and void and the Beavers will remain in the National League South with, no teams getting promoted or relegated for their 100th year anniversary season, which would be a shame seeing that Hampton are pushing for a play off spot which could see us getting into the National
League for the first time in our club’s history.
However, with this indefinite ban due to the ongoing Covid-19 virus, means that nothing is set in stone as of yet as, Barrow, who are currently four points clear in the National League could potential be put back into the Football League (EFL). This would mainly be due to Bury being kicked out of the EFL leaving a vacant spot in the system. However, in order for this to happen, they would need to be recognised as champions first if, the season was to be null and void.
With lower non-league divisions being expunged, you would not be surprised to see the National League be the next to follow the proceedings. Despite this, more than 100 clubs have sent open letters to the Football Association to reconsider the expungement of fixtures. No comment has currently been made on this by the FA council, so there is still the potential of the non-league football seasons below North and South to be completed, if this happens then surely North and South would be completed, and hopes for that lucrative play-off spot still remains.
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