The Season that Never Was

The Football Association and the Leagues at Steps 3 to 6 of the National League System, including the Toolstation Western League, have reached a consensus that the 2019/20 Season will be ended with immediate effect. This decision will come as a bitter blow to Radstock Town, who were aiming for promotion, yet now they will compete in the First Division again next season, as all this season will now be expunged.

However, there is some good news for Western League Clubs, as the planned implementation of the restructure of the NLS will be deferred until the start of the 2021/22 Season. In practise this means that the Premier Division footprint, which was due to extend deep into Cornwall, with the loss of Wiltshire, will stay as it was for this season. The decision to void the League has also provided the Western League with the opportunity to award ‘prize’ money to all 41 Clubs, at a time when they most need it, as Clubhouses remain closed for the foreseeable future. The decisions reached by the NLS Leagues will be recommended to the FA Board and FA Council for final ratification.