FA – Step 5, 6 and 7 leagues can continue seasons in to May 2018

The FA have announced that step five and six leagues can extend their league seasons until early May with no need to lodge a request with English footballs governing body.

According to a series of dates sent out by the Football Association and seen by Football in Bracknell on 6th April, all leagues at step five and six in the English Football Pyramid can extend their seasons to Saturday 12th May, but fixtures affecting promotion or relegation must be completed by Monday 7th May.

At step seven, the Thames Valley Premier League has a further week to complete its fixtures and looking at the fixture list, fully intend to use it with matches up to the 19th May. As it stands, the final Uhlsport Hellenic League Premier Division and Division 1 East fixtures are scheduled for Saturday 28th April.

Thatcham Town’s FA Vase Final at Wembley Stadium against Stockton Town is on Saturday 20th May.

Before posting this information, we decided to check the validity and reached out to Matt Edkins, the National League System Manager in the Football Participation & Development Division at the FA and he confirmed: “This is the position of the FA’s Leagues Committee and Leagues are to work within the dates set.”

“The number of teams per division has not been factored in when making the decision this season.”

So there you have it directly from the man in the know – all Leagues at steps 5, 6 and 7 can extend their seasons in line with the above table and have been able to arrange extensions since the 6th April.

Article compiled by Tom Canning and Darrell Freeland.