Chesterfield invited to attend meeting to discuss fixtures as National League press ahead with plans for new season

Chesterfield have been invited to take part in a meeting with National League clubs to discuss fixtures and restart protocols ahead of the new season.
The new National League season will start on October 3.The new National League season will start on October 3.
The new National League season will start on October 3.

The 2020/2021 National League campaign is scheduled to start on October 3, three weeks after the Premier League and Football League.

This is so non-league clubs can benefit financially from fans attending matches, but stadium capacities will be reduced to allow for social distancing.

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Prime Minister Boris Johnson has previously said the aim is to allow spectators into stadiums by October following a number of pilots at various different sporting events.

In an email to clubs, the National League said it is “urgently” working on protocols for the 2020/2021 campaign, which will mirror what clubs competing in the play-offs had to adhere to.

“It is vital that we all move towards restart in a positive and professional manner,” the National League said.

On the agenda will be restart protocols such as training and pre-season matches, fixtures, registrations, match balls and bench wear.

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The talks will be held via Zoom on Thursday, August 6, with separate meetings for the National League and National League North/South divisions.

Each club will be able to have two representatives at the meeting.

When the season gets underway on October 3, it will be 203 days since Chesterfield’s last match against Dover Athletic on March 13 before the country went into lockdown.

In other news, the FA Cup fourth qualifying round will take place on October 24 and the FA Trophy first round will be on November 14.