Following a consultation process with a number of partners, stakeholders and local leagues, Lancashire Football Association has regrettably cancelled all County Cup competitions for the 2020/21 season due to the existing uncertainty caused by the Covid-19 pandemic – and to enable clubs and leagues to complete their 2020/21 fixture programme and/or run some other form of competition, as agreed most importantly by the members at an SGM; and to hopefully provide football for all to the season’s end.

In August 2020 we advised that all County Cups for the 2020/21 season were being cancelled, but stated we would revisit and review the decision in January 2021. As we have now reached that point; Lancashire FA, in order to support and protect your league and cup competitions (as above), has come to the conclusion that all County Cup competitions for season 2020/21 should remain cancelled as originally outlined last August. 

There is a great feeling of passion around our County Cup competitions and the opportunity to play on the professional grounds at Leyland is always a highly anticipated occasion for our finalists, so we appreciate this news will come as a disappointment to many.

However, with the country currently in a third national lockdown and grassroots football still suspended as a result of these restrictions, the Lancashire FA Board of Directors, after wider consultation, felt that this decision had to be made in order to ease the already tough scheduling pressures that clubs are facing up and down the county. 

We very much share your disappointment that we are unable to proceed with the County Cups this season as we have in the past, and we thank you for your support with this decision. 

Like the entire football community in Lancashire we sincerely hope next season’s County Cups will have a more familiar look to them, with a disruption-free run from start to finish so clubs, players, officials and everyone else involved can enjoy these special competitions and take part in more memorable occasions. 

On that note, looking forward with positivity to the 2021/22 season and beyond, we will be taking this opportunity to review the County Cup competition format as it currently stands. It’s extremely important to us that our clubs and leagues provide their voices as part of this process, so we are looking for volunteers to join a cup-specific working group to help review and develop our offering.

If you are interested in joining this working group, please email Hayley.Mather@LancashireFA.com 

Furthermore, Lancashire FA can confirm that plans remain in place to complete the 2019/20 County Cup Final fixtures later this season once grassroots football is in a position to safely resume. 

Should you require any further clarification, please contact the team at Lancashire FA.