QUITE RIGHTLY, SCHOOLS’ football will not have been on the agenda for most of you in recent weeks: however, the BDSFA Committee met on Wednesday via Zoom to confirm the future of this season’s competitions.

 

We have waited until as late as possible before making any final decisions – we understand the time, effort and energy that staff, pupils and parents put into competing in matches and did not wish to act in haste. However, with only a few weeks left until the end of the academic year, low numbers of Y6 pupils in school, no prospect of grassroots football resuming until July at the earliest, and the responsibility of keeping people safe, it is the right time to confirm that the following competitions are cancelled/abandoned for 2019/20:

 

• Ballerz Boys’ League
• Ballerz Girls’ League
• Barking & Dagenham Post Cup
• Barking & Dagenham Post Trophy
• Evans-Moore Plate

The only competition that remains viable is the Monteagle Shield: it has reached the semi-final stage, has short games and can be concluded in an afternoon at a central venue very easily. Therefore, there is still the opportunity to play the remaining fixtures at short notice, should it be safe to do so.