LeamingtonFC.co.uk

Read below a statement from the National League, sent to all member clubs on Friday, March 26 2021.

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An Independent Panel, commissioned by The National League, has met to hear the cases of 18 Member Clubs charged with alleged breaches of League Rules.

16 Member Clubs were charged with a breach of League Rule 8.39, 1 Member Club was charged with a breach of League Rule 4.2 and 1 Member Club was charged with a breach of both League Rule 4.2 and 8.39.

Rule 8.39 relates to any Club without just cause failing to fulfil an engagement to play a Competition match on an appointed date. Rule 4.2 provides The National League Board with the ability to issue an instruction, by way of Board Directive, in the best interests of any matter outside of the Rules. On this occasion, Rule 4.2 has been utilised to ensure The National League’s Covid-19 protocols are followed correctly by each Member Club.

The findings of the hearings, divided into three categories, can be found below:

Dover Athletic

An Independent Panel has ruled that Dover Athletic are deemed guilty of four breaches of Rule 8.39 for failing to meet fixture obligations between February 16th and February 27th.

The Club will play no further part in the 2020/21 Playing Season, with the Club’s existing National League (Step One) results expunged. A 12-point deduction for the 2021/22 Playing Season and fine of £40,000 have additionally been issued.

The Panel had regard to financial information provided by Dover Athletic and fully respected the responsibility of the Club’s Directors under Company Law.

However, the Panel also had to consider the integrity of the Competition and the actions of Dover Athletic in relation to the other 22 Clubs that continue to incur much costs as they fulfill their fixtures. Dover Athletic had avoided costs by not completing their Season alongside the other 22 Clubs. In addition, The National League basic award meant they were significantly benefiting from not completing the Season compared to the 22 Clubs that continued.

The Panel concluded that three points per breach should be deducted from the Club’s record in Playing Season 2021/22. In view of the current financial situation and in order to reflect the approach taken in other cases of breaches of Rule 8.39, the Independent Panel reduced the initial fine by 20% to £40,000.

Non-Fulfilment of Fixtures at Step Two

An Independent Panel has ruled that 16 Member Clubs participating in National League North and South (Step Two) are guilty of breaching Rule 8.39 for failing to meet fixture obligations.

Fines ranging from £1,400 to £8,000 in addition to a suspended points deduction for the 2021/22 Playing Season has been issued to each Member Club found guilty.

Given the extremely unusual circumstances that have affected football at all levels and the financial pressures the absence of spectators has brought to bear on clubs, the Panel expressed its sympathy with the Clubs’ predicament. However, the Panel believes it must also take regard of the fact that the majority of Clubs continued to fulfil fixtures and incur much costs until the League ended on February 19th.

Per breach, each Club received a £2,000 fine and suspended two-point deduction for the 2021/22 Playing Season. A 30% deduction was made to the fine for those accepting the charge ahead of the hearing.

Covid-19 Related Breaches

King’s Lynn Town and Southport have been found guilty by an Independent Panel of a breach of The National League’s Covid-19 protocols.

Season 2020/21 had started under restrictions imposed to help control the spread of Covid-19 virus. In order to ensure the Season could continue safely, The National League had developed a number of protocols with Club Process Flow Charts which were to be followed by Clubs.

The Panel imposed a 12-month suspended fine of £2,000 on King’s Lynn Town for an unintentional error, considered to be in the best efforts to ensure a fixture was played. The Club were warned for their future conduct in relation to Covid-19 protocols, with the suspended fine only to be issued if the Club is found guilty of a further breach of Covid-19 protocols.

The Panel issued a £2,000 fine to Southport for, based on the evidence received, misinformation of the status of a player’s Covid-19 test to avoid playing a fixture on dates set by the League. The Club were also warned their future conduct in relation to Covid-19 protocols.

*There is a right of appeal to the Football Association.

Chairman Jim Scott featured on ITV Central news last night to discuss the impact of the last twelve months on the club. Scott started by thanking fans for raising close to £35,000 which has helped the club through the 2020/21 season and allow for a new stand to be built on the Sheepside side of the ground which has recently been completed. Scott mentioned his aspirations for getting fans back in the ground next season with the last time fans were in the Community Stadium being for a 0-0 draw with King’s Lynn Town on 3 March 2020.

A vote from National League member clubs ended the National League North 2020/21 season, declaring it null and void, and since then Leamington players and management have taken reductions in wages to help the club through to season 2021/22. Scott is hopeful of the side continuing the great form found in 2020/21 into next season with the side only losing three league matches and unbeaten at home since 6 October, with some notable results such as wins over York, Chorley and a remarkable comeback from 3-0 down at half time against Alfreton Town to win 4-3.

With the recent news of an elite football pathway partnership with Solihull Academy FC, Scott was keen to bring attention to the Community side. There are about 38 teams below the first team - incorporating post-16 education schemes and a development academy - and this number is growing still. Leamington FC coaches are going into schools and academies with the community reach from the club also growing.

The last twelve months have been challenging for the football club, like clubs up and down the country, but with a season start date for the 2021/22 season announced - 14 August - the atmosphere at Leamington is very much hopeful to see what the next twelve months and beyond have in store for the club.

Filming with Jim Scott the Chairman of @LeamingtonFC at the the Community Stadium. He says "We are very much more than a football club" and the community have played a big role in helping the club through the pandemic. @BrakesLive @ITVCentral @carlsarg pic.twitter.com/G0ZBuJL8US
— Pat Fenelon 🎥 (@PatFenelonITV) March 19, 2021

National League North club Leamington FC and the highly reputable Solihull Academy Football Club youth set up from the Junior Premier League have joined forces to create a post 16 football pathway capable of taking junior footballers to the next level.

Currently Leamington FC offer a thriving boys and girls development section plying their trade in local grassroots leagues as well as a new emerging talent Academy and Development Centres for aspiring young players from under 7 – 16s.

From season 2021 – 2022 Leamington FC will be rebranding their Professional Development Phase. More than 60 scholars aged 16 - 19 will partake in their post 16 further and higher education, Academic and Sporting Excellence programme (offering BTEC and HNC, HND qualifications). A new Under 18 Saturday team and Under 18 Floodlit team are being created as well as an exciting Under 23 / reserve team which will pave the way for the youngsters to ply their trade in mens football and work towards the goal of eventually representing the first team.

Solihull Academy FC players will have the opportunity to continue their football journey from the age of 16 with Leamington FC. Since founding their Academy in 2017 they have created an excellent foundation for youth development and formed a strong relationship with all the local professional club academies, that has seen many of their players’ progress into that academy system and also seen their own teams winning numerous national titles and tournaments, along with being invited to exclusive UK and international professional tournaments.

The unique partnership offers young players aged 7 – 16 from both clubs, access to some of the best facilities, coaching and exposure to elite environments in the West Midlands. From age 16 onwards they will then have the opportunity to fulfil their potential and play college, floodlit or adult football with an opportunity for players of all levels to achieve what they want to out of the game. Leamington FC has an envious record of providing players with an opportunity to achieve their dreams with a number of players sold to Football League clubs in recent years.

Leamington FC Football and Business Development Manager Mark Fogarty stated, "I believe that this will be a tremendous partnership between two really ambitious clubs which will give talented players the opportunity to continue their development at an advanced level as they seek to maximise their potential. Our Head of Youth Development and First Team coach Chris Knott has worked hard to make this happen and already has a strong working relationship Solihull Academy having worked with them for a number of years".

Solihull Academy FC Chairman Tommy Byrne said, ‘We are very excited to begin the partnership with such a forward thinking, motivated and highly successful club in Leamington FC. We both have the same ethos and values and a desire to provide youngsters with a pathway to elite football. Many have been released from professional club academy systems and we aim to give them the opportunity to restore their love of football and fulfil their football ambitions.’

‘This partnership provides an elite pathway for our players. Having seen Leamington’s plans for football development and a proposed move to a new stadium we are hugely excited to be part of what the future holds and providing opportunities for aspiring players around the West Midlands, Warwickshire and Worcestershire areas.’

The National League is delighted to confirm Vanarama will continue as title sponsors through to the 2024-2025 season.

The three-year extension outlines the long-term commitment of Vanarama to The National League, member clubs and supporters with the new deal taking the working relationship to 11 years.

Since taking over title sponsorship of The National League in 2014, Vanarama has actively raised the profile of the League through innovative campaigns such as MANarama which helped raise over £200,000 for Prostate Cancer UK.

During the Covid pandemic Vanarama set up a Covid support helpline for National League clubs and local businesses applying for any of the Government financial schemes.

BT Sport will continue to provide excellent exposure for the Vanarama National League over the next three seasons.

Chairman of The National League, Brian Barwick OBE, said: "We are delighted to continue our title sponsorship with Vanarama and thank them for their steadfast support during the past 12 months.

"This enhanced arrangement will take our partnership up to 11 years. That speaks volumes about the confidence we both have in each other.

"The National League has found a great organisation to work with and we are pleased Vanarama find the relationship to be equally rewarding.

"We all look forward to four more years growing our unique partnership."

The deal coincides with the recent launch of Vanarama's new brand campaign which encourages its customers to find their new lease life.

"We are delighted to continue our relationship with The National League," said Andy Alderson, CEO of Vanarama.

"We have a great affinity for this level of football as it really helped us accelerate the growth of our commercial van leasing business back in 2014. Now in 2021 having just launched our new brand campaign, we are breathing a new lease of life into our sector.

"As we undergo huge growth across our personal car leasing business, we wanted to show our commitment to do the same for grassroots football.

"The clubs and communities at this level have gone through very hard times, we hope that our investment will offer some stability and hope as we all work through the Covid pandemic together."