END OF SEASON TOURNAMENT MOVES A STEP CLOSER AND BROOKBANKS SPEAKS TO NON LEAGUE PAPER!
A competitive end of season tournament to take place if local leagues are declared null and void has moved a step closer with a management Commitee now in place and Fa permission being sought for the go ahead if government restrictions are lifted and in particular if supporters are to be allowed in.
The tournament is the Brain child of Carlton Town manager Tommy Brookbanks who stoked up the interest by contacting local clubs off his own back to gauge any interest.
Interest was overwhelming and Brookbanks (pictured) told the Non League Paper reporter Tom Scott that
“I have tried to keep the lads positive for the last few months, you keep thinking it’s going to change and then lockdown comes”
“We have been doing the Zoom sessions, but it’s not the same and mentally not playing and training is draining the lads and when the announcement came that null and void was a possibility, I dropped most of the managers I know in Nottingham a message about playing a round -Robin tournament”
“It’s only an idea because we could actually end up playing our remaining league games. Friendlies are no good, we have played enough of those in the last few months and they end up being meaningless. We need something with a competitive edge, that’s why I thought something like a tournament would be good”
“Nottingham is a hot bed of football, even if does not end up happening, I’ve had a positive response from 16 managers so it’s something to look forward to and keep us going in the meantime while everything is sorted out”
” Our Chairman and some other people are working behind the scenes now, initially I put out the idea and within an hour, almost all of them had come back and said it was a great idea, we put it out on social media and it’s snowballed from there” concluded Brookbanks.
Brookbanks Chairman at Carlton Mick Garton has agreed to become vice Chairman for the tournament with Dick Durant taking up the Chairman’s role with highly respected NSL officials Chris Cliff (fixtures), Darrell Parkes (Referees) and Tracie Witton acting as as an advisor to the tournament in her role as an Fa Council member.
The plan is for two leagues of 8 if the 16 teams make a formal commitment in the coming days with Dick sending out correspondence this week.
Teams will play each other home and away and seeding will ensure the leagues are of similar strength and if time restraints allow, there will be quarter finals, semi finals and a final.
The plan is if leagues are declared null and void to play in March, April and May but the competition will be scaled back if circumstances dictate.
Admission to all games will be £5 Adults, £3 Concessions and £1 Children.
Today we have been able to report on a few of the plans that have been put in place and work will continue to go on behind the scenes in the coming weeks to hopefully make this become a reality if the need arises, for the benefit of players, spectators, match officials and clubs.
