Fylde Women see league season scrapped

Fylde Women have suffered the same fate as AFC Fylde in seeing their league campaign scrapped and their promotion hopes dashed.
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Fylde Women make best of bizarre FA Cup build-up

The FA have confirmed that the 2020-21 season for tiers three to six in the women's football pyramid in England has been ended with immediate effect and declared incomplete.

Fylde play at tier three in the National League Northern Premier - the highest level of the women's game which is not considered 'elite' and so has not continued during lockdown.

Fylde Women can train for just six days ahead of their first match for almost four months in the Women's FA CupFylde Women can train for just six days ahead of their first match for almost four months in the Women's FA Cup
Fylde Women can train for just six days ahead of their first match for almost four months in the Women's FA Cup
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The decision, confirmed by the FA Women's Football Board, dashes Fylde's hopes of moving up to the Women's Championship this season as there is to be no promotion or relegation between tiers two and three.

Fylde stood second to Huddersfield Town in the league, having won six of their eight fixtures, but had not played since thrashing Sheffield Ladies 8-1 on December 13.

They are due to return after an absence of close to four months with an FA Cup second-round tie away to Burnley at Padiham on April 4.

However, Fylde have been unable to train for three months under lockdown rules and cannot do so until March 29, six days before their game.

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Further rounds of the cup are scheduled for the next two Sundays. Should Fylde beat Burnley they would face either Sunderland or Sheffield at their Kellamergh Park base in Warton, with a possible fourth-round tie against Manchester United awaiting the winners.

Although the grassroots season is being allowed to continue until the end of June, The FA Women's Football Board said that "extending the 2020-21 league season beyond May 2021 would not be a viable option due to the operational issues faced by many clubs and leagues.

"Clubs and leagues will, however, be encouraged to provide playing opportunities over the coming months by organising alternative fixtures in some format, where they are able and feel comfortable to do so following the return of grassroots football from March 29 and in line with the appropriate guidelines."

The decision to end the season will now be presented to the FA Board for ratification.

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