Hertfordshire Senior Challenge Cup – 2019/20

[Rhodes]

Disappointing news to report that the Hertfordshire FA have decided that it will not be possible to conclude any of their County Cup competitions for 2019/20, the Hertfordshire Senior Challenge Cup is therefore declared null and void:

Due to the unprecedented impact of COVID-19 this season's Hertfordshire FA County Cups have been declared null and void

After careful consideration we have concluded that it will not be possible to complete our 2019/20 County Cup competitions in light of the Coronavirus outbreak and that as a result these have been declared null and void.

In a joint statement issued with our Competitions Committee, Hertfordshire FA Chair Graham Phillips said:

"COVID-19 has had a drastic impact on all of us not only football and has left us to come to terms with the loss of the ability to enjoy family and leisure activities we all took for granted and are now having to adjust to a different lifestyle choices, albeit for the right reasons. Government and Public Health England are updating on a daily basis the developments of the virus and we are all too aware of their message ‘Stay Home, Save Lives and Protect the NHS.’

There are still many uncertainties which have even developed during the lockdown and no indication when the ongoing and necessary social distancing measures can be removed to the point where football can safely resume.

Whilst there was a genuine desire to do everything we could to find a way of playing these Competitions the true reality of the situation was that there were too many unknowns to make this a viable option and we felt that the County Cups were not the primary consideration for participants at the moment.

When coming to any decision we realise that it is impossible to that will please everybody and sympathise with the teams that will miss out on the chance of playing in a Final at Hertfordshire FA. However, it should be realised that the decision was not taken lightly and was made in the best interests of everyone involved in football.

I hope you and your families are staying safe and we look forward to seeing you all playing and participating in football as and when it is safe to do so."

Further details of the considerations behind this decision can be found in the full statement which can be downloaded via the link below.

Statement: Conclusion of County Cups 2019/20

[Rhodes]

An added 'footnote' has come with the Hertfordshire FA's decision to null and void their 2019/20 County Cup Competitions whereby finalists, where already known, will be declared joint winners, therefore the joint winners of the Senior Challenge Cup this season are Kings Langley and Hemel Hempstead Town who were due to contest the Final:

Due to the un-precedented impact of COVID-19 this season's Hertfordshire FA County Cups have been declared null and void.

After careful consideration we have concluded that it will not be possible to complete our 2019/20 County Cup competitions in light of the Coronavirus outbreak. As a result these have been declared null and void, with finalists, where these were known, being declared 'joint winners'.

In a joint statement issued with our Competitions Committee, Hertfordshire FA Chair Graham Phillips said:

"COVID-19 has had a drastic impact on all of us not only football and has left us to come to terms with the loss of the ability to enjoy family and leisure activities we all took for granted and are now having to adjust to a different lifestyle choices, albeit for the right reasons. Government and Public Health England are updating on a daily basis the developments of the virus and we are all too aware of their message ‘Stay Home, Save Lives and Protect the NHS.’

There are still many uncertainties which have even developed during the lockdown and no indication when the ongoing and necessary social distancing measures can be removed to the point where football can safely resume.

Whilst there was a genuine desire to do everything we could to find a way of playing these Competitions the true reality of the situation was that there were too many unknowns to make this a viable option and we felt that the County Cups were not the primary consideration for participants at the moment.

When coming to any decision we realise that it is impossible to that will please everybody and sympathise with the teams that will miss out on the chance of playing in a Final at Hertfordshire FA. However, it should be realised that the decision was not taken lightly and was made in the best interests of everyone involved in football.

I hope you and your families are staying safe and we look forward to seeing you all playing and participating in football as and when it is safe to do so."

Further details of the considerations behind this decision can be found in the full statement which can be downloaded via the link below.

Statement: Conclusion of County Cups 2019/20