THE South West Peninsula League have issued their fixtures for the 2020-21 football season.

They have been compiled on the guidance from the FA that Steps 5 and 6 can restart on the weekend of September 4-5.

However, League secretary Phil Hiscox, who has worked tirelessly during lockdown to be able to release the dates so quickly after the FA giving the green light, said: ‘It must be stressed that the FA have said games will only restart if spectators are allowed, and at this time the Department of Digital, Culture, Media and Sport are in possession of the FA’s proposal, but have not yet responded.

‘If the DCMS say no or put restrictions on matters, then the FA will have to look at it again.’

He continued: ‘I have added additional midweek games into November (I normally stop at the end of October) and have doubled up on Christmas and Easter.

‘On average in previous years, clubs would have played six league games by September 5, so I have had to push in six more rounds of games.

‘This has been achieved by taking out two Walter C Parson Cup dates, adding a date to Christmas and Easter and adding two midweek matches over and above previous years.’

The League have also announced that the Walter C Parson Cup for the 2019-20 season will not now be completed, which is disappointing news for Millbrook, who were looking forward to a semi-final against Elmore next month.

The plan was to play the remaining quarter and semi-finals, and the final at Liskeard in August, before the league season got under way, but Hiscox explained: ’The League’s board have considered the announced changes by the FA issued last Saturday and have had to consider that the proposed August completion of last year’s Cup cannot go ahead.

‘The matches, if played in August, would have had to be behind closed doors and would have had to be played without even partial access to dressing rooms etc.

‘The grounds would also need to have completed risk assessments earlier than for a September start, and the three neutral venues would have effectively had to carry the risk of staging other team’s games.

‘We looked at putting the games back again, but with football due to restart in September and FA Cup and Vase dates etc, it is felt that September should be used for getting the new season started and not for playing last season’s games. We apologise for this but feel we have no choice.

‘Thanks to the wonderful support of Cup sponsors Walter C Parson Funeral Directors, having paid the sponsorship, we are however able to pay out £300 prize money to each of Bovey Tracey, Elmore, Falmouth Town and Millbrook, and a sum to Mousehole less the mileage subsidy they have already received for the trip to Bovey Tracey that they will now not have to make.’

As to the 2020-21 competition, it will now be an end-of-season competition in May involving the top four teams in both the East and West divisions, playing on a knockout basis.

Opening fixtures in the West Division:

Friday, Sept 4: Liskeard v Bodmin

Sat, Sept 5: Callington v Falmouth, Dobwalls v Godolphin, Helston v Wadebridge, Launceston v Mousehole, Penzance v Newquay, Porthleven v Sticker, Saltash v St Blazey, St Austell v Wendron, St Dennis v Camelford.

Tues, Sept 8: Camelford v Godolphin, Launceston v Dobwalls, Liskeard v St Dennis, Mousehole v Porthleven, Wadebridge v Sticker, Wendron v Helston.

Wed, Sept 9: Bodmin v Callington, Falmouth v Penzance, Newquay v St Blazey, Saltash v St Austell.

East Division:

Sat, Sept 5: Axminster v Dartmouth, Bovey Tracey v Crediton, Cullompton v Brixham, Elmore v Elburton, Honiton v Holsworthy, Ilfracombe v Ivybridge, Millbrook v Newton Spurs, Sidmouth v Plymouth Marjon, Torridgeside v Stoke Gabriel, Torrington v Torpoint.

Mon, Sept 7: Crediton v Ilfracombe.

Tue, Sept 8: Cullompton v Honiton, Holsworthy v Torrington, Newton Spurs v Sidmouth, Plymouth Marjon v Elburton.

Wed, Sept 9: Axminster v Elmore, Bovey Tracey v Brixham, Ivybridge v Millbrook.