On Sunday night the NTSFL presented the league plans for this footballing season and next season. Unfortunately due to Covid 19 restrictions the decision was made to void the current 2019 / 2020 season. This means the leagues won’t be completed and the Cup competitions won’t run. However, looking forward to return to play, as soon as the health authorities give the green light, games will resume. The return to play pathway says that small group and non-contact training can commence from 20th July, with a return to competitive football for schoolchildren planned for 5th September.
The new season will commence with Cup and Plate competitions through September with league football and National Cups planned to return from October. Fixtures, health and all other factors permitting, an additional knock-out competition will be scheduled for the end of the season, making up for lost games this season.

While we are all missing football, it’s good to have a pathway back. Health and safety of our members will always be our first priority. For adult players, the start of the NTDL season, scheduled to start in April remains on hold.

While summer holidays is traditionally a time off for the football club, this year is different and we will do all we can to continue to support our members.

· Our popular online Fitness for Football Strength and Conditioning programme will continue throughout June, at least

· We will continue to share practices and drills with our squads to ensure time at home is time well spent

· Once it’s safe to do so we will have an awards event, recognising the wonderful effort put in across our squads this season

. Health and safety permitting and with approval from the authorities we still hope to run the popular FAI Summer Soccer camp

· As soon as it’s safe to return to training, in whatever socially distant format is required, we will be ready to bring our squads back

· As soon as it’s safe to play games, be that friendlies, tournaments, blitzes, competitive football, we will be ready to rock

The time off the pitch is being well spent. Thank you for your participation in our club survey. Your feedback has given plenty of food for thought to feed into our club objectives and DNA programme. More updates to follow on this topic. We are also at an advanced stage of achieving FAI Club Mark Certification, ensuring the highest governance and administration standards prevail in the club. We are almost there with our new kit supplier too, and look forward to launching this club shop over the summer,

Our AGM is also being pencilled in for June 18th, in keeping with the times, it will be by Zoom video conference - another first for our club. Formal notification will follow, but mark the date in your diary and have your say.

We wish you and your family health and happiness and look forward to returning to games as soon as its safe to do so.

Yours in sport
Ray Hickey
PRO Lough Derg FC

LDFC Committee