Rollinson backs call for multiple localised NCEL leagues

Worsbrough Bridge player Connor Rollinson has backed the call for multiple leagues of ten clubs each to be created in the NCEL.

Rollinson supports Nostell Miners Welfare chairman Kevin Allsop’s view that because of the Covid-19 pandemic, the NCEL should be localised.

The idea, which first appeared in the FA’s June update to Step 5 and 6 leagues, would significantly reduce travelling and Rollinson believes this is the right way forward.

“I agree with the ten team league idea and everything Kevin said was correct,” Rollinson told Non League Yorkshire.

“Rather than it being like that for one season, I’d rather it be like that for good. I see it like a play-offs system where the top four from each league going into a knockout stage to determine who goes up.

“I think that would be a lot better. It reduces travelling and takes away midweek games. Midweek away games do my head in and I think you’ll see a lot of teams struggling to get teams out on the long away journeys if the leagues stay as they are. People’s work pattens are clearly going to change and people may end up working more weekends.

“In the short-term the virus is still out there and we don’t want to be travelling miles and miles away to a different area and inadvertently taking the virus there or inadvertently bringing it back. 

“Places are still getting locked down, you only have to look at Leicester so I think the leagues definitely need to be localised for the new season. We can’t be playing 40 league games. Twenty is enough.”

How quickly Non League Football will return is unclear. The FA have previously said they see September as a realistic month, but a dramatic shift in Government policy on Thursday saw hopes of a quicker return rise.

However, Rollinson also agrees with Mr Allsop on the point that the biggest hurdle is ensuring the Non League workforce, predominately people who are advised to shield by the Government, are safe at matches.

“Worsbrough have the same problem as Nostell because there’s only a handful of volunteers and some are classed as vulnerable,” he said.

“I don’t see how you can keep them safe and I don’t think a lot of people have realised that this is a sticking point. There’s a lot more to running a Non League Football match than the players who are playing.”

Worsbrough have been training for nearly a month in preparation for a potential new season and Rollinson has enjoyed getting back on the training pitch.

“We have only been doing one session a week, but it has been good with Moz and Pett (Paul Pettinger),” he said.

“We started early, but it has been enjoyable and it has helped us mentally because we are getting out of the house.

“I’ve not really seen it as pre-season training, more as a club to get out of the house, but people have been putting it in and working hard. However, it is more about getting out, talking to people, socialising.”