The 2020/21 Northern Football Alliance season has been curtailed for the second season running following a discussion with the 62 league clubs.

The third national lockdown suspended games in all four leagues from going ahead in late December and the season will now not restart due to the number of fixtures needing to be played in what would be a very short time period.

How the league would resume had been one of the biggest talking points in Tynedale sport following last week’s announcement by the government that recreational sport could resume around the country.

“We’ve clearly seen that it was not possible to fully complete the 2020-21 league season by commencing on 3 April and ending on 31 May,” said a league spokesperson.

“Therefore, it is with regret that league season cannot be completed and the Northern Football Alliance League’s League Management Committee has no option, and following discussions with member clubs, to curtail and no further league games will be scheduled.”

Although the season itself has been forced to come to an early end, teams in our region including Wallington, Ponteland United, Hexham, Haltwhistle Jubilee and Prudhoe Youth Club FC Seniors are all set to battle for silverware throughout April and May.

Each league will see a different cup competition take place using a round-robin format, with two semi-finals and a final in each tournament set to crown a winner from each division.

Premier Division side Wallington will face Shankhouse, Winlaton Vulcans and Newcastle Blue Star, while Ponteland will face AFC Killingworth, Burradon & New Fordley and Percy Main Amateurs after the draw was made on Tuesday evening.

Meanwhile all three of our Division One teams avoided each other in their cup draw.

Prudhoe, who ended the curtailed league season top of the table, will play Red Row Welfare, Wallsend Boys Club and Whitley Bay Sporting Club, while rivals The Jubilee will play FC United of Newcastle, Hebburn Town U23s and Whitburn & Cleadon FC.

Hexham meanwhile, who ended the season fifth, are set to face Cramlington United, Gosforth Bohemians and Seaton Burn, with each team being played home and away.