THERE is still the appetite to conclude last season’s Suffolk FA County Cup competitions.

That was the message from Chief Executive Richard Neal during the first online Annual General Meeting to be conducted by Suffolk FA.

A total of 64 people participated in Thursday evening’s AGM which was conducted by Richard Neal and Chair Phil Lawler.

The season was cut short in mid-March by the COVID-19 pandemic, which Richard said would be the ‘lasting legacy’ of 2019-20 but should not detract from ‘fantastic experiences’ across Suffolk football.

Richard said: “There is still appetite to conclude as many of last season’s County Cup competitions as possible, as well as playing next season’s competitions, although both obviously depend on when we can start and finish the 2020-21 season.”

No dates for next season’s County Cup competitions were proposed due to the uncertainty surrounding when the new season will get under way, but plans will be finalised once the situation becomes clearer.

Phil Lawler had begun by confirming that two directors – Roger Peck (October 2019) and Ian Booth (June 2020) – had stood down during the course of the season. Phil thanked them for their service and wished them the very best with future endeavours.

He also welcomed the three new non-executive directors – Kit Morrison, Amy Grantham and Julie Mulcahy – who were all elected earlier this year.

Phil also said that the county had lost a number of valued colleagues during the course of the season, including Suffolk FA President Gordon Blake, Stonham Aspal FC Secretary Eric Cousins, BBC Radio Suffolk reporter Simon Warr and Westerfield United FC Chair Chris Cushnahan.

Former Ipswich Town Chair David Sheepshanks, who in March was elected as the new Suffolk FA President, said he had been ‘incredibly impressed’ by everything he had seen so far.

David, who said in taking up the role that he was ‘coming home to his roots’ in Suffolk, added that whatever dreams we have it all starts in local football.

“Whether we want to play for fun or enjoyment or test ourselves at the highest level possible or coach, referee or volunteer, there is no better medium than football,” he enthused.

Roger Cox, who represented the St Edmundsbury Football League on the Suffolk FA Council for the past decade, was elected as a Life Member of the association.