SUFFOLK FA have decided to withhold starting the Youth County Cups for the 2021-22 season.

The outline of the reasons behind this decision has been communicated to club who had entered, and local leagues.

Richard Neal, Chief Executive said: “Given the disruption faced over the last two seasons, the 2021-22 season was always going to be unique and therefore needing extra care and consideration.

“The start of the season has demonstrated that 2021-22 is set to be far from straight forward, especially as quite expectedly even greater Covid-19 related disruption continues in youth football compared to the adult game.

“For this season in particular, there are other considerations affecting the lives of young players which need to be factored in, including a return to schooling but still under restrictions, pressure to catch-up on education missed over the last two years, uncertainty around examinations for relevant ages, and appetite from families to make up for events which have had to be cancelled.

“Yes, football has and is playing an important role in restoring the wellbeing and equilibrium of young people but we are considerate to the effects of an overload of football, in particular the type of football where the importance of the result is magnified.

“This season above all others, participating in football for children and young people should focus on a return to just loving being outside, being active, and reconnecting with friends.

“If league campaigns look set to finish particularly early and local conditions allow, we may look at holding something towards the back-end of the season.

“However, the likelihood is Youth County Cups will return in the 2022-23 season.”

Action is pictured above from the Youth Cups Semi-Finals Day held at Walsham-le-Willows in March last year just before the 2019-20 season was curtailed by the coronavirus pandemic.