On March 26, 2020 Littlehampton Town Football Club received confirmation from the Football Association (The FA) that the 2019/20 season has been declared null and void. To say we are gutted by this decision is an understatement.

Under the hard work of manager Mark Bennett and his management team they built a squad of players that was capable of reaching our goal of promotion this season. In the league we played 22 games, won 20 and drew two - becoming one of just a handful of teams in England that went the entire league campaign unbeaten.

That was only achieved by the excellent performance of the management team and the players and we thank them for their brilliant dedication and hard work this past season. We will regroup and come back next year even stronger to continue what we set out to achieve.

But the decision that was reached to null and void the season, by asking the clubs of the leagues to vote, leaves a very bitter taste. “I’m extremely disappointed by the number of teams in our league that voted to null and void the season which directly affected our opportunity for promotion,” says Littlehampton Town’s chairman Rob McAlees. “Footballing matters are decided by what happens on the pitch between August and March and not in a board room. The way teams voted was extremely cynical and I’m very disappointed.”

This decision was always going to divide clubs across the country but we feel this is now a precedent set by The FA. That means that clubs that are not affected now, could find themselves in our position if a similar situation occurs again.

In tough times financially for clubs, we await documentation from the FA, the Sussex County FA and Southern Combination Football League that will allow us to reclaim back affiliation fees and fine money incurred in a season that has now been declared null and void.

While we fully support the FA’s decision to suspend fixtures until further notice due to the Covid-19 pandemic. What's worrying is the assumption that a new season will start again in August. What happens if it doesn’t?

What happens if we can’t start playing again until October or November? Clubs have made it clear for various reasons they can’t play after the end of April 2021.

It is our understanding that in future no leagues will be granted extensions due to weather conditions or any other issues that shall arise during a season. What happens then? Another year that will be simply declared “null and void.”

We would like to thank everyone who has supported us this past year. Fans who have turned up to our homes games and followed us on the road, sponsors who have backed us throughout the year, players who have represented the club and the committee who have kept Littlehampton Town FC running smoothly.

We hope everyone stays safe in these testing times and remember football will return at some point in the future. And then’s when we shall regroup and go again. Next year will be an important milestone for us - our 125th anniversary. We have a very long and proud history of playing football in the county of Sussex and long after this crisis is over we will continue to do so.

We hope in our celebratory year we can achieve what we have been denied this season. The motto on the badge of the town and the club is clear: progress. Next year we will.

Up the Golds!