A little bird tells us of the proposed fixture format for next season - and
the good news is that we might not have to wait too long to see Hornets in
action. Whilst we still don't have confirmed dates on some fixtures, we do
have a reasonable picture of what the season might look like.
Following a meeting of NFP/National League clubs last week the proposed fixture
format is as follows:
The 'season' to start on the 19th January with the Buddies Cup. This will
effectively be a pre-season competition running through January/February
and March, interspersed with Challenge Cup ties.
The competition will follow a 'group' format, Hornets playing in a group along with Salford, Swinton, Oldham, Leigh and probably Chorley. Teams
will play each other home and away to give ten games. The top two teams from
each group will qualify for the competition's playoff series. The quarter
finals, semi finals and final will be fitted in around league fixtures in
May, June and July.
This season the Buddies Cup should also have a proper prize money structure,
with a possible £12,000 for the winner.
The National League clubs and the surviving amateur clubs will play in the third round of the TXU-Energi Challenge Cup on 26th January - further ties will come between Buddies Cup fixtures in February and March.
It is proposed that the National League programme will start on Good Friday
- 18th April - with a game Easter Monday also. Teams will play each other
home and away giving us a league season of 18 games. The league season is
scheduled to finish on 7th September. The playoffs begin on the
14th September, with Grand Finals for both National League One and Two taking place in October.
In total this will give Hornets 14 home games (Buddies Group + League), plus
any Challenge Cup, Buddies playoff games and National League playoff games.
As we've said, this is just the format proposed at a meeting of National
League clubs last week and requires ratification by the members.
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