Cambs League final placings decided... but not relegation and promotion yet
Cambridgeshire County League football teams have voted to decide the season on a points-per-game basis.
However, while it is still uncertain if the 2020/21 season will start on time, the make-up of next season’s divisions are yet to be decided.
Promotion and relegation has not been clarified either, although it seems certain those teams ending up at the top of their leagues will go up.
The national FA declared all step three to step seven football null and void at the end of March, but leagues below that were left to make their own decisions.
Chatteris Town were second bottom of the Cambs County Kershaw Premier which is step seven so their fate for next season is not yet known.
March Reserves finished mid-table in Kershaw Senior A so will likely still be in that division next year, although the future is less certain for Wisbech St Mary Reserves, who were second bottom in Kershaw Senior B.
Chatteris Reserves were third bottom of Mead Plant & Grab 1B so should be okay, whereas AFC Walpole and Outwell Swifts came first and second in Mead Plant & Grab 2B and should be promoted.
March Town A and Wimblington were mid-table but there will be worries for Wisbech St Mary A and Wisbech Town Acorns, who occupy the bottom two slots.
Guyhirn should be promoted after winning Mead Plant & Grab 3B, with Benwick Athletic second, March Academy third and Manea United mid-table.
Christchurch Magpies will also hope for promotion after finishing runners-up in Mead Plant & Grab 4C, where Fen Tigers Engineers were mid-table and Benwick Reserves, March Academy Reserves and Chatteris A occupied the bottom three places.
AFC Walpole are sure they will be promoted. Chairman Charlie Buttriss told the Citizen: “For us, with the position we were in, point-per-game was the dream scenario.
“We’ve had a fantastic season and worked hard to be where we were. Unfortunately, we’ve lost out on our cup final against Parson Drove Reserves but at least we can take the promotion and start preparing for next season in the higher division.
“We’re keen to keep moving forward as a club and look forward to the challenges ahead next season.”
Outwell Swifts are not taking promotion as guaranteed yet. Manager Jason Day told us: “We don’t know for definite (if we are promoted) as we are still waiting to hear what division we could be in as the Cambs FA has a lot of decisions to make
“If it happens we will be happy to get promoted for the third season in a row. Our target at the start was to win an actual trophy and get promoted, which we have done with our Creake Charity Shield win.
“We would be pleased to be promoted though after playing only eight games and with 12 games left.”
Guyhirn are sure they will go up and manager Andrew Gardner said: “We will be in Division Two next season but we’ve not gone up in the way we wanted.”
And Wisbech Acorns are resigned to relegation. Captain Sam Bothamley said: “Despite the issues we faced off the pitch, ultimately we were bottom for a reason.
“That’s why we voted for the points per game decision. I’m proud of my team and how we approached the challenge with a young team. We will be back stronger next season and build on the positives shown.”
No decision as to the final league tables has yet been made by the Peterborough & District League.