Clubs vote to declare the 2019/20 local soccer season void

The plug has been officially pulled on the local soccer season after clubs affiliated to the Galway FA voted overwhelmingly to declare the 2019/20 season as void during an online EGM on Wednesday night.

The outcome was widely expected, and the final vote of 130 to 29 in favour of the motion ‘The Galway FA will void the 2019/2020 season’ did not surprise any of those who City Sport spoke to yesterday.

According to the Galway FA, the vote means that “all football divisions and competitions in Galway are now voided so there will be no winners, promotions or relegations” – the ruling applies to both the adult and juvenile seasons.

“The Galway FA will now notify the Connacht FA, SFAI, WFAI and FAI of the decision and a formal request will be made for permission to start the new season at the end of August/start of September.

“The FAI’s comprehensive Roadmap for a Safer Return to Football currently states that Winter Leagues, like Galway, must wait until mid-October.

“The Galway FA are confident that this request will be granted as the Road map allows for Summer leagues to start again in late August,” read a statement from the Galway FA that was issued following the vote.

There are 38 clubs affiliated to the Galway FA, with 36 of them taking part in Wednesday night’s vote, and the remaining two were unable to attend. The voting strength of each club varied depending on its set-up, with clubs having either two, four, or six votes.

Clubs were entitled to two votes if it had a juvenile section, two votes if it had a men’s section, and two votes if it had a women’s section. In addition, Galway FA committee members also had a vote.

“The Galway FA would like to thank their clubs and members for their participation and engagement in this process. It was an extremely difficult but courageous decision to make and clubs can now begin preparations for a return to football in line with impending guidelines from the Governing Body,” the Galway FA said.

For more, read this week’s Galway City Tribune.

Get the Connacht Tribune Live app
The Connacht Tribune Live app is the home of everything that is happening in Galway City and county. It’s completely FREE and features all the latest news, sport and information on what’s on in your area. Click HERE to download it for iPhone and iPad from Apple’s App Store, or HERE to get the Android Version from Google Play.