Doncaster Rovers, Bradford City and Harrogate Town get green light to proceed in FA Cup openers

On Saturday, the Government announced England will go into lockdown on Thursday until at least December 2, and that only “elite” sport could be played until then.

In footballing terms, that meant no football played below Conference North and South level.

Harrogate and Doncaster were due to play teams from lower down the pyramid in the first round of the FA Cup. North West Counties league side Skelmersdale United are at Wetherby Road on Friday for a game live on BT Sport, while Rovers travel to Northern Premier League side FC United of Manchester for a live match which will be shown at 5.30pm on BBC Two.

League Two Bradford’s game at Conference South Tonbridge Angels will be shown on the BBC’s digital platforms at 12.30pm on Saturday.

Competing clubs are paid an extra £32,500 on top of prize money of £22,629 if they can win the tie for appearing in televised games at this stage of the competition.

Hull are the only Yorkshire side not on live television in this weekend’s FA Cup, as they take on League One rivals Fleetwood Town at 3pm on Saturday.

The games had been in doubt over the weekend, but the Football Association have been able to persuade the Government to make an exception to their rule.

”The UK Government has confirmed that the ten non-elite clubs that remain in the competition will be able to play their matches under elite protocols,” English football’s governing body confirmed yesterday afternoon.

All the games will be played behind closed doors.

The second round is due to take place on the final weekend of November, with the third in early January as usual when Premier League and Championship clubs join in.

At the start of the first lockdown, only England’s top five divisions were classed as “elite”, but York City and others persuaded the Government to extend its definition to Conference North and South, allowing the Minstermen to take part in an ultimately unsuccessful play-off campaign.

The National League, which administers the Conference Premier, North and South, is yet to announce if it will follow the Premier League and Football League’s lead in continuing to play through the lockdown. The decision to start this season behind closed doors was far from unanimous.

The FA pressed ahead yesterday with the draws for the FA Vase and Trophy competitions, but have not set a date for the ties.

Guisborough Town are due to host Liversedge in the Vase, where Maltby Main are at Consett, Penistone Church are at Longridge Town, Hallam or AFC Blackpool host Shildon, North Ferriby welcome Lower Breck and Hemsworth Miners Welfare travel to Sunderland Ryhope Colliery Welfare if they can first beat Abbey Hey.

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