Hartlepool United's countdown to kick-off finally begins as National League 2020-21 season start date is revealed

It has been announced that the 2020-21 National League season is scheduled to start on Saturday, October 3 and end on Saturday, May 29 with play-offs taking place in June.

After months of uncertainty and guesswork, clubs and supporters finally have a date to look forward to and prepare towards.

Crucially, crowds will be allowed back into stadiums, albeit at a reduced capacity. It’s still a significant step forward as momentum builds towards the new season.

Pools last taste of competitive action came in the form of a 1-1 draw at Sutton United on March 14.

Plenty has happened in the 137 days since yet the club has been borderline dormant for the majority of that time. As players and staff left the club, an all too familiar feeling of worry promptly kicked-in.

There were fears that football wouldn’t return until 2021 which would have left most non-league clubs fighting for survival. Fortunately, things haven't been quite so bad.

Pools looked to have weathered the storm and they’re finally starting to put the wheels in motion in preparation for the new season.

The handful of players who remain contracted to the club have been back in training along with potential new signings that are expected to be announced as early as this weekend.

By next week, Pools could just about be able to field a starting 11 and they’d still have just under two months to prepare for the start of the competitive season.

As it stands, Pools have just seven contracted players at the club but Gary Liddle, Timi Odusina and Aaron Cunningham have been confirmed to have agreed deals in principle at The Vic for the upcoming season – Mark Shelton and Rhys Oates are expected to follow.

Last season, Hartlepool had 22 players signed up for the first day of pre-season training and proceeded to win just one of their opening six matches to start the 2019-20 campaign in the National League. Preparation is important, but what happens at the club over the summer will not define the season.

United manager Dave Challinor had been preparing his pre-season schedule based on a September 12 start that would be in line with the Premier League and EFL.

It's unlikely that the National League’s October 3 start will impact any signings, although furlough options may be reintroduced. But it will impact the side’s pre-season schedule with Challinor having already pencilled in six matches to take place between August 21 and September 5 which will now have to be changed.

The 2019-20 campaign was unlike any we've experienced before. The upcoming season may restore some familiarity, but it will take some time before things get back to what they once were.

The limited crowd numbers and season length of just 34 weeks compared to the usual 38 will make midweek matches a regular occurrence, especially once the cup competitions start wreaking havoc with the schedule.

It’s going to be tough, it’s going to be messy, but going to be good to finally be back!

A message from the editor:

With the coronavirus lockdown having a major impact on many of our advertisers - and consequently the revenue we receive - we are more reliant than ever on you taking out a digital subscription.

Subscribe to the Hartlepool Mail website and enjoy unlimited access to local news and information online and on our app. With a digital subscription, you can read more than 5 articles, see fewer ads, enjoy faster load times, and get access to exclusive newsletters and content. Visit here to sign up. You can subscribe to the newspaper with 20% off here. Thank you.