National League 2021-22 season start date revealed as Hartlepool United, Sutton, Notts County, Stockport, Torquay, Wrexham and others hope for EFL kick-off

With the current campaign running from October to May, the following season will see the return of an August start.

The National League have confirmed that the 2021-22 season will kick-off on Saturday, August 21 for fifth tier clubs while the National League North and South will start a week earlier on August 14.

Further key dates such as the festive, bank holiday and final day matches will be confirmed in due course.

For Hartlepool United and several other National League sides gunning for promotion, the hope is these dates will not be relevant to them come August.

Pools currently sit second in the table, four points behind league leaders Sutton United who have three games in hand.

And they will be hoping to start their 2021-22 season back in the Football League on the weekend of August 6 instead.

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