CHERRIES fans are still waiting for official confirmation on whether their game at Newcastle United will go ahead this weekend. Football fixtures across the country were called off over the past few days, as a mark of respect following the death of Queen Elizabeth II. However, the EFL have confirmed their fixtures will resume from tomorrow night, with lower leagues also returning. Some European fixtures have been affected, with Arsenal’s scheduled match against PSV Eindhoven on Thursday night being called off, due to policing resources ahead of Her Majesty the Queen’s state funeral next week. The Premier League is yet to officially announce plans for the nine scheduled matches this coming weekend. There has been suggestion games in London could be postponed, with other fixtures, such as Newcastle against Cherries, going ahead on Saturday as planned. But no final decision has yet been confirmed.
The FA have this afternoon released a statement on other matches, stating: “After a period of pause and reflection for our national game, we can confirm that fixtures will resume as scheduled, including matches from the Barclays Women’s Super League and Barclays Women’s Championship, the Emirates FA Cup second round qualifying, Vitality Women’s FA Cup, the National League system, steps 1-6, including the Vanarama National Leagues, the women’s football pyramid, tiers 3-7, and all matches across grassroots football in England, Isuzu FA Trophy and FA Youth Cup matches will return this evening. We will be recommending to clubs, leagues and competitions across the country that a minute’s silence is observed before matches are played, and that black armbands should be worn where possible. All flags at Wembley Stadium and St George’s Park will continue to fly at half-mast this week and over the weekend. The FA can also confirm that all scheduled football matches will be postponed on the day of Her Majesty the Queen’s funeral on Monday September 19. Our thoughts at this time remain with His Majesty King Charles III, our president, HRH The Prince of Wales, and the whole of the Royal Family.”
This means Cherries’ development squad’s Hampshire Senior Cup game at Folland Sports tomorrow will go ahead as planned, while Cherries Women will return to action, away at Swindon Town on Sunday.