Non-league clubs across the country learned last week that their seasons have been declared null and void due to the knock-on affect of the Covid-19 pandemic.

But Clitheroe will start playing again in April in a unique eight-team tournament to be staged at Shawbridge.

Blues’ Football Director Carl Garner has lined up a field of top-class clubs from across the North-West and local amateur sides who will play over four successive weekends.

Unfortunately, due to the current restrictions around Covid-19 the matches will be played behind closed doors.

But our media partners Ribble FM plan to stream the games and should national restrictions be eased we will welcome back supporters if and when possible.

The teams taking part are: Clitheroe, Accrington Stanley, Fleetwood Town, Stockport County, Marine, Barnoldswick, Hurst Green and Rimington.

The teams will play in two groups of four, with each of the group winners meeting in the final on Saturday, 1 May.

As well as the standard points for winning and drawing, an extra point will be awarded to teams scoring more than three goals and/or keeping a clean sheet in each game to help determine a group winner.

“We’re breaking ground here,” said competition organiser Garner.

“We have had football taken away from us for so long now. There has also been so much work going on at Shawbridge to improve the ground and this is about putting the two together.

“We have looked for an eclectic mix of games that will probably never take place again and probably haven’t taken place before.

“We want people from different leagues competing.

“There are going to be some fabulous young players involved and we will be providing football for our players who haven’t played for months.”

Football Festival Fixtures

Saturday 10 April
Barnoldswick T v Fleetwood Town (KO 11am)
Clitheroe v Stockport C (3pm)

Sunday 11 April
Accrington Stanley v Rimington (11am)
Marine v Hurst Green (3pm)

Saturday 17 April
Clitheroe v Rimington (11am)
Fleetwood T v Marine (3pm)

Sun 18 April
Hurst Green v Barnoldswick T (11am)
Accrington Stanley v Stockport C (3pm)

Sat 24 April
Barnoldswick T v Marine (11am)
Stockport C v Rimington (3pm)

Sunday 25 April
Hurst Green v Fleetwood T (11am)
Clitheroe v Accrington Stanley (3pm)

Saturday 1 May
Final (3pm)

Get your tickets for live streaming of all the games here - https://buytickets.at/clitheroefootballclub/495281