The Anglian Combination League, which includes 85 amateur football teams across Norfolk and Suffolk, has announced a delay to the start of its 2026/27 season. The league's board unanimously decided on Friday to postpone kick-off until 29 August.
This decision follows a summer of record drought, leaving most club pitches dried out and deemed too dangerous for play. League chair Dale Brown stated that the rationale is to protect the welfare of players and officials, noting the extremely dry and 'rock hard' ground conditions.
Pre-season friendlies have already been cancelled due to the drought, with matches that proceeded reportedly leading to numerous injuries. The region has experienced record-breaking heatwaves and exceptionally low rainfall, with July being the driest month since records began in 1836. A hosepipe ban by Anglian Water has been in effect since 11 July.