SUNDAY league footballers have been offered the opportunity to play despite a declaration that the Crewe Regional Sunday League will be null and voided.

After the return of grassroots sport the league had proposed a restart yesterday (April 4) and a set of fixtures had been arranged for both Premier Division and Division One stretching into June.

But after three teams announced they did not want to play again this season, long-serving CRSL secretary Dave Cooper, who himself has been recuperating after a recent health scare, opted to cancel fixtures and has published a new list for the remaining clubs, starting on Sunday, April 11.

He says it would be a "farce" to try and complete the programme that was suspended last December. But the new format means that those teams who want to play on can enjoy some football over the next two months.

It will see a Premier Division of five teams playing home and away with the top two receiving an award.

In Division One two groups of six will play home and away with the top two in each group competing in semi-finals for a place in an end-of-season final.

The first fixtures are as follows

Premier Division: Betley FC v George & Dragon; Faddiley v The Raven

(Group 2) JS Bailey v AFC Talbot, White Horse v Audlem, Broadhurst FC v Sandbach Town

• Among local amateur footballers returning to action over the weekend were Crewe FC with the Cheshire League side starting a knockout tournament, called the JB Barker Cup, with a 2-1 win over Daten FC behind closed doors at the Cumberland Arena.

The Cheshire League voted to null and void the current season, but finish off with a Champions League style competition.

First-half goals from Jordan Bennion and Nathan Southern ensured a winning start for Liam O'Reilly's, side although they were under pressure late on when the Warrington-based visitors halved their lead and hit the bar in stoppage time.

Crewe FC's reserve side won 4-2 at Daten. The club's first team are next in action on Saturday (April 10) at Lostock Gralam.