The starting point
The FA’s heritage account distinguishes a January 1970 Council decision from the June 1971 rule amendment restoring access to affiliated grounds. These are separate milestones in a process. Combining them into one date loses the difference between deciding on a change and formally changing the rule that governed access.
A useful way to read the evidence
A useful timeline can include a decision column and an implementation column. Where the source gives only one, leave the other blank rather than estimating it. The same method helps with changes in competition structures and governance. It allows a concise history to remain accurate without pretending that an institutional process happened all at once.
Keep in your notes
- Keep both milestones.
- Label decision and amendment.
- Do not invent implementation dates.