THE Football Association have “completely disregarded grass-roots” according to Nantwich Town chairman Tony Davison after his side missed out on a bumper Non-League Day crowd.
The high-flying Dabbers were set to host Hyde United in the Evo-Stik NPL Premier last Saturday but learned on Wednesday evening that the game would have to be postponed to allow the Tigers to replay their FA Cup game against Northwich Victoria.
The Vics became the third team to remain in this season's competition, after St Neots Town and Hamworthy United, despite being found guilty of playing an ineligible player at a hearing on Wednesday.
Goalkeeper Mason Springthorpe, on loan from AFC Telford United, was not properly registered to play in the past two rounds against AFC Blackpool and Hyde. The second of those games was replayed following the FA's ruling.
Solution
That left Nantwich, as well as Marine who were meant to host Northwich in the third round qualifying, without games on Non-League Day.
Mariners chairman Paul Leary said it was “a real blow” and Davison echoed his sentiments.
“The FA have completely disregarded grass-roots football with the decision they've arrived at,” he said.
“I'm certain they could have come up with a solution that didn't disadvantage Nantwich Town, they could have replayed that Cup game at a later date.
“We have promoted Non-League Day a lot and Stoke City and Crewe Alexandra have been pushing it heavily too. I was looking at getting a crowd of up to 1,000 – much bigger than our normal gate.
“Not only have I lost out on a potential big gate but we've spent money on our marketing campaign. We'll get nothing in return and the FA seem to oblivious that it was Non-League Day and it's a great chance to support Non-League football.
“I've made an official complaint to the FA about the way we've been treated and I'd like to see them recognise that they could have done things differently.
Loss
“They should at least compensate me for the loss we've incurred and the potential lost income.”
On their Northwich decision, the governing body said an FA Cup sub-committee “exercised its discretionary power in accordance with FA Cup Rule 16(c)”.
Rule 16(c) states that “where the club satisfies the Professional Game Board that the club did not know and could not reasonably have known, even had it made every reasonable enquiry, that the player was ineligible, the club shall not be removed from the Competition but may still be subject to any other penalty. (e.g. fine, ordered to replay the match).”
The FA's competitions officer Chris Darnell said that the governing body weren't consciously trying to keep clubs in the Cup.
“I wouldn't say that a lighter approach has been taken,” he said. “Competition rules are still being applied but have changed in recent years.”
