Another FArce

[comrade powell]

There appears to be a repeat developing of last season's infamous Margate/Bowers & Pitsea/Egham episode which would have been laughable had it not led to Margate finally travelling to us on a Tuesday evening for the delayed Trophy tie in front of just over 300. If you want reminding...

https://bathcityfc.forumotion.co.uk/t1839-home-to-margate-or-bowers-pitsea-or-even-egham-in-the-trophy

It seems that clubs are still being caught out in this way but we might just benefit indirectly this time...

Corinthian Casuals reached the 2nd QR and were drawn away to St Albans, having lost to Whyteleafe in the previous round following a replay. The day before Leafe and St Albans were due to meet, the Surrey club were slapped with a charge having played an ineligible player in the previous round at Saltdean. Therefore, they were removed from the competition and Casuals re-instated in their place. The match was eventually played at St Albans on Tuesday (10 days after the scheduled date) and of course ended in a draw. The replay was scheduled for Saturday but Casuals share their ground with Kingstonian who have a home league fixture. Apparently the replay can't be played on Sunday because the new lights haven't been passed yet (?) so they are using Metropolitan Police's ground on Saturday instead. The winners will eventually travel next Wednesday to Taunton, who like us will suffer a smaller crowd. All because of another club falling foul of regulations which must be a nightmare to keep on the right side of. And why should clubs like Margate, St Albans, Taunton and ourselves be inconvenienced because of others' mistakes?

Still, St Albans could be shattered by the time they face us in the league next Saturday.....

[comrade powell]

I need to keep up...wondering why Chipp didn't play in the cup yesterday, I discover that they're being kept waiting until Wednesday to face the winners of Lancing and Hendon's replay today - the former were reinstated after losing to Phoenix Sports who broke the regulations. But if Lancing were reinstated, why weren't Saltdean (see above)?

Surely it's time for the FA to realise that clubs most probably are not deliberately breaking the rules and that there needs to be an urgent overhaul of the system....