FA website

[YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~]

Quote:

"Under normal circumstances I'd be confident of winning, but with the FA I'm not so sure," the chairman added.

He sure knows how to endear himself to those who will make the final decision. <img src="/forum/images/graemlins/wall.gif" alt="" />

[YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~]

Quote:

"We checked the player's sheet as every club does, thought there was an error and notified the FA."

As every club does? Are we this thorough when our opponents submit their teamsheets??

[AFF]

That task probably falls upon the chap who is paid £50,000 a year, Zealster. I always thought that he must have something to do beyond taking our teamsheet from the manager to the referee 1 hour before kick-off.

 

Arduous, what?

[YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~]

Well, with all due respect to the chap, would he be sharp enough or indeed knowledgeable enough to spot when an opposition player was inelgible?

 

Surely one would need damn good knowledge of non-league football to pick up on an error like this??

[AFF]

Sharp? They don't call him 'Razor' for nothing Zealster.

 

We will have to disagree on this one. Our old friends the Urchins had a major, shall we say, 'change of personnel' at the start of this campaign and a number of their superstars from last season were seeking gainful employment elsewhere. I would suggest that it is common knowledge in the appropriate circles that Jamie Southon is on a three month loan at Fortress Clarence Park.

 

When checking the opponents team sheet for possible 'administrative errors', I have no doubt that the Heybridge equivalent of 'Razor' would have concentrated immediately on the known loan player.

[YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~]

I understand.

 

What I'm asking is, if the situation were reversed, would our chap have noticed, I wonder??

[AFF]

He doesn't get £50,000 for just swanning around, Zealster.

 

Here is the news item from the 'on-line' version of the Herts Advertiser. Slightly different slant to the Observer:

 

 

ST Albans City have been caught up in a massive storm over the inclusion of loan player Jamie Southon in the FA Cup win on Saturday.

 

City won the match with Heybridge Swifts to set up a date with Yeading at home on October 16 but the future of this match is now shrouded in doubt.

 

Heybridge have lodged a protest with the FA, believing that Jamie Southon should not have been playing on Saturday. There is due to be a hearing on Thursday or Friday.

 

St Albans City chairman John Gibson is fuming at the way events have unfolded. He said: "From our point of view we are completely within the rules and regulations. There is no question that Jamie Southon was eligible to play in the FA Cup. We signed Jamie Southon on a three month loan deal from Hornchurch at the start of the season. At the time of the loan it was agreed between the clubs that Jamie Southon could play in all league and cup games. The only stipulation was that he could not play for us against Hornchurch. We have a written copy of this document, so do Hornchurch and so do the FA. The FA have had it since August."

 

The hearing is likely to be on Thursday. Heybridge Swifts were not prepared to get involved in what has become a war of words. Swifts' press spokesman: Tony Foster said: "We checked the team sheets as we should do. Heybridge enquired with the FA and the club about the situation regarding this player. They have told us what the situation is and an inquiry has been instigated. We are not getting involved in any row between St Albans City and Hornchurch."

 

The St Albans Chairman John Gibson has been scathing in his assessment of the role of Hornchurch chairman Gary Calder. He said: "This is pure mischief. This whole despicable episode has resulted from Gary Calder causing mischief. He has notified Heybridge about Jamie Southon and they told the FA. Calder is stirring up trouble and this is outrageous. The FA have been notified and we now have to answer that appeal."

 

Hornchurch chairman Gary Calder was unable to respond at the time of going to press due to business meetings taking place at the club.

 

Gibson confirmed his belief that St Albans had done nothing wrong yet he was still concerned about the hearing. He said: "Before we played on Saturday we checked the rules, which basically indicated the FA must be made aware of any loan players.

 

"So we reconfirmed with Gary Hill that Jamie could play and I emphasise reconfirmed. Under normal circumstances I would be 100 per cent happy that we have fulfilled our obligations. The problem is that I am concerned it could be a case of who shouts loudest. We are all treating the matter with the greatest importance.

[YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~]

Quote:

The St Albans Chairman John Gibson has been scathing in his assessment of the role of Hornchurch chairman Gary Calder. He said: "This is pure mischief. This whole despicable episode has resulted from Gary Calder causing mischief. He has notified Heybridge about Jamie Southon and they told the FA. Calder is stirring up trouble and this is outrageous. The FA have been notified and we now have to answer that appeal."

Err... could that possibly be libellous if proved untrue??

<img src="/forum/images/graemlins/crazy.gif" alt="" />

[JKiF]

have to say it does sound very dodgy tho'

[I'm Lester]

the whole sorry episode is a discrase.

 

We broke the rules end of. We must now take the punishment and stop blaming everyone else for your cockups Gibsopn.

[JKiF]

equally you could say heybridge lost (again, to us) so theyve thrown their toys out...

[YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~]

And justifiably so, I'd have thought. If we played an ineligible player, then we have to take it on the chin, I think.

 

I'd like to think we'd have done the same, were the situations reversed.

 

Don't think we can really have any complaints.

[JKiF]

no complaints from this quarter if thats the case

(a Fkin gain)

 

 

just think the situation smells of ****

[GHA EFM]

Quote:

However, the fact that City have suffered twice for administrative errors in the last five years would suggest that they would be unlikely to repeat the same mistake again.

The initial mistake was repeated, was it not?

[AFF]

How good is your source, Zealster?

[YB941 5thD EFM ~soul~]

Press Release on the Heybridge Swifts website.

[Laz]

Do we have a website where one can read up to date information?

[AFF]

From the Heybridge web-site:

 

 

*** Heybridge Swifts Press Release ***

Following their FA Cup 2nd. qualifying round tie at home to St. Albans City last Saturday that Heybridge Swifts lost 2-0; Heybridge as all sides will do, checked the opposition team sheet. Upon seeing the name of a contract player with Hornchurch who was known to be on loan to St. Albans, Heybridge made a phone call to the FA to ensure that the player in question, Jamie Southon, had been correctly registered with the FA to play in the competition; and also with Hornchurch to ensure permission had been given for Southon to play in the FA Cup. The response to these phone calls prompted Heybridge Swifts to make a formal protest to the FA regarding Southon playing in the match.

 

The FA Protests Committee sat in judgement on this matter earlier today and have ruled in Heybridge Swifts' favour.

 

St. Albans City have been eliminated from the competition and Heybridge Swifts re-instated. Costs have been awarded against St. Albans City. Prize money for the tie has been forfeited as the match was not won on the field of play.

 

Heybridge Swifts will now face Yeading at home in the 3rd. qualifying round on Saturday October 16th., 3.00pm kick off.

[Rob_the_Saint]

Yes Laz, this is it.

[EFM The Firm, The Voice]

Another classic Gibson rant!

At least EFM aren't to blame for once!