AS SEASON IS ENDED
‘GUTTED’ FOR PLAYERS
SHELLEY manager Ash Berry says the Football Association’s decision to kick into touch his team’s season – and their promotion hopes – is ‘a disgrace.’
In a hugely controversial move, the game’s governing body this week ruled that in the wake of the coronavirus crisis, all football in England below the three divisions which make up the National League, which are steps one and two of the non-league pyramid, will end immediately.
All results will be expunged and there will be no promotion and relegation.
Along with Emley and Golcar United, Shelley are one of three Huddersfield clubs playing in the North West Counties League First Division North, at step six of the pyramid.
When the league was suspended on March 16, Shelley were third with 57 points from 31 games, Emley fourth, with 56 from 27 and Golcar fifth, with 46 from 28.
Four teams were due to go up from the First Division North to the NWCL Premier Division.
The FA say their ruling, which also applies to women’s football below the top two tiers, was made ‘in the best interests of the game,’ adding: “These steps take into account the financial impact during this uncertain period, while considering the fairest method on how the sporting outcomes for the season will be decided, with the integrity of the leagues in mind.”
Long-serving Berry, whose Stafflex Arena side had won 12 and drawn two of their last 17 First Division North matches and were also through to the Macron (League) Cup semi-finals, believes the FA’s decision has made an already challenging situation all the more difficult.
“I’m gutted, for the club as a whole and for the players, management, officials and all the various people who have put in so much time and effort – and not just this season,” he said.
“That applies to all the many other clubs affected by this as well and I especially feel for those who had already clinched promotion.
“It’s tough enough at the best of times keeping clubs afloat financially, especially this season with so many rain-related postponements, so this decision has come as a real kick in the teeth.
“We’ve travelled down to Cheshire and up to Cumbria, people have taken time off work and made other sacrifices so they can get to games and the FA have decided it’s all for nothing.
“Then there’s the money we have paid out as a club to affiliate and to stage matches and the fines the players have paid for yellow and red cards and it’s all been for nothing.
“We’re all aware of the severity of the situation the country and the world is in, but I think the FA’s decision was both rushed and wrong.
“It’s not like we have only played a few games. Promotion and relegation should have been retained and they should have worked out the final positions on a points per game system.
“Okay, we weren’t guaranteed promotion, but we were third with seven games to go, five of them at home, we were on a really good run and we had beaten all three of the other sides in the promotion places.”
Shelley, who run five adult teams and also have a thriving junior section, entered the NWCFL in 2018 and Berry added: “As a club, we have been working away for years to get to the position we are now in and to think it could all crumble is devastating.
“You need help from the FA, especially in a situation like this, but I feel this decision is a hindrance, and the really annoying thing is that it doesn’t apply throughout the game as a whole.
“It’s been said the FA Cup is carrying on, for instance, yet we have lost out on playing in a two-legged semifinal. Yes, it’s at a lower level, but we were really proud to have got to the last four of the Macron Cup in only our second season in the league, we could have expected a good crowd at both legs and, who knows, we might even have made the final.
“Why couldn’t the semi-finals have been held over to when we can start playing football again?”
NWCL chairman Paul Lawler said in a statement: “The (NWCL) board recognises that we are currently in a global crisis situation that is unprecedented in modern times. That said, the board is disappointed with the (FA) decision, both in relation to the timing of the announcement, which appeared to be rushed and the lack of clarity it brings.
“The league’s board understands that there is no ability to appeal this decision, however, we will be writing to the FA to register our disappointment. The future stability of football at step five and six is in severe doubt and decisions need to be made which secure the future of the league and its member clubs.”
It’s not like we’ve only played a few games.
Promotion and relegation should be
retained