MEN’S DEVELOPMENT TEAM

Unfortunately, the Development Team’s game was abandoned after about half an hour due to one of our players being racially abused by an opposition player. The player who was abused immediately left the pitch and his teammates followed him in a show of solidarity. I fully back their decision to leave the pitch and also the decision to abandon the game. I was at the game and I had no hesitation in calling the players off the pitch after Assistant Manager Toddy told me the players wanted to walk off. Although it was a very unsavoury situation the reaction of the opposition coaching team and players was exemplary, they apologised for what had happened and communicated how ashamed they were over the incident. A number of their players and coaching staff went into our changing rooms to apologise to our player and check on his welfare.

The referee witnessed the incident and it has been reported to the FA. We will concentrate our efforts on supporting our player.

Racism is completely unacceptable and has no place at our football club.