I was terribly excited when I read that the Blackpool versus Forest Green Rovers FA Cup tie was to be postponed as a consequence of an FA investigation into the Gloucestershire club. At last, I thought, they are going to nail owner Dale Vince for some appalling transgression.
In a perfect world they would have discovered human remains in those vegan pies the club force on fans and Dale would be arrested for running a kind of Soylent Green operation from one of his ecofriendly power plants. Then reality sadly intruded and it quickly became apparent that this was just a case of Forest Green allegedly fielding an “ineligible” player during the FA Cup first round against the might of Scarborough Athletic — and immediately my sympathies switched.
The Forest Green bus was already approaching Manchester on its journey to Blackpool on Friday when the news came through and it was forced to turn back home. Some of the Forest Green supporters were not so lucky, having already arrived in Britain’s most cosmopolitan and sophisticated seaside town in readiness for the game on Saturday.
Then there are the Blackpool fans who had already bought tickets, including the chap who flew home from the Netherlands specifically to watch this tie. It is not my position to judge what state a person’s life must be in that they would be so avid to watch Blackpool versus Forest Green, but I suppose the FA Cup holds very fond memories for supporters of Blackpool. The Matthews final of 1953, with Stan Mortensen banging them in and Stanley skipping down the wing like a whippet on Benzedrine.
Why did the FA have to cancel the game? And why at such short notice? The replay between Forest Green and Scarborough took place nearly three weeks ago, so if there was some kind of infraction it should surely have come to light well before Friday. There is no suggestion, at time of writing, that Scarborough alerted the FA to the supposed ineligibility of an opposing player, so I assume that this was simply the FA going through its usual procedures — a little late in the day.
But then, why could the matter not have been resolved on the same day? Surely a phone call from the FA to Forest Green could have cleared the matter up pretty quickly? Either a player is eligible or ineligible, there’s no great need for a Baroness Hallett-style investigation, is there? And even then, I would argue — why not let the game go ahead if the issue is in dispute? What possible harm would be done? The fans would get to see a game of football and if, later, it is revealed that Forest Green fielded Darren Clogger in a previous game when he had already played in the FA Cup while on loan at Stonehouse Hackers, then kick them out of the cup and reinstate Scarborough.
It’s no loss — all that happens is that Blackpool play an extra game and thus gain extra revenue. It seems that bureaucratic procedure is more important than the convenience of the supporters, but I suppose that was ever the case.
For their part, Forest Green said: “We will comply with the FA in their investigation and will provide a full update to supporters in the coming days once the investigation is complete. Forest Green Rovers apologises to both FGR and Blackpool fans who planned to attend tomorrow’s fixture.” If found to be in contravention of the laws then Scarborough will be awarded an away tie at Blackpool and Vince’s brave green pioneers will continue their exciting quest to be relegated in two successive seasons and thus wave goodbye to the English Football League. Sadly, or otherwise.
The ineligible player business was very common in the 1970s. But it has made a bit of a comeback presumably because so many clubs, especially lower-league sides, have become so dependant upon loan signings — given the stringent limits upon how much money they are allowed to spend buying players — and are perhaps prone to losing track of who is allowed to play in which competition and when.
Only a week or so ago, Barnsley were kicked out of the FA Cup for having fielded an ineligible player in their FA Cup first round replay away to Horsham, which they won 3-0. Aiden Marsh was still on loan at York City when the original tie took place but was drafted into the side, contrary to the rules, for the replay. Barnsley fessed up with good grace and so Horsham were awarded a place in the next round and the handsome amount of cash (for a non-League side) that comes with it.
Welling were docked one point for the same crime last year and Queen’s Park kicked out of the Scottish Cup at the start of this year. Before then, however, you have to go back to Bury in 2006 who made the mistake of fielding an ineligible Hartlepool loanee and were summarily evicted from the FA Cup.
