The BBC are to stream a different FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round tie following postponement to their original selection for Tuesday night.
One FA Cup tie – planned to be shown live by the BBC – was forfeited, as confirmed by a non league club during Monday afternoon.
United Counties League Division One outfit Burton Park Wanderers were set to take on AFC Sudbury of the Isthmian League North Division.
Excitement had been growing amongst supporters for weeks ahead of Tuesday night’s tie, however due to a positive coronavirus test, part of the Burton Park Wanderers squad are now isolating for 14 days.
Under the Football Association’s rules, the tie will be handed to AFC Sudbury.
A club statement read: “BPWFC have to announce with huge regret that we have had to withdraw from the FA Cup preliminary qualifying round.
“We received confirmation last night that one of our First Team players has tested positive for Covid-19.
Following the advice from Public Health England, we have now advised those who had close contact with the player in question to get a test and to self-isolate for the next 14 days. The advice given is that this is limited to BPWFC management team and players. League fixtures will be suspended during this 2 week period.
We hope everyone involved has a clean bill of health in the coming weeks and we look forward to the resumption of First Team football.
“Please also bear with us, for ticket refunds. The club committee have been working tirelessly and extremely hard over the last week putting things in place for this game, we are still trying to deal with what has happened and we want to thank each and every one of you who reached out to help and support a small local football club try and achieve their dream.
“BPWFC would also like to wish AFC Sudbury all the best in their next round in the FA Cup.”
Maine Road v Squires Gate will be streamed live on BBC Sport tomorrow evening.
The BBC originally planned to show Burton Park Wanderers v AFC Sudbury.
However, due to a positive Covid-19 test amongst the Burton Park Wanderers squad, the tie has been handed to AFC Sudbury. pic.twitter.com/CmylXsTelZ
— Ollie Bayliss (@Ollie_Bayliss) August 31, 2020
Since then, it’s been announced that Maine Road vs Squires Gate will be streamed live on BBC Sport on Tuesday evening.
Maine Road wrote on Twitter: “The BBC finally get to the real home of football, where there aren’t millionaires turning up in expensive cars but a willing group of volunteers keeping the game alive in spite of the difficulties of the present situation.”
Watch from 7.30pm on the BBC Sport website, iPlayer and via the Red Button.
Some 182 extra preliminary round ties, the first of 13 hurdles before the final at Wembley on 15 May 2021, is set to due to take place between Monday and Thursday in front of a reduced number of supporters.
Another tie that was set to be played out was Surrey part-timers Redhill and Egham Town, both of who play in the Combined Counties League Premier Division.
However that was forfeited due to one player in the hosts’ squad also testing positive for coronavirus.
After many a suggestion was made by fans and clubs on which match the BBC should go for, supporters have since reacted after finding out that the BBC is to stream different FA Cup Extra Preliminary Round tie following postponement to the original selection…
Non-league is the same as the general population; get tested if you have symptoms or are told to by Test & Trace. No routine testing.
EFL clubs have to test 3 times in preseason.
— Ollie Bayliss (@Ollie_Bayliss) August 31, 2020
Two long established clubs, glad the bbc are still showing a game
— christopher holmes (@mrcrh11) August 31, 2020
@PL2NL: I feel they’ve missed a trick. AFC Mansfield v Sherwood Colliery will be a cracker
@TreborRhurbarb: The BBC fucking love big club’s non-league offshoots (as long as they’re not presenting any minor threat to the established order like FCUM). Might rebrand Streatham Rovers as a club formed by Arsenal reserve players or something.
@VFTAE: Bravo @BBCSport for getting another @EmiratesFACup fixture sorted for live broadcast.
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