National League clubs exploit a little known loophole by making subs in the 1st minute of National League Cup matches.
In this competition, the National League clubs must start at least 4 first team outfield players who qualify from kick off.
As per a post by Proper Football, qualifying players are those who:
– Started the previous first-team match
– In the club’s top 10 in starting appearances this season
– Have 40+ career starts
– Are on loan from a Premier League or category One academy club.
Fines are up to £5,000 for non-compliance.
Just the FOUR substitutions in the opening minute for Forest Green this evening in the National League Cup… pic.twitter.com/HtCxDFoCbe
— Match of the Day (@BBCMOTD) September 16, 2025
2′ | An early set of changes for the Lambs 🔁
⬅️Bates, Enoru, Donkor
➡️Mols, McGlinchey, Curley🔴0-0🔵#vertunissantamworth #COYL
— Tamworth Football Club (@tamworthfc) September 16, 2025
1′ We make a planned double change.#rafc 0-0 #blackburn pic.twitter.com/lmkLacziUf
— Rochdale AFC (@officiallydale) September 16, 2025
A number of clubs, including Forest Green, Rochdale and Tamworth found a way round it however, making substitutions in the opening minutes of their matches.
In the 1st minute of Forest Green’s 3-2 win over Wolves U21s…
➡️ ON – Bamba, Balagizi, Merrett, Bonnick
⬅️ OFF – Knowles, McAllister, Kengni, Kanu
In the 1st minute of Rochdale’s 3-2 win against Blackburn U21s…
➡️ ON – Griffiths, Done
⬅️ OFF – Adebayo-Rowling, Beckwith
In the 2nd minute of Tamworth’s 2-1 win against Everton U21s…
➡️ ON – Mols, McGlinchey, Curley
⬅️ OFF – Bates, Enoru, Donkor
Below, in the first few minutes of these live streams, the game is stopped for the subs to be made…
💬 | "We're going to have a tough time picking a squad for Saturday"
Manager Robbie Savage after our win over Wolves U21s this evening: 👇#WeAreFGR💚 pic.twitter.com/nj0btOXrcV
— Forest Green Rovers (@FGRFC_Official) September 16, 2025
Here’s how fans reacted as clubs exploit a little known loophole by making subs in the 1st minute of National League Cup matches…
@joedee0_: When you forget to change your line up before loading into a game:
@BAKinEnglish: I mean on the one hand fair play for doing this. It’s within the rules and demonstrates what everyone already knows (including the National League board) – that its a farcical competition that nobody wants. But didn’t you have the option to opt out of participating?
@georgeha11: If teams are able to do this then it just makes a mockery of the rules really doesn’t it. Might aswell not have the rule
@Noddy_Holder: Fucking farcical competition
@trevk37: And another one! Should just re-name it the Mark Ives Embarrassment Cup
@WrightStuff86: These ridiculous competitions need scrapping – utterly ridiculous that the Leagues can mandate a starting line up for games that no-one comes to see. Of course what will actually happen is they will change the rules to ban this kind of thing.
@nonleaguenext: What even is this competition 😂😂😂
@dannypea: I dislike very much that any competition has the right over a Manager to pick a team. If FGR have 25 registered players for example, it should be the Manager’s right to which eleven of those 25 he starts!
@AlbzSFC: On the one hand, glad the cup is being shown the disrespect it deserves. On the other, swear they had the option to just not enter it?
@RobertTopham7: This is excellent actually and EFL clubs playing in the Trophy that have genuine league ambitions should do the same. Need enough clubs to start doing it for these nonsense comps to end.
@kiddyguest: Not a fan of Savage but fair play for this. Giving this shitty competition the respect it deserves.
@LeeW_Sport: Absolute joke of a competition. The one that killed off replays in first two rounds of FA Cup and can cost small clubs a precious windfall.
@_morgan_bruce: The NL must be really happy with this
@RSage1987: If you make stupid rules up then managers will manipulate the system simples 👏🏻
@DanielHodder7: This is exactly the sort of contempt that should be shown to this competition
@JoeyRobert93: Me and the lads when we turn up to Sunday league straight from the sesh
@I_am_the_Paulus: Four first minute substitutes… presumably to circumnavigate rules on strength of starting XI in National League Cup. Fantastic competition 🤪
@antsk: That’s a joke that you can do that! Get rid of the competition, let alone the rule
@Goonyella_: Fair play. Legal loophole. All clubs should be doing this, especially vs the u21s
@KieranMahon1: This is the cup clubs took as part of the FA Cup replays bribe. And this is how it’s being regarded.
@rhysclough: That’s one way to get fans in for the NL Cup. Hire legends as coaches and play them in these.
@Coakley85: What a stupid rule for such a pointless cup.
@shauntippins: Absolutely stupid rules in a cup against development teams. Looks like Forest Green beat you 4-3 in the early sub game! Well hopefully the lads enjoy the appearance bonus?
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