Fans furious as the FA remove Southern League club from this season’s FA Trophy

The FA have chosen to remove a Southern League club from this season’s FA Trophy as teams continue to drop out of the competition.

It was late December that Frome Town said they won’t travel into a tier 4 area to play in their scheduled FA Trophy tie.

They should have faced Maidstone United for – but said they aren’t withdrawing from the tournament with the government and FA ruled the third-round tie could go ahead at the Gallagher despite Frome’s concerns over playing in a Tier 4 area.

But Town have decided not to travel and have called for the fixture to be rearranged.

A Frome statement said: “As a club our first thoughts have to be with the players, staff and officials of both teams who will be forced to play a match in Tier 4 against wider government regulations.

“As a ‘non-elite’ team, we do not accept the decision of both bodies given all the news coverage and medical expert advice given.

“We will not put families and lives at stake.

“It’s clear that no football match outside of the top level is Covid-safe.

“We will not demand that our players travel in separate cars across the country to a Tier 4 area.

“We have no clear clarification on the insurance procedures and coverage either.

“We’ve also been truly shocked by some of the wider fan comments who have a very reckless view on Covid and its effects. But more disappointed at the collective decision that has been made.

“We are not withdrawing from the competition, and believe the FA can still make a sensible decision to postpone until it is safe to play. We will await further communication from the FA.”

Frome have criticised the FA in an open letter over the scheduling of their third-round tie, saying they were being backed into a corner.

An FA statement read: “In accordance with the attached communication sent to all Clubs on 20 November and FA Trophy Rule 11 of the Competition Rules also attached, any postponed match in the Third Round Proper must be played within the five day postponement window (on or before 24 December) and there will be no flexibility for a postponed match to be rescheduled beyond this date.

“As communicated to your Club yesterday it was confirmed that DCMS are content that all Buildbase FA Trophy Third Round Proper fixtures can continue to be played, as scheduled, under the attached FA Trophy Protocol, which is in line with the latest DCMS guidance for elite sport.

“As your Club have now confirmed to The FA in the email below that you will not be fulfilling the fixture this evening you are deemed to have forfeited the match your opponents will progress to the next round.

“Maidstone United are copied in on this email to make them aware of your decision and that they will now receive a walkover to the next round.”

Frome said: “For clarity to our supporters, we have not chosen to forfeit our match. We have been removed for asking for a postponement due to the now UK wide safety concerns. We disagree with the FA’s decision to remove us at this point and will continue to ask for further discussions.”

Fans reacted as The FA remove Southern League club Frome Town from this season’s FA Trophy…

@k_b_lvi: Well done Frome Town. A decision that must have been so hard to make but the right one. Clearly ahead of the curve in my view, and the respect you’re getting in various places online is well deserved.

@jimmysmith_76: Gloucester can travel though ay!

@corey_hyufc97: There’s a difference between letting the FA walk all over you and standing your ground. Frome stuck by it and didn’t let the FA walk all over them

@max_alner: Sounds like a bit of an L

@1972Jets: The caring @FA willing to risk lives to get there comps played .. safe behind a home computer are your decision makers !!

@oldlandafc: Disgraceful

@Dazza_007: You’ve made the right moral decision. This is something @FA seriously need to address. Promoting non elite teams to play at elite status is both irresponsible and dangerous, especially with no financial support to comply with elite protocols .

@daleskitt: What a mess.

@LordDesie: Hang your heads in shame @FA

@scotty8461: The FA dont care

@Brian23787527: It’s about time we all get together and tell them get stuffed we pay to play in the Fa competition and it’s not fair they are treating the club’s like this we are taking a big hit just to keep going it’s about time they realise what we are going through shame on them

@andy_ledger: I’m a Maidstone supporter, and I think this is the wrong decision. Postpone the game, let Frome play us when it’s safe.

@SammyG1965: So the FA’s position is if you’re not willing to break the law, you have to forfeit the tie? Another in a long line of terrible decisions.

@Claytona07: That is an appalling decision. Frome dumped out of Trophy for refusing to break the law. FA out of their depth now.

@palmer878: Typical from the FA. Only interested in themselves as always.

@Chris1408mac: You do wonder sometimes about the FA’s ability to organise anything. What a ridiculous decision.

@JasonLanns: Shocking from the FA!!!! Just showing a lack of respect to non elite teams

@Stuartcripps4: Gotta feel for them and all teams that have forfeited because of the C word.

@guyhadland: Absolutely crazy ,goes to prove the @FA priorities are financial over welfare always has been , it’s a cash cow . They made unbelievable profits last year and have furloughed there staff also shocking .

We’ve been there – at the point of the competition the club didn’t want to travel from tier 1 to tier 3 – we were told we have forfeited the tie 👎🏻

— Cleethorpes Town FC (@CleeTownFC) December 23, 2020

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— Jake Jenner (@jfj1998) December 23, 2020

There are a lot of footballing authorities and club chairs who have not covered themselves in glory throughout this year from @premierleague right down to @TheVanaramaNL There needs to be a reckoning at some point as too many of them have no place running the game.

— Tony Bufton (@a49bullsfan) December 23, 2020