Jeff Stelling hits out at Boreham Wood this week for the National League club’s controversial decision ahead of this weekend’s fixture.
The much loved Sky Sports presenter has branded Boreham Wood’s decision to ban media representing Southend United, the club’s FA Cup opponents, for Saturday.
Echosport reporter Chris Phillips has been denied access for this weekend’s first-round tie at Meadow Park, as mentioned in a statement issued on Boreham Wood’s website.
?MEDIA UPDATE
A MATCH REPORT IS NON-ESSENTIAL?
In response to Southend Echo’s recent news article, the Club would like to clarify our position and reasoning
Full article? https://t.co/zcogLLtPfj #WeAreTheWood pic.twitter.com/ohS2QCM8gB
— Boreham Wood FC (@BOREHAM_WOODFC) November 5, 2020
Stelling has tweeted his anger at the decision while also calling on the Football Association to intervene.
Stelling said: “It is bonkers. I don’t have any influence but I believe the FA should intervene. For lower league/non-league fans the local media is essential and the attendance of visiting media should be non-negotiable.”
And in reply to Boreham Wood tweeting a match report was non-essential, Stelling added: “A match report is not essential! Seriously? In these lockdown days, a match report is more essential than ever.”
Boreham Wood’s statement got heavily slammed on social media, getting hundreds of replies and just 16 likes.
A match report is no essential ! Seriously? In these lockdown days a match report is more essential than ever.
— Jeff Stelling (@JeffStelling) November 5, 2020
BOREHAM WOOD STATEMENT:
In response to Southend Echo’s recent article, Boreham Wood FC would like to clarify our position and reasoning behind limiting access to our upcoming fixture at Meadow Park.
Following the recent advice sent to us by the National League Board and the FA, and in line with all present government guidelines, due to COVID-19, the Club has had to make tough decisions in regard to who we can give entry to for Saturday’s FA Cup game against Southend United.
Our decisions are based entirely on if somebody is deemed an essential worker or not. We believe a cautious, common-sense approach is needed at this time and we are taking our guidance from our appropriate governing bodies; the FA and the National League, as well as our very own COVID Officer and Safety Officer.
Unfortunately, we cannot look after away match reporters during this lockdown, as match reporters are not deemed as essential workers and can do their work from the safety of their homes via the live streams we provide. As such we will not be able to accommodate any non-essential media during this latest COVID-19 lockdown…
For this Saturday we have been able to accommodate BBC Essex Radio, BBC Three Counties Radio, BBC 5 live, plus our chosen streaming provider FC Video. We are also accommodating the BBC’s chosen TV highlights company; Gravity Media. As everyone can see we are accommodating as many people as possible to ensure the game can be viewed from the safety of supporter’s and non-essential workers homes.
Unfortunately, there are some losers in our decisions, as we simply cannot accommodate all of our own media department, the Non-League Paper’s match reporter or the Southend Echo’s match reporter Chris Phillips, though all will be given free access to our matchday stream to write their match reports.
This we feel is the common-sense approach. We are all in this lockdown together and the lockdown rules of the land do supersede non-essential individuals wishes to go to a game of football, especially when they can watch the same game from the safety of their own home.
The Club believes with 25,000 new cases of COVID-19 being reported on a daily basis in the UK, that this falls in line with Government, FA and National League guidelines. We apologise for any inconvenience caused, especially to the reporter from the Southend Echo Chris Phillips, but our safety measures put in place are for everyones health and safety, do not encourage long-distance journeys and are not financially led.
– STATEMENT ENDS –
As Jeff Stelling hits out at Boreham Wood over the controversial decision, fans also took to slam the club…
Journalists are classed as essential on the government website. This is a shocker from @BOREHAM_WOODFC
— heathrow snowman ? (@heathrowsnowman) November 5, 2020
4th official isn’t essential
— Nick Shaw (@SicknoteWFC) November 5, 2020
Yep. I can kind of see where they’re coming from given we’re supposed to be in a national lockdown but you can’t take that moral high ground and then still play a totally non essential football match. The BBC 5 live reporter could watch from home too surely?
— SerendipitousShrimper (@MidgetSpanner) November 5, 2020
This is a good point. The club do so much good, but every three steps forward they take are probably pushed back four steps every time Danny Hunter thinks ‘time to get people talking about me again’. This is petty. It’s not a full lockdown. Costa & McDonalds are open ffs!
— Colin Peppiatt (@ColinPep1) November 5, 2020
Thanks Neil. Yes I’ve paid for the feed.
— Chris Phillips (@CJPhillips1982) November 5, 2020
you would think there might be space at the back of a stand for @CJPhillips1982 & his broken laptop
— Paul Bacon ????? (@plbacon) November 5, 2020
They’ve been like this for years. A disgrace of a club. It’s why so many people boycott. Danny Hunter just doesn’t get it
— Julian (@wastedrockrange) November 5, 2020
No wonder you can’t get any fans through the turnstiles when you consistently make decisions like this. Weird club.
— Stuart Tree (@StuartTree) November 6, 2020
Assuming your media manager will also be updating via a stream then? Given that his job isn’t, as you say, essential.
— The Custard Splat Podcast ? (@CustardSplatPod) November 5, 2020
I think I speak on behalf of all @SUFCRootsHall fans, when I say @CJPhillips1982 is much more than just a match report, massively narrow minded here! He is the eyes and ears, the main connection between the fans and the club most of the time! Keep up the great work Chris!
— Luke Nutley (@Luke_Nutley) November 5, 2020
This is truly feeble. Give him a seat somewhere by himself. He is a big sensible boy. He’ll wear a mask and sanitise his hands. Feels like a tinpot decision by a very small minded club
— Stephen Smith ???????? (@Bluntswood) November 5, 2020
By this logic, you won’t be covering the game yourselves so your twitter feed won’t tweet anything out on Saturday fair play. ???
— Nick Hanshaw8 (@NHanshaw8) November 5, 2020
Totally shocking,this isn’t a slight on the Evening Echo,this is a middle finger to all football fans,that you deem aren’t important enough to warrant the right to read about the game. @CJPhillips1982 is more than just a “reporter”,he’s a fan that plays the game out for all fans!
— Paul Harrison (@harrisufc) November 5, 2020
The local reporter is the very essence of the community, providing a service that acts as an inextricable link between club and fan. As a former Echo man I may have a prejudiced viewpoint but your explanation is short-sighted whatever the prevailing circumstances.
— Neil Harman (@Neil_Harman57) November 5, 2020
Absolutely shocking. @CJPhillips1982 is more than just a reporter. He is essential, especially in this lockdown period, he takes us fans through every single game. Unbelievable.
— Sophie England ??????? (@SophieThfc10) November 5, 2020
Never seen anything so tinpot in my life
— . (@EssexFinestSUFC) November 5, 2020
Boycott their streaming service. This is proper tinpot
— Scott Wallace (@ScottWallace_) November 5, 2020
See Also: Jeff Stelling apologises after leaving viewers unhappy with what he said on Soccer Saturday
See Also: Jeff Stelling makes up for leaving viewers unhappy with what he said on Soccer Saturday

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