King’s Lynn issue statement after being fined following investigation by the National League

King’s Lynn Town issue a statement after being fined £10,000 following an investigation by the National League.

Back in February 2026, claims emerged that the Linnets had ‘manipulated’ the postponement of their game against South Shields.

The Non League Paper received leaked images, with timestamps, which showed the pitch at King’s Lynn’s stadium being watered while it was already raining.

National League investigate claims King’s Lynn ‘manipulated’ postponement of South Shields game

CCTV captured the sprinkler system watering the grass in the pouring rain between 9.55am and 10.38am, two hours before the inspection took place.

King’s Lynn said in their announcement of the postponement: “Unfortunately, due to a high amount of rainfall and insufficient drainage our pitch has too much sitting water and has become waterlogged.”

The club have now been fined having breached League Rule 8.11 – where each Club must take every precaution to keep its ground in good playing condition.

King’s Lynn acknowledge that the “irrigation system was operated in an inappropriate manner”.

My thoughts are that at least it’s cleared up – clearly should not have happened a bad day at the office for Lynn – but a hefty fine for the first offence. I think the maximum fine was 15k maybe 12.5 and the minimum 2.5. I don’t think it was malicious from Lynn just inexperience

— Stephen Cleeve (@StephenCleeve) April 23, 2026

National League Statement: King’s Lynn Town ℹ️

— Enterprise National League (@NL_Enterprise) April 23, 2026

NATIONAL LEGAUE STATEMENT:

Following the postponement of the match between King’s Lynn Town and South Shields on Saturday 14 February 2026, the National League received reports that sprinklers had been activated during poor weather and that this may in turn have influenced the decision to postpone the match.

Following a thorough investigation, the National League charged King’s Lynn Town with a breach of League Rule 8.11 – Each Club must take every precaution to keep its ground in good playing condition.

A League disciplinary panel met on Friday 17 April and imposed a £10,000 fine against King’s Lynn Town.

KING’S LYNN STATEMENT:

King’s Lynn Town Football Club acknowledges the outcome of the National League’s investigation into an incident on 13 February 2026, when the Club’s irrigation system was operated in an inappropriate manner.

Although this occurred without the knowledge or approval of senior staff, and in the context of conditions that had already left the pitch unplayable, the Club has cooperated fully with the League throughout its investigation and accepted the charge at the first opportunity. We recognise that, in this instance, we fell short of the standards expected, and we have strengthened our match-day procedures to ensure this does not happen again.

Our focus is now on the final game of the season this Saturday.

We’re focused, we’re ready, let’s go.

Twitter users reacted as King’s Lynn issue a statement after being fined following an investigation by the National League…

@JoeShieldsMag1: Massive let off here as a 3 point deduction was the obvious call.

@paulknight1976: Should have had 3 points deducted

@StevenHumbles: Need 3 points at Chester on Saturday or the entire season is looking like a total washout…

@linnet1976: £10k fine…… no points deduction…… Please just end the season

@BedfordOnTour: When the part where you say at least a 3 point deduction or give the points back to shields 💜

@NLNCentral: 10k fine for King’s Lynn probably say it’s fortunate as there could’ve easily been a points deduction coming their way

@GavinCaney: Releasing a statement without confirming the charge 🤣🤣🤣 seems to be zero points deduction but £10k fine. Water expensive ‘mistake’.

@TheScunnyLad: Got away with this one. League bottled it

@MarkNealOx: This questions integrity of league. South Shields had come back down on a midweek, Kings Lynn won the resulting re arrangement. This has massive implications at both top & bottom of the league. Not sure a 10k fine covers it when you look at the teams at the bottom/South Shields.

@refrigeratorcar: Hhmm. Might be 10k well-spent if the club stays up on the back of the 3 points they got when the game was eventually played. Really should have the points docked.

@Simonseffers: That is a joke of a punishment . Clear message to other clubs that it will cost you £10k to deliberately get a game postponed . Well done @NL_Enterprise brilliant

@JoeShieldsMag1: No integrity in this league whatsoever. £10 grand fine means nothing if KL stay up. 3 points deduction was the way to go and no deduction is disrespectful to the rest of the league especially to South Shields and teams in the relegation battle.

@JacobWSmith10: Shields should have been given a walkover and if that’s not fair to the rest of the league then kings Lynn should at least have been given a points deduction. A small financial penalty won’t do anything, everyone now knows the price of cheating.

@AlfredGREENWOO9: Genuinely corrupt league, you really have to question the integrity when a club calls off a match against a team top of the league because they’re in bad form then go and win the rearranged game. That game could have big permutations come this time next week. Curzon, Hereford, Bedford or us might go down and South Shields might not go up because KL decided they didn’t want to play that day. If Kings Lynn don’t go down, they could go and do this again next year because they know the punishments aren’t that substantial. A decision that really sums up the NL as a whole at them moment. #OCFC #NLN #COYE #WeAreLynn #COYW #SSFC #UTN #NationalLeague