Outrage as club are kicked out of the FA Vase for a second time in the same season

There is widespread outrage as a non league club are kicked out of the FA Vase, a blow to their much anticipated Wembley dreams.

North Ferriby have confirmed the club have been removed from this season’s FA Vase competition.

The NCEL Division One club had made it through to the fifth round proper but have explained on Wednesday that The FA have determined they fielded an ineligible player against West Auckland Town.

Niall Tilsley was deemed ineligible to have featured ‘following the discovery of a non-recorded yellow card’ in December.

CLUB STATEMENT:

North Ferriby Football Club has been removed from this year’s FA Vase competition and West Auckland, whom the Villagers beat 4-0 on Saturday, are to be reinstated. The FA have determined that Niall Tilsley was ineligible to play following the discovery of a ‘non-recorded’ yellow card issued in December last.

In a letter of mitigation for the club, Adam Lowthorpe, CEO of the East Riding County FA advised: “North Ferriby FC made a detailed effort to clarify the eligibility of their players prior to the fixture in an open and transparent fashion and following these discussions established their player was eligible to play, they should not be punished due to human error within a County FA compounded by a dated process for handling discipline in comparison to other levels of the game.

At the point of the fixture, there were no outstanding suspensions showing on Whole Game System and the club had specifically asked The Football Association to clarify the eligibility of its players”.

Club Chairman Les Hare commented: “There is little more I can add at this time, other than, I’m heartbroken for every ‘Villager’, but none more so than our incredible management & players.”

Afternoon’s like this are rare and you have to soak up every moment. That performance was something close to perfection. The best @north_ferribyfc have ever played and the Vase journey rolls on #UTV 💚💚💚 pic.twitter.com/p4MwuYoorx

— 2010 Villagers (@2010Villagers) April 17, 2021

Three months ago, a non league Twitter spat embroiled over a controversial FA Vase decision announced via social media.

Seaham Red Star of the Northern League Division One were reinstated back in the competition following their loss to North Ferriby.

The game played out to a 2-2 draw on the 29th of December, before going on to penalties with North Ferriby winning it 7-6.

However, following a statement being issued on Saturday the 23rd of January, it’s been confirmed that the game will have to be replayed.

The game was replayed on Saturday the 10th of April 2021, with North Ferriby winning 1-0, going through to set up a tie against West Auckland Town.

North Ferriby were the only team from the fourth round to cause an upset against a team from a tier above.

Jamie Forrester and Tom Corner put the hosts 2-0 up by half time against West Auckland, before Danny Buttle netted twice in the second half to seal the 4-0 win.

We look at the Fifth Round draw, which was made on 12th of April 2021, originally scheduled for the 6th of February 2021, after ties were postponed due to the pandemic. On the 11th of March 2021, it was announced that the ties would take place on 24 April 2021.

Winning non league clubs will claim £2,250 from the competition prize fund with losing clubs awarded £725.

FIFTH ROUND DRAW

Hebburn Town (9) v Congleton Town (9)
Warrington Rylands (9) v West Auckland Town (9)
Walsall Wood (9) v Anstey Nomads (9)
Hanworth Villa (9) v Long Eaton United (9)
Cobham (9) v Leighton Town (9)
Hadley (9) v Binfield (9)
Tavistock (9) v Christchurch (9)
Plymouth Parkway (9) v Flackwell Heath (9)

QUARTER FINAL DRAW:

Warrington Rylands or West Auckland Town v Hebburn Town or Congleton Town
Cobham or Leighton Town v Walsall Wood or Anstey Nomads
Hanworth Villa or Long Eaton United v Hadley or Binfield
Tavistock or United Services Portsmouth v Plymouth Parkway or Flackwell Heath

Fans and players reacted with outrage as the club are kicked out of the FA Vase…

North Ferriby play a suspended player against us and the game has to be played again

North Ferriby play a suspended player against West Auckland and West get awarded the tie?

Can the @FA please explain how this works and how there are two different sets of rules evidently?

— Seaham Red Star FC (@SeahamRedStar) April 21, 2021

Once is a mistake, twice is cheating.

It should have been West v Seaham in the last round regardless.

Seeing a lot of quote tweets and the statement blaming everyone but themselves. As @1colly pointed out their own twitter account recorded the two bookings! https://t.co/fo0SEDSDwL pic.twitter.com/nxtQSntZVY

— Rob Raine (@RobRaine180) April 21, 2021

@NFFanTV: What an absolute shower of shite. Taxi for County FA administration.

@DanCraft94: Someone at @EastRidingFA needs to be handed their P45! Twice in the same year they’ve messed this up… Also if North Ferriby have emails confirming no active suspensions why should they be hoyed out of the competition, surely that would show they’ve carried out due diligence?

@kieranjcrossman: Twice in the same season 😂😂

@richt14: Wow unbelievable twice it’s happened now

@LiamKFootball: This whole story is absolutely mental. For it to happen once is bad enough, to happen twice seems poor on behalf of both parties to be fair.

@ma_withell: If the process is so outdated then things need to change. Surely it can’t be that hard to keep a database up to date…?

@RiSomerville: How can the Local FA let this happen twice? We go again next season lads with even more motivation than last time

@mheth88: Absolute shambles again, the way football is run in this country is outdated and ridiculous

@Levitarby: This is an absolute Shambles, once is a mistake but when it happens twice in a matter of months it is pure laziness from @EastRidingFA. Somebody needs to take responsibility and should be sacked immediately. @EastRidingFA

@_jamieforrester: Absolutely gutted to go out like this, especially after Saturday’s performance. Incompetence beyond belief @FA @EastRidingFA

@andyrobertshull: So Ferriby try to do everything by the book but unfortunately @FA have a unrecorded rulebook that they can throw at a club. What a joke they are!

@Freshman74: Their admin/secretary team must need retraining!

@VFTAE: Very sorry for the mgt and players, especially after the amazing result on Sat. Does seem that there was an ERCFA admin error but I really think the club should know who is eligible to play and who is not. Only 1 competition running and suspensions should be easy to determine

@JimmyDRFC: Sort the governing bodies out! Disgraceful from the @FA

@jacksalt23: Gutted for Les, Gill, all the rest of the staff and all the lads, and everyone else associated. Not how it was meant to end, but we’ll be back

We continue our look at the outrage as the club are kicked out of the FA Vase…

@Shaun_H_1990: Absolutely gutted by this decision. Genuinely thought nothing could stand in our way to winning this. I’m absolutely gutted for the chairman and Gill who have worked hours on end to get the club to where it is. Im gutted for the rest of the staff and players too

@aza2990: In a week I don’t think I could be anymore disgusted with the game I love, the FA top it off with this. Disgusting.

@THenryOfficial: REALLY!? @FA REALLY?! This is disgusting

@crav1992: @FA you really are a disgrace. The sorry way that you organise non-league football is an embarrassment, and with total disregard for the hardworking club support systems that exist down the pyramid. @north_ferribyfc should be proud at what they have achieved. Congratulations.

@ZachOfTheROVERS: Heartbroken and distraught, this potential Wembley cup final meant more to me then hull city getting to Wembley, I hardly slept last night and we’ve all worked so hard to get this far, I I messaged les, gill and the players and simply said we have nothing to be ashamed of

@Ruthie0917: @GNev2 never mind your outrage for the ESL what about outrage for this. Chucked out of the vase because of the FAs own failings. What a disgrace @FA and what a shameful way to help the little clubs in their time of need.

@1904Irrelevants: Seriously how can the @FA and subordinate associations act like this. It’s a disgrace.

@JasonRead9: Shafted for a second time by the FA, surely its time they got their own house in order