Southern League club explain reasons for resigning from division with record ‘expunged’

Southern League Division One Central club Harlow Town explain the reasons for resigning from their division with their record ‘expunged’.

The Hawks, who sat 16th in the league, pulled out because of problems with their artificial pitch, ending their season with immediate effect.

The club have also withdrawn their teams from the Essex Senior Football Reserve League and the Eastern Regional Women’s Football League.

A new 3G playing surface had been laid in the summer at the Harlow Arena, saying they were working hard to “remedy the issues” which have arisen but “remedial action” is now necessary.

The men’s first team, managed by Danny Chapman, haven’t played a home fixture since their 2-1 victory against Ware on the 12th of November.

Ten days later, a home match against Hadley was called off – a decision the club said on social media was due to “factors beyond our control”.

Club Statement || Harlow Town FC https://t.co/3iqv0GgmEF

— Harlow Town FC (@HarlowTownFC) December 7, 2022

CLUB STATEMENT:

Harlow Town Football Club has today taken the incredibly difficult decision to immediately resign from The Pitching In Southern League, The Essex Senior Football Reserve League and The Eastern Regional Women’s Football League.

As has been much publicised, opinions have been formed with regards to our newly laid 3G surface. We have been working very hard to remedy the issues which we have found ourselves with, we are currently in a position where no home fixtures for our senior teams can be played. The options presented to us are not deemed viable and therefore the decision taken now leaves us with the opportunity to properly plan for remedial actions to take place. It is not expected that this will be a particularly quick fix but we will do everything within our powers to resolve matters as soon as weather and contractor’s availability permits.

We should like to thank all our respective Players, Staff, Volunteers and Supporters for their unfaltering support once again this season and do sincerely hope that you will continue to support us through this incredibly tough period and into the new seasons ahead. What has been of paramount importance is that the Club and its future have been at the centre of the thoughts behind these decisions.

– STATEMENT ENDS –

The Football Association rules state that their playing record will be ‘expunged’ (this will mean clubs will lose any points they’ve gained against them).

The club will be treated as one of the relegated clubs in that division.

FA RULES

Prior to the end of a Playing Season

5.5.3

In cases where the vacancy is created prior to the end of the Playing Season, at Steps 1 and 2 the vacancy will be filled by the best ranked Club in a relegation position at the end of the Regular Season, eligible of being reprieved in that same division. In the event of there being more vacancies than Clubs eligible to be reprieved, such vacancy or vacancies will be filled by Clubs eligible to be reprieved in the Competition’s other division(s) on a points per match ratio. At Steps 3 to 6, the vacancies shall be filled at the sole discretion of the Committee.

(b) Where, prior to the end of the Playing Season, a Club notifies its decision to resign from its League with immediate effect or where a Club is removed from the League for any reason, then the playing record of that Club will be expunged and a vacancy is created on the date the resignation or removal is formally recorded by that League.

(c) In all such cases that Club is treated as a relegated Club and the vacancy will be filled in accordance with 5.5.3(a) above.

This is what fans had to say as the Southern League club explain reasons for resigning from their division with their record ‘expunged’…

@NonLeagueCrowd: Hope you can sort something out as quickly as is practical – feel for everyone connected to your club.

@SWTFootballClub: SWTFC reached out but heard nothing back. Real shame this has happened and good luck

@puffpuff65: A real shame that no one could help you out like Bishops Stortford, Enfield or Cheshunt so you could see the season out. Hope you bounce back

@grasslad: There is a ridiculous amount of time, money and resources that goes into managing and maintaining a football pitch Daniel, almost all pitch are running on a tight rope as it is.

@IanBarham: Absolutely gutted for Tim, Donna, Chappo and all the others who have worked so hard this season. Hope they come back stronger next season.

@hornhert: Sad news, but hope your return isn’t too far away. Always a healthy, noisy visit when you visited Hertford, helped create a good atmosphere. Good luck to everybody involved, great Club with a rich history, will stand you in good stead.

@leonosullivan: Very sad indeed to hear this. I know our players/management didn’t love that pitch of yours (old one or new one!), but as a Ducks fan I really enjoyed both visits to Harlow this year – a really nice facility with good acoustics. Hope we meet again one day when all is well again!

@MrJohnAdams1: My genuine Best Wishes to ALL at Harlow Town FC, a great community spirited club, and a very welcoming club for all its visitors. All The Best For The Future.

@DanHarvey74: Really sorry to hear this and enjoyed my visits over the last 2 seasons feel for your fans and volunteers. Hoping things turn out for the best for all concerned 👍🏻

@DeanPerrett2: Gutted to see this loved every minute of being there built something special with excellent players and other good people 💔 #sadtimes

@LeeCotton1: Horrible news, sensed a bit of discontent amongst your fans when we played you on Saturday but didn’t realise things were this bad. Hope to see the club back on its feet soon.

@floody1978: As someone with experience of this, it’s horrible. However, I would add, a large amount of their fans laughed at us and sang songs about us folding at their place, a month before it happened.

@HKT3030: This is gutting – I’ve seen lots of highs and lows with Harlow, both on and off the pitch, but withdrawing from all competitions is a different level of problem. Hopefully the club can get back to business soon

@TheWheeldog: Gutted for the club and all the loyal support. The club has risen from the ashes in the past so hopefully can do so again. I’m up for the rebrand back to Owls when it happens 😀.

Video taken while players warming up. Not good. pic.twitter.com/U3OJrpQbMc

— BarkingU23 (@BarkingU23) December 2, 2022

When I worked at the club they used to have grass however they couldn’t either afford to maintain it or it just wouldn’t take and it cost games etc.

3g made sense I guess to bring in more revenue.

— Alec Sharp (@AlecSharp81) December 7, 2022

Artificial pitches are never the answer. Just a toxic plastic timebomb.

— Richard Plant (@RichardP_HTFC) December 7, 2022

What a shame! My local club, it’s a sleeping giant in the non league.
Really hope the club can sort itself out and get back on track ⚽️

— Danny Green (@dannygreen_7) December 7, 2022