Wembley dreams crushed for National League club by pulling out of FA Trophy

Wembley dreams have been crushed for National League club Altrincham by pulling out of FA Trophy like so many others had to do this season.

They say that they have reluctantly forfeited their FA Trophy tie against Havant & Waterlooville, who will now no doubt get a bye into the next round as a consequence.

This is due to a confirmed COVID-19 case within the Robins camp, leaving the squad and it’s staff members gutted as they had got as far as the fourth round.

CLUB STATEMENT:

Altrincham’s Wembley dreams have been cruelly dashed after they were forced to forfeit their Buildbase FA Trophy tie against Havant & Waterlooville due to one Robins player contracting COVID-19.

The single positive test was enough to prevent the fourth-round meeting going ahead at the Vanarama National League South’s Draper Tools Community Stadium on Saturday.

Alty bosses desperately tried to salvage the tie by contacting the authorities and exploring the possibility of rearranging the tie later next week.

But they reluctantly had to concede defeat after the National League informed them that next Friday would be the earliest they could play and added that it would fall outside the postponement window for an alternative date.

All avenues exhausted, the club were left with no option but to forfeit the tie and accept that the path to Wembley had been blocked off, despite the team’s sterling efforts in the competition so far.

– STATEMENT ENDS –

It comes three weeks after a Southern League club were left furious at being kicked out of the competition.

The FA have removed Southern League club Frome Town from this season’s FA Trophy as teams continue to drop out of the competition.

It was late December that Frome said they wouldn’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.

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“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.

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An FA statement said: “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 Town added: “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.”

There was plenty of fan reaction as Wembley dreams have been crushed for National League club Altrincham by pulling out of FA Trophy…

@mcfcsamm: because of one positive case? wtf?

@chris_hardyman: Sorry to hear this. We were looking forward to playing you. If you don’t go up, maybe we can get the chance next year. Hope those suffering recover swiftly and good luck for the rest of the season

@JakeWorrall6: Play the youth team

@eopainter: Pretty gutted about this one

@brads77777: Speedy recovery to those involved. Concentrate on the league now.

@MattCowen45: play the youth lads

@Faulkne99553264: Very disappointed for everyone involved with @altrinchamfc that we are unable to play in the competition.

@SammyH8: Wembley next season when we can all go

@Shimoji___: No! Awww I’m gutted for y’all. Can we not play the youth?

@Mal_TQ: Disappointing but nothing you can do, decent rest before back to league action at least.

@tom_murray456: such a shame. absolutely ridiculous that the game is off from a single positive test

Enjoy the next round @davenelson91, I hope it makes you very happy. pic.twitter.com/FX9nvFhXHx

— Andrew Flynn (@andrewflynn_) January 14, 2021