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Rovers back in the FA Vase
Story courtesy of
Gresley Rovers were back in the FA Vase today – after the team that beat them in the last round were thrown out of the competition.
Gresley’s complaint that Scoreline Combination side Mile Oak Rovers fielded an illegible player in Saturday’s first round match – which Mile Oak won 2-1 after extra time – was yesterday upheld by a three-man FA Commission of Inquiry.A hearing at FA headquarters in Lancaster Gate concluded that Mile Oak goalkeeper Gary Reeves was ineligible, having signed only 48 hours before Saturday’s game.
Competition rules state that all players must be registered at least seven days before a Vase tie.
“It was therefore decided to remove Mile Oak Rovers from the competition and reinstate Gresley Rovers,” an FA spokesman said afterwards.
The announcement signalled the start of unlikely celebrations at Gresley – and put them on course for an ironic encounter with Beazer Midland side Racing Club Warwick on November 24th.
Warwick and Gresley were embroiled together in controversy two seasons ago when Racing were awarded a promotion spot to the Beazer Homes League that Rovers claimed should have been theirs.
Rovers chairman Peter Hall, who attended yesterday’s hearing said: “It is ironic that we should be playing Racing Warwick, but at the moment we’re just delighted to be back in the competition.”
Meanwhile, manager Frank Northwood said he had sympathy for Mile Oak. “I feel for them but if the boot had been on the other foot I’m sure they’d have done the same as us. Rules are rules and personally I’m very keen on making sure they are kept to.
“Obviously I’m delighted that we’re back in the competition, but I never thought we’d lose out. I’m pleased for the lads and especially pleased for the fans – the way they turned out to support us at Mile Oak was an indication of how much they want us to do well.”
