Gosport Borough expelled from FA Trophy

[Irishadrian]

Gosport who beat Tonbridge and Worthing in earlier rounds to win the right to play Torquay were expelled from the competition today The FA hasn't yet commented on what happens next  Torquay getting a bye is the most suggested option but both Tonbridge and Worthing are up in arms!

[Irishadrian]

One suggestion is that Tonbridge should play Worthimg  winner to play Torquay.

[Curtis]

Who was the ineligible player that Gosport played in the two matches then? And why have Tonbridge only realised a month after their match with Gosport?

[Irishadrian]

Statements now on Worthing and Tonbridge sites Tonbridge saying they've asked FA for reinstatement Worthing saying they will now play Torquay in next round!

[Curtis]

For the match against Tonbridge it looks like Gosport had a temporary loan goalkeeper, Callum Ward (he didn’t play against Worthing).

If it is him who is the ineligible player then it looks complicated…. Tonbridge should probably have put in a complaint before the next round, and Worthing probably wouldn’t have a claim because he didn’t play against them.

If this is the player, then I think Gosport will be expelled & Torquay will get a bye.

[Irishadrian]

At this time Gosport are expelled but have said they will appeal They don't seem to deny the  charge but as well as the ineligible player charge there has been what they say is a substantial fine which they do think is unfair

[Irishadrian]

  On 19/12/2024 at 12:40, Irishadrian said:

At this time Gosport are expelled but have said they will appeal They don't seem to deny the  charge but as well as the ineligible player charge there has been what they say is a substantial fine which they do think is unfair

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Curtis I think your assessment is spot on Tonbridges complaint to the FA is that the ineligible player took part in their match but I agree the onus was on them to object earlier.

[GlenSTFC]

  On 19/12/2024 at 12:50, Irishadrian said:

Curtis I think your assessment is spot on Tonbridges complaint to the FA is that the ineligible player took part in their match but I agree the onus was on them to object earlier.

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How would Tonbridge know the opposition played an ineligible player? Unless they oddly checked themselves!

[Irishadrian]

How do you think they ever get spotted?  Vigilance is always necessary imo

[Curtis]

  On 19/12/2024 at 13:02, GlenSTFC said:

How would Tonbridge know the opposition played an ineligible player? Unless they oddly checked themselves!

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If it is to do with the goalkeeper, if he had played well against Tonbridge & they did a simple check on him, it looks like he has played in Finland for the last three or four seasons up until October, so the next question they would probably ask is ‘did he have international clearance before playing against them?’. And in some cases that process can take up to 30 days.

[Reading Rebel]

Don't clubs have to send a team sheet to the league for checking?

[GlenSTFC]

  On 19/12/2024 at 13:51, Curtis said:

If it is to do with the goalkeeper, if he had played well against Tonbridge & they did a simple check on him, it looks like he has played in Finland for the last three or four seasons up until October, so the next question they would probably ask is ‘did he have international clearance before playing against them?’. And in some cases that process can take up to 30 days.

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News to me if correct but is it common for clubs to check all opposing players history?

[Curtis]

Didn’t we do it when we got Marlow expelled from the Bucks & Berks Cup?

[DonnyNo6]

Not sure how it works at NLS level but for us at local level everything is logged on the Full Time and Whole Game system run by the FA and County FAs.

Players/Suspensions/Registrations etc etc and when each match is finished the Secretary's from each club have to login and basically upload all the Teamsheet information......players/reg numbers/goal scorers/cards/sinbins/subs/captains and so on plus all the marks/comments on the Officials/Pitches/Facilities/Crowd etc.

This is then checked by the Leagues/Cup Committees where I'd imagine any players that are not qualified to play will be picked up and dealt with.

[Reading Rebel]

  On 19/12/2024 at 15:58, DonnyNo6 said:

Not sure how it works at NLS level but for us at local level everything is logged on the Full Time and Whole Game system run by the FA and County FAs.

Players/Suspensions/Registrations etc etc and when each match is finished the Secretary's from each club have to login and basically upload all the Teamsheet information......players/reg numbers/goal scorers/cards/sinbins/subs/captains and so on plus all the marks/comments on the Officials/Pitches/Facilities/Crowd etc.

This is then checked by the Leagues/Cup Committees where I'd imagine any players that are not qualified to play will be picked up and dealt with.

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Makes sense that clubs fill out the forms and the leagues check those forms for any irregularities.

[Reading Rebel]

  On 19/12/2024 at 14:31, Curtis said:

Didn’t we do it when we got Marlow expelled from the Bucks & Berks Cup?

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I could be wrong but wasn't that a case where someone recognized an ineligible player?

[rebelbrewer]

  On 19/12/2024 at 11:11, Irishadrian said:

Statements now on Worthing and Tonbridge sites Tonbridge saying they've asked FA for reinstatement Worthing saying they will now play Torquay in next round!

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Torquay's statement agrees with Worthing. Seems FA have communicated that Worthing progress

[Irishadrian]

  On 19/12/2024 at 19:40, Reading Rebel said:

I could be wrong but wasn't that a case where someone recognized an ineligible player?

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Marlow fell foul of the rule that no player can play in more than one FA County cup game per season for more than one team Marcus Mealing and Adam Richards had both done so and were ineligible to play against Slough

Edited December 20, 2024 by Irishadrian
Senior moment

[Antondubec]

It also interesting to note that Gosport Borough named Jamar Smith on the bench for the game against Tonbridge. Jamar had played for Poole Town AGAINST Gosport in an earlier round, so would have been cup tied. Jamar didn't end up playing but was on the team sheet, so this also muddies the water! 

[Reading Rebel]

  On 23/12/2024 at 07:48, Antondubec said:

It also interesting to note that Gosport Borough named Jamar Smith on the bench for the game against Tonbridge. Jamar had played for Poole Town AGAINST Gosport in an earlier round, so would have been cup tied. Jamar didn't end up playing but was on the team sheet, so this also muddies the water! 

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Always baffles and amazes me how clubs don't do their checks and more so the players themselves don't twig on that they've already played in the same competition for another club.