Holbeach United manager Danny Clifton says he’s ‘praying’ the club get moved out of the Thurlow Nunn League as the fall out over a game re-arranged due to a referee’s error rumbles on.
The Tigers had been told to replay a game on Saturday they won 4-2 at Harwich and Parkeston last month courtesy of four Cal Davies goals after Harvey Robinson was shown a second yellow card in the 87th minute, but not a red.
Holbeach argue they shouldn’t be punished for a referee’s error and have to fork out the £1,300 cost to transport the team the five-hour, 220 mile round trip to the coast near Colchester.
From the start they said they wouldn’t play the game and would accept the fine they expected to be £150.
They also emailed Harwich, who are in the play-offs, and the league to say they would forfeit the re-arranged game which they presumed would see the points given to Harwich.
Clifton told The Voice the club noticed from the table on the league’s website that three points had been taken away from them but hadn’t been awarded to Harwich.
When they queried this he says the league told them they will continue to rearrange the game and fine Holbeach the maximum £500 every time they refuse to turn up.
The club are in the Thurlow Nunn League for the first time this year after being moved out of the United Counties League by the FA’s restructure.
There are rumours they could be put back next year.
“I feel so frustrated with how we’re being treated by the league,” said Clifton. “I’m praying we get moved back to the United Counties League, the sooner we get out of this league the better.
“They’re saying they’ll keep rearranging the game and fine us £500 every time.
“It’s absolutely ridiculous.
“I’ve said we shouldn’t play it.
“The worst thing is there’s no contact and nobody speaking to us.
“We’ve spoken to the Lincolnshire FA and higher up the FA itself but have been unable to get anywhere.”
Clifton’s frustrations were heightened further as Holbeach had a similarly long, 200 mile round trip on Tuesday night to play Leiston Reserves despite neither side having a game Saturday before the Harwich game was arranged.
He says Leiston fielded four first team players as the second-from-bottom side picked up a 3-2 win to move up out of the relegation places.
Davies claimed Holbeach’s opener, though it’s gone down as an own goal, but they were soon 2-1 down.
George Frost’s first goal for the club levelled matters but Leiston netted late on to win the game
The Tigers will quickly get the chance for revenge though as they host the same side at Carter’s Park on Saturday.
“We weren’t great to be honest,” Clifton said. “But we had no time to plan as some of the lads were at work until 5pm and didn’t get to the ground until 20 minutes before kick off.
“With no time for preparation, all you can ask is for the players to do the basics right, and we didn’t really do that.
“I said to the lads after though, I’m pretty sure there’s four players who made a big difference in the game who won’t be at Carter’s Park on Saturday as Leiston’s first team are playing.
“We need to be better though.
“It was pretty soul destroying driving home and not getting in until 1am and wondering why the league are treating us like this.”
