Shaw Lane Aquaforce chairman Craig Wood
Shaw Lane Aquaforce have sensationally pulled out of the Sheffield & Hallamshire Senior Cup, 24 hours before the final with Frickley Athletic at Bramall Lane.
Aquaforce chairman Craig Wood made the decision on Monday after failing to persuade the Sheffield & Hallamshire FA to rearrange it because of his club’s Evo Stik Division One South play-offs semi-final on Wednesday.
He has said it is the “hardest decision” his club has ever had to make.
Mr Wood told Non League Yorkshire on Sunday that his club could not cope with two important fixtures in 48 hours.
Mr Wood said on Monday: “We are devastated that we have had no option other than to withdraw from the competition.
“It has been the hardest decision that the club have ever had to make
“It would have been our first ever cup final and a game to look forward to and one that our players would have relished. To play the game would have put us at a massive disadvantage going into Wednesday’s play offs game as at least half of the team would have had to play in both games,
“There is also the players’ welfare to consider having to play two games in two days.
“It would never happen at a professional level so why should it happen at our level when these lads have honest jobs and are not athletes?”
The Sheffield & Hallamshire FA have issued a short statement saying: “It is hugely disappointing that Shaw Lane Aquaforce have chosen to withdraw from the competition at such short notice.
“We cannot comment further as a decision on the club’s withdrawal will have to be made in due course based on the rules of the competition.”
frickley would have played 10 games including the final, where as aqua only 8. so its unfair for your guys ?? boohoo
took you long enough to work it out didnt it from winning the semi tie.
be interesting what the weak shfa will do, but then again money talks doesn’t it ??
Nothing surprises us about Shaw lane, badly done to aren’t they.
I am sure Sheffield FA have had to pay to hire Bramhall Lane. Make Shaw Lane pay for that as well as a hefty fine. Just because the guy has money he thinks he can do what he wants. Perhaps he should ask his fans. Ooops he cannot as Shaw Lane do not have any fans.
Yes the fans know all about it! You are very narrow minded and very unprofessional. The “guy” who you so rudely talk about has worked hard and made his own way in life which is totally irrelevant in all this. Before you spout off so ill informed then do your research. Who are you? And what have you done with YOUR life!
Let me guess your all frickley fans or are the ones who hate AquaForce because they have some money behind them. Give the players a thought. Would you really want your players over doing it?? It is all about the money and the ones that keep going on about the money are the ones that want what they’ve got.
Hi harry, not a Frickley fan or bothered about how much money Shaw lane have or havent got. For me it’s about fulfilling the fixture of one of the oldest competitions in the world, a final in a fine stadium which I assume all the Shaw lane and Frickley lads were desperate to play in. The rules apply to all with no exceptions. Don’t be suprised if the county F A invoke those rules and stop them from fulfilling those play off fixtures now. Failing to fulfill a fixture is a serious issue.
Suspend them from all competitions pending an enquiry with immediate effect including the evostik play offs.
Surely it is within the remit of the county FA to do that tonight?
Are for real! What kind of individual are you!
Couldn’t Shaw Lane have put a reserve side out.
They are a non-league club not a club paid thousands a week! There reserves are within the 20 odd first team players. How would that work?
lets but this into prospective! if this was any professional team they would have at least 2 full days to recover, they have to make a decision which is best for them. like when Man utd etc field a weakened team in the fa cup!! they didn’t this year because they are not in europe or challenging for the premier league title. and did they or anyone else get a huge fine for not fielding their best 11? and don’t forget they earn an average of £33,000 per week not per year! and they don’t have to get up next morning to do a day job!! what would you do if the Sheff Fa or the league would not alter one of these games? ask yourself this why can’t they alter one or the other fixture? Common sense should prevail, but when does it ever in this world. for the frickley fans if you had been in play offs in your league next day and had the same dilema ask your directors what they would be doing? i’ll tell you the same!!
Shaw lane have a big enough squad to deal with this fixture clash . They should have fulfilled these games whatever the outcome . Could be costly to them now.,£££
Looks like a sensible move to me by Shaw Lane. The league is their priority. S&H FA should have seen it coming.
Well said Richard
so Shawn what excuse has a professional team playing 3 games in 5 days? of which 2 games are in 2 days! that would not be allowed under any circumstances!! only teams of semi pro or local non league are bullied into these situations. with treats of high fines etc!! professional players moan playing 3 games a week unless it suits them and a few million in their bank!!
No one begrudges Wood his success. But why does he have to get so provocative on the one hand and talk of victimisation on the other? He talks as if ambition justifies everything. He needs to learn how to be gracious and take the hard knocks when they come. If another club found itself in the same situation of being in a cup final and in the play-offs they would be meted the same treatment right or wrong. It is not specially reserved for him. But I could understand it if it was. Wood needs to start making some friends and be a good citizen in the football community.
At what point is Craig being provocative? He has plenty of friends and is doing an amazing thing for the football community with around 22 Aquaforce teams at grass roots level. Please do your research before making mindless ill-informed comments!
So Raymond , what excuse have Shaw lane got, calling the game off at such a bazaar notice. The truth is they knew damned well this could happen . Have you read the statement on Frickleys website .
Clearly shows the piss poor organisation of Sheffield FA. The FA should have been talking to clubs nearer the final to base the final date around other fixtures. Don’t agree with pulling out if the club could have helped it (I.e Reserve team or young team) I really don’t understand why the fixture couldn’t have been moved for everyone involved? I think there are learning points for both club and competition.
Aaron the youth team do not qualify to play it is a Senior Cup, please get the facts right. Reserve squad?? They are not Chelsea, the reserves are incorporated within the first team squad.
Aqua force played two games the other week and fielded two sides, so they could of done it again, suppose money talks
Im surprised SLA haven’t called Wednesday game off due to a waterlogged pitch. Wouldnt be 1st time they have manipulated their fixtures and then they would have been fine for the final.
Thought it was the pitch inspector who decides if the pitch is fit for play, not the club? Seriously! No one is more disappointed when the pitch is waterlogged than the club and the fans. I struggle to see what is to be gained by people voicing benal statements on here. UTD
Anybody would think they played on a rugby field .
No pun intended there I surmise?
unbelievable why cant the county cup be moved
as for deadlines to be met the east riding senior cup final is may 18th so why cant others follow
Lets be honest erica SLA have benefited from having to play re arranged games towards the end of the season when other teams have nothing to play for. I remember one team having to play a fan so that the game went ahead! I know someone who works at a school near their ground and he always knows if they want the game on or off because they make no effort to put posts up or work on the field leading up to the fixture
Schools that are open on a Saturday and SLA doing a rain dance! Whatever next!!
Who mentioned schools open on a Saturday? I can understand you supporting your team erica but you are being a little naive