FA Trophy
Alex Byrne (left) should have been suspended for Shaw Lane’s FA Trophy tie with Nantwich
Shaw Lane AFC are victims of a flawed system, according to club chairman Craig Wood.
The FA Member’s Area is at the centre of the reasons why Shaw Lane AFC are appealing against their controversial expulsion from the FA Trophy.
The FA kicked Shaw Lane out on Friday for fielding Alex Byrne in the third qualifying round win over Nantwich Town. It was later found that Byrne should have bee suspended.
However, Shaw Lane say the system – which has faced huge criticism from secretaries in the past – is to be blame. When Byrne moved from Northwich to Shaw Lane in September, the club were told by the system that he hadn’t collected any cautions at his previous club.
Shaw Lane chairman Craig Wood said: “The player in question was registered with his previous club with an incorrect date of birth and as Alex. When Shaw Lane registered him we used all details, full name and with the correct date of birth. This created in effect two players Alex Byrne and Alexander with two different dates of birth on the FA members services portal that is used by all clubs to monitor their discipline.
“Like all clubs, we use the FA’s own members services portal to monitor discipline for all players registered, at no time did Alexander Byrne show any cautions other than the ones he accrued whilst playing for Shaw Lane AFC. It is important to note that this is the only official system available to monitor discipline, For example another player we have signed mid season shows his previous cautions accrued this season from both his previous clubs. Why did the system not highlight Alexander Byrne – because he had a different identity within the system due to his incorrect date of birth from his previous clubs or FA’s mistake.
“When Alexander had accrued four cautions following the Nantwich game, we advised him that he needs to be careful as one more caution would result in a suspension, Alexander advised that he believed he had a booking at the start of the season whilst playing for his previous club. It was at this point that we raised our concern with the FA who investigated this and found that there was another Alex Byrne with a different DOB who had actually received 2 cautions. The FA also advised that we should suspend Alexander Byrne for our next fixture, which we did. They have since said he should serve a further ban for the same offence. The FA subsequently merged the two identities on the members system to create one identity and this then meant Alex should have been suspended for the Nantwich game. This was us bringing an issue to the FA that they were completely unaware of, no blame can be proportioned to us for this as we have followed all the correct procedures when registering the player and in monitoring his discipline on the system.
“If we as a club had not raised this concern with the FA then this would never have come to light as there were 2 separate players in the system and the FA Trophy tie v Lincoln City would have been played as planned. The whole point of this system is to check discipline. If it can’t be relied upon to find out a players disciplinary history from his previous clubs then the system is flawed. The FA say you should ask the player and their previous club(s), in this case when the transfer is done acrimoniously then this is not credible and can’t be relied upon, so the only way clubs have of finding out for sure is the FA’s members system.
“Shaw Lane are a victim of a system with flaws and are being punished by The FA when we have taken all reasonable steps and then some to ensure we manage discipline correctly and professionally. Our club secretary is the most meticulous man I have ever worked with and thus why as a club we register the players with full and correct details and check the discipline members system rigorously for our registered players.
“I whole heartedly apologise for the inconvenience this has caused Lincoln City and Nantwich Town, this tie was our cup final, our biggest ever game and a game that all associated with our club were looking forward to. We don’t deserve to be treated in this way when it is clear a system and admin failure and thus why we will be appealing the decision.”
I notice they don’t respond to the “ask the player” point. They signed him in September. Surely they could have asked if he’d been booked in the embryonic stages of the season, it’s not like they’re looking for specifics from a game five years ago. Makes a change from blaming the rugby team mind you.
You obviously don’t like Shaw Lane, but come on be adult about this and read the facts, anyone can see their not to blame.
I don’t like Shaw Lane, you’re correct, but there are clear steps they could have taken. Asking the player. Their “most meticulous” secretary could have cross checked the Northwich website, I found in under two minutes searching that Byrne was booked in the first game of the season against Basford.
In all fairness, they are right to highlight inconsistencies and issues with the system, but they’re not blameless.
You can ask a player all you want, most won’t have a clue. I asked a player if he’d played in a cup game when I was at Farsley Celtic, he said no. We won, he had played for his previous club, we went out. There is only so much you can do. This case is diabolical, it’s never the FA fault always the club.
It would appear that the player has signed a registration document at his previous club with only part of his first name and an incorrect date of birth, there lies the problem, no system error.
It seems very unfair on Shaw Lane however I suspect that the appeal will fall on deaf ears and the finger be pointed at the player.
If there was a section on a transfer form to highlight recent/outstanding player dicipline an issue like this would likely have been picked up earlier.
Good point made by Richard , Byrne knew the score but as always SLAFC will plead they are badly done by .Not the first time they have soured in a cup comp .
The FA cocked up anyone can see that. How can Shaw Lane be to blame ?
If there is a system that should show what players level of discipline are then it should be working with no flaws it is ridiculous to say ask the players if they have been booked or not, your bank statement shows what you have spent so you don’t go overdrawn the bank doesn’t say you should remember what you have spent? Common sense has to prevail here and Shaw Lane should ber allowed to play.
Ridiculous that this is still a problem. All players should be registered once, and the new club can then ask the player to confirm his registration number at the time of signing. If he does so, fine – his record is there for all to see; if he doesn’t, don’t proceed with the transfer.
The club cannot be blamed for this -it’s either player dishonesty or a system that any club ought to be able to rely on, or not at all.
I think some people are overlooking the fact it was actually Shawlane that brought this to the attention of the FA and I am almost certain if it was another club, maybe one that Richard or Simon supported their opinion would be different again and it would be the FA’s fault but cos they don’t like Shawlane (for whatever reason, prob the usual one) then they would rather everyone ignore the flaws in the system and just highlight that it’s Shawlanes fault when any adult or person with common sense can see that it isn’t! Whatever the outcome, and I don’t think it will change, people need to remember another club was also included in this flaw so what should be done about the results from those games in which he played there? But I’m sure that won’t be an issue to some
SLAFC did ask the player who said he had one booking earlier in the season. That is why SLAFC contacted the FA. If they hadn’t bothered no one would have been any the wiser.
Why have some people got such a downer on SLAFC? Jealousy?
Shaw lane would have pulled out of the final anyway!…oops…
Would your club not have pulled out of a county cup final if, the next day, they were in a play off final? Which is more important….Erm…let me think about that one! Perhaps, if they had had a squad of, say 25 and could play the fringe players they would have played it, but then they would have been criticised for fielding a weakened side and not taking the final seriously.
I think the only fair thing to both sides is to replay the tie – Shaw Lane did field an ineligible player, but hard to blame them too much given the clear problems with the FA’s systems (and the FA in general, really). Equally, not fair to eliminate Nantwich having played against someone who should not have been on the pitch. The FA are almost certain to get it wrong though, they usually do.