THE END: Local football was the biggest loser in long-running NWCFA Junior Cup saga

CPD Y Glannau have warned fellow North Wales clubs to be extra vigilant in their use of the FAW’s Comet registration system in the coming season.

The North Wales Coast East League club remain adamant an anomaly in the player administration module cost them their place in last season’s NWCFA Junior Cup.

Y Glannau brought on substitute Thomas Ryan Anthony Jones in the 81st minute of their semi-final win over Bow in February. Jones had played for another team previously in the competition – which is against the rules. The St Asaph side were 8-1 ahead at the time he took the field.

After the game, Bow lodged a protest with the NWCFA, who dismissed Y Glannau from the cup.

Y Glannau appealed to a NWCFA disciplinary committee, who reinstated them.

Bow took the matter to the FAW, who expelled Y Glannau for breaking the competition rule.

Y Glannau submitted an appeal to the FAW, who awarded the tie to Bow for a second time.

The matter ended up with an independent arbitrator, who dismissed the appeal on June 20.

In the meantime, the North Wales Coast FA, who had asked the FAW for permission to extend the 2023-24 season in the hope the final could still be played, annulled the competition as there was no realistic prospect of that happening.

Anglesey club Llanfairpwll, who awaited in the final, were left high and dry.

Y GLANNAU have issued a statement confirming they want to put the matter behind them and move on with plans for the 2024-25 campaign.

The club said: “CPD Y Glannau were disappointed with the outcome of the independent arbitrator but respect the decision as we were given a fair hearing.  

“As a warning to all clubs, make sure that your games are set to be played within 2 hours of the end of the game by the match official and not 5 months later by a non-match official.

“If this happens, then a player may appear not cup-tied on Comet when you play, then appear cup-tied on Comet after you played the game.  

“For anyone with access to Comet then it’s possible to see played and unplayed games and the implications e.g. cards not recorded properly and player appearances not recorded.   We are looking forward to moving on and progressing with our new season.”

Today, the NWCFA released the following statement: “The North Wales Coast Football Association (NWCFA) can confirm that a protest was received from Bow FC on the 19th February 2024 concerning a potentially ineligible CPD Y Glannau player in their NWCFA Mabon Scaffolding Junior Challenge Cup Semi-Final on the 17th February 2024.

“The protest was considered by the NWCFA Competitions & Inter-Association Committee on the 27th February, who upheld the protest and removed CPD Y Glannau from the competition.

“CPD Y Glannau appealed this decision, and the appeal was heard by the NWCFA Discipline Panel on the 6th March 2024. The NWCFA Discipline Panel upheld the CPD Y Glennau appeal and reinstated the appellant in the competition.

“Bow FC exercised their right to appeal this decision to the FAW. The FAW Discipline Panel heard the case on the 9th April 2024 and upheld Bow FC’s appeal and removed CPD Y Glannau from the competition.

“CPD Y Glannau then appealed the decision of the FAW Discipline Panel to the FAW Appeals Panel, who heard the case on the 16th May 2024. The FAW Appeals Panel dismissed CPD Y Glannau’s appeal.

“CPD Y Glannau then referred the case to an independent arbitrator. The independent arbitrator heard the case on the 20th June 2024. The independent arbitrator dismissed the appeal. The conclusion was that the player was ineligible. There is no further right to appeal.

“The NWCFA made a request to the FAW to extend the competition and allow the Final to be played at a later date. Upon consideration of the FAW’s response, the NWCFA Full Council found that it would not be practicable to hold the Final due to implications on player registrations during the upcoming season for both clubs in the Final, and the wider North Wales football community.

“The NWCFA will not make further comment at this time.”

CONCLUSION

All in all a very sad tale where local football was the loser, as well as Llanfairpwll, who never got to play in the final they so desperately craved in honour of their late former secretary Mr Alun Mummery.