We today can confirm that the game was postponed under FA rules 4.2, 8.4, 8.5 & 8.7.

For clarity these rules are as follows (as all viewable online @ https://www.thefa.com/football-rules-governance/lawsandrules/fa-handbook) –

Specified Rule – 4.2

“Save where specifically provided otherwise in these Rules, the Board shall have power to apply, act upon and enforce these Rules and shall have jurisdiction over all matters affecting the Company or the Competition including any not provided for in these Rules. The Board shall also have the power to issue an order or instruction, by way of a Board Directive, in the best interest of the Competition, on any matter not provided for in these Rules, with which Clubs must comply or be subject to sanction under Rule 4.6, save where any such Directive is inconsistent with a Rule or Regulation of The FA, in which event the Directive will not create a binding obligation on Clubs.”

Specified Rule – 8.4

“All matches shall be played on the home and away principle and the Board shall determine how the fixtures shall be arranged.

Steps 1 to 4 only

Saturday fixtures in the Competition shall take precedence over all other competitions in which a Club may engage with the exception of:

• The FA Challenge Cup/Welsh Cup
• The FA Challenge Trophy Competition

Scheduled Saturday fixtures in the Competition must not be re-arranged without permission of the Competition Secretary. Clubs may be ordered to re-arrange outstanding matches, at the discretion of the Board, and where necessary their prospective opponents instructed accordingly. Clubs with open dates on Saturdays may be instructed to play any outstanding Competition fixture on such date. A minimum of ….. days’ notice will be given in respect of any such re-arrangement.

Steps 2 to 4 only

Midweek fixtures in the Competition shall not take precedence over fixtures in the Nominated Cup Competition of the Affiliated Association to which it was first affiliated. Steps 5/6 only Saturday fixtures in the Competition shall take precedence over all other competitions in which a Club may engage with the exception of:

• The FA Challenge Cup/Welsh Cup
• The FA Challenge Vase Competition

The Nominated Cup Competition for which the club is eligible, of the Affiliated Association to which it was first affiliated. Scheduled Saturday fixtures in the Competition must not be re-arranged without permission of the Competition Secretary. Clubs may be ordered to re-arrange outstanding matches, at the discretion of the Board, and where necessary their prospective opponents instructed accordingly. Clubs with open dates on Saturdays may be instructed to play any outstanding Competition fixture on such date. A minimum of ….. days’ notice will be given in respect of any such arrangement. Midweek fixtures in the Competition shall not take precedence over fix”

Specified Rule – 8.5

“In the event of any Club being required to play an FA Cup or FA Trophy match within 48 hours of a scheduled Competition fixture it shall have the right to apply in writing as soon as practically possible (but in any event no later than 48 hours after becoming aware of the relevant Cup fixture) to have its Competition fixture postponed with or without the consent of its opponent. At the same time as it makes the application a copy shall be sent to its opponent who shall raise any objection within a further 24 hours of notification. Thereafter the Competition shall decide in its absolute discretion as soon as reasonably possible as to whether or not the application is approved.”

Specified Rule – 8.7

“The Board may change any Competition fixtures during the season to suit the overall interests of the Competition and shall have the power to decide whether a ground is suitable for Competition matches and to order a Club whose ground is deemed unsuitable to play its home matches at an alternative suitable ground.”

We have been informed that due to player welfare is the rationale for the late postponement, and the league have also issued Hednesford Town an apology for the late postponement of the game.

For clarity, we as a club have questioned this, due to the timescales involved (as the game was already reviewed and agreed to be reversed) and the factor that we was requested at the start of the season to play within the same timescales.  As our player welfare is obviously equally important to us (especially given the amount of injuries picked up early on in the season).

We as a club have also requested compensation for the game to only cover the costs which was incurred in preparation of the match (as we was informed that the game was to be postponed only a few hours before kick off); therefore, there was a lot of behind the scenes costs involved.  However to date, we have not received any communication to confirm if our clubs costs will be covered or when a decision will be made. We have been requested to provide further cost breakdowns, but without spending more time and money completing this, (which these additional costs are not been promised to be covered), we cannot do more than that which we have already done.  Therefore we now await a decision if our request for reasonable costs already incurred by us as a club will be paid in compensation, to cover our costs as a club.

Finally we can also confirm that we have not to date received any communication to when the postponed game will be rearranged for.

Once we know any further information, we will of course inform all fans accordingly.

#OneClubOneBadge

Our BetVictor Southern Premier Central season will kick off on Saturday 10^th August when Lowestoft Town visit The PRG Stadium at Keys Park.
We will travel to the Lamb Ground to play local rivals Tamworth on August Bank Holiday Monday with the return fixture arranged for New Year’s Day.
A festive trip to Rushall Olympic will be on the cards for many Pitmen supporters on Boxing Day with the Pics making the return journey on Easter Monday.
The season will conclude with an away fixture at the Top Field, home of Hitchin Town.

FULL FIXTURE LIST

10^th August – Lowestoft Town (H)
13^th August – Coalville Town (A)
17^th August – Stourbridge (A)
24^th August – Alvechurch (H)
26^th August – Tamworth (A)
31^st August – Needham Market (H)

14^th September – Kings Langley (A)
21^st   September – Banbury United (H)
28^th September – AFC Rushden & Diamonds (H)

05^th October – Stratford Town (A)
12^th October – Royston Town (H)
15^th October – Bromsgrove Sporting (A)
19^th October – Leiston (A)
22^nd October – Redditch United (H)

02^nd November – Barwell (A)
09^th November – Nuneaton Borough (H)
16^th November – St Ives Town (A)
23^rd November – Peterborough Sports (H)
30^th November – Biggleswade Town (A)

07^th December – Hitchin Town (H)
14^th December – AFC Rushden & Diamonds (A)
21^st December – Stratford Town (H)
26^th December – Rushall Olympic (A)

01^st January – Tamworth (H)
04^th January – Lowestoft Town (A)

11^th January – Coalville Town (H)
18^th January – Alvechurch (A)
25^th January – Stourbridge (H)

01^st February – Needham Market (A)
08^th February – Kings Langley (H)
15^th February – Bromsgrove Sporting (H)
22^nd February – Royston Town (A)
29^th February – Leiston (H)

07^th March – Redditch United (A)
14^th March – Nuneaton Borough (A)
21^st March – Barwell (H)
28^th March – Peterborough Sports (A)

04^th April – St Ives Town (H)
11^th April – Banbury United (A)
13^th April – Rushall Olympic (H)
18^th April – Biggleswade Town (H)
25^th April – Hitchin Town (A)