Caerau Ely chairman Mark Rees has labelled the decision to allow the team to travel 426
miles for a Welsh Cup football game at Flint Town that was “never going to be played”
an “absolute joke”.
The fourth-round tie was doubtful for Saturday, January 26,
but the capital city minnows made the trip to North Wales, which is a
332-426-mile round trip depending on which route they chose, after being told
by an FAW official the game would be on.
Mr Rees said: “They were desperate
to get the game on due to the double postponement rule (which sees the game
switched to the away side’s ground if it is called off twice).
“They had a pitch inspection at 7.30am and we were told by
the FAW official the game would be 100 per cent on. When we were an hour from
Flint the same official called and again there was no issue.
“We arrived at quarter to one and the pitch was like a
swimming pool, there was no way it would ever have gone ahead.
“There’s a bit of controversy because we should never have
travelled. It cost us several hundred pounds to get there. We think it’s a bit
selfish really.
“They worked really hard and were desperate to get the game
on but it’s a shame we travelled. We really wanted to play.”
Caerau posted on Twitter: “It is unacceptable for a
small club to travel all the way to north Wales to play a game on a pitch which
was totally unplayable.”
An official statement from Flint Town said: “We regret
that the game was called off at such late notice, approximately an hour before
the scheduled kick-off. However, we have acted in good faith throughout, and
following an early morning inspection by a Welsh Premier League official, the
pitch was passed fit.
“In the intervening hours, a team of committee men and
supporters worked hard to clear the remaining surface water off the pitch.
However, the appointed match official decided that the pitch was unplayable
following his inspection.
“Although it is true that there were still areas of surface
water on the pitch, we were disappointed at this decision, especially as the
game at near neighbours Connahs Quay went ahead in similar circumstances.
“This is the second successive week that this tie has been
postponed. However, we would stress that on the first occasion this was done
specifically at the request of the Welsh FA, who deemed the prevailing road
conditions in the south Wales area meant that it was too dangerous for Caerau
Ely to travel.”
An FAW spokesperson said: “After the first inspection (on
the day) it was felt the game could go ahead. There was snow on the pitch but
it was okay underneath.
“It was the same after a further inspection, and attempts
were made to clear the snow off the pitch. But by kick-off the pitch was
unplayable as a lot of the snow had melted.
“Although the decision was made by the match official, both
clubs agreed the game couldn’t be played.”
Mr Rees confirmed that Caerau’s Cwrt-Yr-Ala ground would host the re-arranged fourth round tie, with a place in the quarter-finals at stake. It takes place this Saturday (February 2).
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