Barry win their Biggest Battle

Welsh soccer bosses were left red-faced after a High Court judge ruled that they had made an unlawful decision in rejecting Barry Town United’s bid for full membership of the Football Association of Wales and a place in the Welsh League this coming season.

Barry one of the biggest names in Welsh non-league football over the years- they once beat Porto in European competition- were pulled out of the Welsh League by their maverick owner and secretary Stuart Lovering just three days before the end of last season.

Supporters rallied around to re-form – and they then applied to the authorities for Welsh League entry which was refused – a member of the FAW Council Andrew Edwards quit in protest at the way the matter was handled.

But Barry’s committee vowed to fight on and took the FAW to the High Court.

And in the High Court in Cardiff the Judge Mr.Justice Seys Llewellyn ruled that the FAW had acted unlawfully and gave Barry two-thirds of their costs.

Barry had been represented by sports barrister Jonathan Crystal,a former Director of both Cardiff City and Tottenham Hotspur .

Now the FAW are expected to formally accept Barry’s entry into the Welsh League third division after their next meeting on Wednesday.

“We are absolutely elated. It is justice. All we were after was a bit of justice and that is what we have got,”said secretary David Cole.

Throughout the past week Barry have received tremendous support on social network sites from around the country.