Herefordshire Football Association Chief Executive Jim Lambert has set out his organisation's position about UITC, United In The Community.
HFA Position relating to UITC
The situation regarding
the exclusion of Hereford United from the Giantkillers Cup is a very
simple one. Hereford United were affiliated as a club back in April
when Lee Symonds as club secretary quite properly entered the first
team in the FA Cup and FA Trophy and the u18 Youth team in the FA
Youth Cup and the HFA Giantkillers Cup.
As the situation
relating to the ownership of Messer’s Agombar and Landsdale
unfolded steps were taken in August to set up UITC as a separate club
to ensure that the Youth teams under Rob Purdie and Steve Brotherwood
would be able to stand alone.
The Football
Association was informed that Hereford United no longer had a Youth
Team as they were now UITC. The HFA in a number of communications
with The FA supported the inclusion of the team run by Rob Purdie as
the Hereford United team, confirming their affiliation, and it was on
that basis that the team played in the FA Youth Cup with such
distinction.
If the team had still
been in the competition they would have had to have been expelled
from the FA Youth cup on the 19th December when the club were wound
up and were no longer an entity.
It is on the same basis
that Hereford United has had to be excluded from the Giantkillers
Cup.
The explanation for
this regrettable but necessary action was communicated to the
Chairman of UITC.
For Clarity on HFA
Support for UITC
On Monday 22 December a
number of communications were made to The FA to clarify the position
of the UITC teams. It was confirmed that there is no way that the
UITC team could take over from Hereford United in the Giantkillers
Cup. (It was asked if UITC could take over from HUFC in the Southern
League surprisingly the answer was no to this as well.)
The situation relating
to all the UITC youth teams that play as Hereford United was also
reviewed. With HUFC no longer being an entity The FA required the HFA
to sanction the youth teams being allowed to continue playing in
their current Leagues as UITC which the HFA was very happy to do. The
Football Association nor Herefordshire Football Association have any
wish to prevent youth football being played and would make every
effort to allow the teams to continue.
There will be, we all
hope, a new club bearing the name of Hereford to commence next
season. Whichever phoenix entity emerges with the lease to play at
Edgar Street will receive the full support of the HFA to be placed
at the highest possible level in the pyramid.
Jim Lambert
Chief Executive,
Herefordshire Football Association