Brighton: U14s girls team kicked out of cup for underage players

Brighton Schools U14s were left distraught when they were kicked out of the English School’s FA National Plate final due to be played at Stoke City’s 30,000 seater stadium.

They beat Liverpool Schools U14s 5-3 in the semi final at Stratford-upon-Avon, the halfway point between both teams and a 300 mile round trip.

The organiser disqualified them because they fielded four 12 year old girls, which is against the competition’s rules.

Stoke City's stadium where the final will be held (Image: Dom Fellowes)

The rules state that only girls in the school Year 9 age group can play in the U14s competition. But frustrated parents and management say it does not give any advantage to field younger players and they only drafted the younger players because some under 14s were not available.

Matt Lidner, Brighton Schools FA chairman, said: “In Sussex, there is no under 13s Year 8 competitions. All the schools in Sussex always play both age groups.

“At the national competition, we have always done the same and not been questioned. The problem is against Liverpool we had to move the date twice and move it to Stratford which meant some Year 9 girls couldn’t play.

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“We played some of our Year 8 girls to fill the gaps. We could have gone for other Year 9 girls who are academy players but we kept it grassroots level which is the ethos of the School’s FA and because of that ethos, we find ourselves kicked out.

“I put an appeal in straight away but it was turned down. I told the parents and they were livid.

"We have broken a rule that theoretically shouldn’t exist and had it been picked up earlier at the group stages we could have made changes. They only ask for team sheets at the semi final stage.

“If we’re playing over age girls, fine we’ve broken the rules. We put ourselves at a major disadvantage to play this game, paid hundreds of pounds in petrol and then been kicked out. It’s a disgrace.”

Brighton Girls played the match on March 25 and were told they were disqualified in mid-April.

Barry Browning, father of one of the Year 8 girls, Jasmine, said: “The fact they’re now being disqualified over bureaucracy rather than doing something wrong is crazy. The kids are distraught.

Brighton Schools under 14s girls team after their semi final win (Image: Brighton Schools FA)

“They are heartbroken from it. The game was so back and forth, it was a really tough game. Because some of them were a year younger, it made even more of a triumph that they won.

“We entered in good faith and have driven to Stratford-upon-Avon for the match.

“The girls were over the moon about winning, everyone went away happy. But then over the weekend we had a message saying we have been thrown out of the competition.”

English School’s FA said it does not comment on individual cases.

In an email seen by The Argus, the organisation explained that while it understands the “upset” among the football team, it “cannot change the rules of the competition during the season, as that would be inconsistent and unfair on all the teams participating in the competition”.

The email continued: “I am sure that you can appreciate it would make no sense to change the rules during the season.

“In terms of player eligibility criteria, the rules are actually designed to increase participation rather than prevent it.  The rationale being that it is better to have two teams participating rather than one team.

 “If the Brighton SFA committee believes that the rules should cater for two year age bands rather than one, then they are welcome to make representation to the ESFA.”