Anger and frustration as FA County Cup competitions are declared null and void

Hunts and Cambs FAs both made their decisions as the coronavirus scare escalated.

Leagues have also been suspended, but calling off cups which had already reached the final stage came as a surprise with many social media posters wondering why one-off games couldn’t be played at the start of next season.

Peterborough’s first full-time professional female footballer Jodie Bartle led the protests on Twitter.

The Celtic defender, in a tweet aimed at the Hunts FA, said: “So the league hasn’t been cancelled, but you’re cancelling all cup competitions even if there is just a final to be played?

“Did you even have the decency to contact the clubs involved directly or is this how they’ve found out? Bit of a panic solution don’t you think?

“Just postpone any cup finals until we know what is happening with the league, I’m sure the clubs would happily play their cup finals at the start of next season.”

Neither FA have yet explained their decision, but one school of thought suggests clubs changing personnel in the summer might be one reason for the decision.

As compensation all clubs will receive free entry to the the County Cup competitions next season.

A statement on the Hunts FA website reads: “The Huntingdonshire FA Board has decided that all Huntingdonshire FA County Cup Competitions that have not been completed this season will be declared null and void.

“It has also been decided that entry into the 2020-2021 County Cups will be free of charge to all teams.

“We are experiencing unprecedented times and hopefully we will be in a position once the virus is declared over to get back up and running with our normal way of life. We appreciate that football will play an important part in this recovery thus we are gradually working on how we can plan for such an eventuality.

“We thank every club for their support in this unprecedented and challenging time.”

A similar statement appears on the Cambs FA website.

Farcet United had reached two Hunts finals.

Other local clubs who had reached County Cup finals which will not now take place include FC Parson Drove, March Town, March Town U 18s, Yaxley U16s and Cardea.

The Northants FA have yet to follow the lead of their county counterparts, but are expected to.

Posh U18s, Posh Ladies, Peterborough Northern Star Ladies, Gunthorpe Harriers U18s, Glinton & Northborough Girls U14s and Netherton Girls U12s all still have an interest in the 2019-20 Northants Cups.