NON LEAGUE: THURROCK FC are heading for the European Court of Arbitration after the FA dismissed their appeal, consigning them to life in Ryman Division One North, writes Matt Abbott.

At a lengthy appeal hearing on Tuesday afternoon, the football governing body refused to overturn a guilty verdict dished out to Fleet and Tilbury in May for playing Joel Barnett, who was on a West Ryding FA sine die list when he appeared for both clubs last season.

Thurrock were docked three points by the Ryman League, which relegated them to non-league football’s fourth step, after they had just beaten the drop by the skin of their teeth in April. Tilbury FC were docked 18 points, but remain in Division One North.

Following hours of deliberating by the FA’s disciplinary board at Wembley, the appeal was lost.

And Thurrock were told by waiting league officials that the points deduction would stand.

Officials at Ship Lane are said to be devastated and will now take the case to Europe. And that could mean a month-long delay to the start of the Ryman League season.

Any resolution reached by CAS, the two clubs, the FA and the Ryman League is unlikely to come before August 10 when the new season starts.

Tony Flood, the club’s press officer, said: “Everyone is devastated with the result, but we want to carry on fighting because we feel this all unjust.”

The club had enlisted the help of former FA official, Graham Bean, who has represented the likes of Sir Alex Ferguson and Rafael Benitez in cases against the FA. But Fleet secretary Mark Southgate was unable to help Bean in fighting the club’s corner as the hearing took place against his wishes, on a day he was unable to make.

Mr Flood added: “As a club, we can’t understand how it took so long, from a game at the end of August where we’re alleged have committed the offence, to early May when we were charged.

“As a club, we have to look at what other options are open to us. We believe the Court of Arbitration for Sport is and we'll research that.

“We’re not trying to delay a football season. “But as a club, we are trying do what we feel is right by us.

“If we are guilty, which we dispute, we still don’t feel the punishment fits the crime.

“We would like to thank Carshalton Athletic who have acted with class and all the other teams from the Ryman League community for their support.”

Barnett played four games for Thurrock, including in a 2-0 win over Lewes in August. He later played in 13 for Tilbury, scoring eight and helping them to 18 points.

Thurrock chairman, Tommy South, who couldn't make the hearing as he has sun stroke, said: “I’m devastated and so, so disappointed. “I shouldn’t say this, but I feel like we’ve been stitched up. The FA Cup draw was done last week, and we were already in the Preliminary Round which we wouldn’t have been if we were in the Ryman Premier. I just think it’s disgusting.

“We’re meeting on Wednesday and we’ll talk about the Court of Arbitration then. I'm also going try to get an injunction out on the league season. But we’ll need to look into that.

“It just makes me think ‘is it all worth it?’ You invite these officials in, make them welcome and treat you like a door mat. “I can’t get my head around any of it,” he added.

For non league see the THURROCK GAZETTE every Friday