Christian Fox is determined for Selby Town to right the wrongs of the decision to expunge last season which denied his club the Toolstation NCEL Division One title.
Selby were on course to win promotion until the lockdown and had the FA chosen to apply points-per-game ratios, the Robins would have claimed top spot and would be preparing for a return to the Premier Division.
When the season was voided, Selby were one of countless teams angered Fox and their fury was deepened when the Football League and National League finished their campaigns by PPG. Fox admits the decision hurt.
“I don’t even know if I’m over it now to be honest,” Fox told Non League Yorkshire.
“It was a massive disappointment. We’d worked so hard and you don’t only feel sorry for the players and the backroom staff, but the volunteers and fans as well.
“The club was on such a crest of a wave in March with the crowds and results and it was so positive at that time. I’ve expressed my thoughts on this in the past and I was thought it was a bit of a joke.
“Every league were taking their own decisions and it would have been nice from my point of view if the FA has come out with a one rule for every league in the country. It would have been fairer.
“We’d have finished champions if it had gone points-per-game so it was a bit of a kick in the teeth. It was frustrating and the way it was handled was one big farce.
“Because of the three-year plan and the fact we were on course to go up in line with it, it does feel we are starting again in a way. But last season was basically written off so we just need to make sure we’re ready for the new season.
“I think it (the injustice) has definitely put more fire in our bellies, but only time will tell. The message to the players is ‘let’s put it right’ and that’s what we’re going to try and do.
“We have lost Casey (Stewart), but personally I think we’re stronger than we were at the end of last season. Obviously there’s the teams who were up there last season and you have Emley coming back into the league and Hallam are strong so I expect it to be competitive.
“There is still meant to be four promotion places so hopefully we’ll be pushing for one of them.”
Although everyone hopes the new season will finish properly, but if not, Fox has a clear message to the FA over what to do.
He said: “I’d just say can they make one decision that applies to every single league from the Premier League to all the way down to amateur football.”
Although happy with his lot, Fox remains on the lookout for bodies to strengthen his squad to add more depth.
Selby’s First Five Fixtures
September 19th – Litherland Remyca (A) – FA Vase
September 22nd – Emley (H)
September 26th – Swallownest (H)
September 29th – Skegness Town (H)
October 3rd – Parkgate (A)
If you have enjoyed reading Non League Yorkshire over the past few months, please consider making a donation to the not-for-profit organisation NLY Community Sport which provides sport for children and adults with disabilities and learning difficulties. CLICK HERE to visit the JustGiving page. There is a video at the bottom of the page showing our work.
NLY Community Sport, run by James Grayson and Connor Rollinson, has always had combatting social isolation at the top of our objectives when running our Disability Football teams. As we slowly return to ‘action’, our work will play an important role in reintroducing our players, who have disabilities and learning difficulties, back into society.
We have six teams, a mixture of Junior and Adult teams – Nostell MW DFC, Pontefract Pirates, Selby Disability Football Club and the South Yorkshire Superheroes (Barnsley) – across Yorkshire.
We have enjoyed great success over the past three years. Several of our players have represented Mencap GB in Geneva, including Billy Hobson from Selby and Greg Smith, whose story is quite inspiring.
Like most organisations, we have been affected financially by the Coronavirus and because of the cancelled Lucille Rollinson Memorial Tournament, we are down on projected income for the year and we have incurred losses in the last few months.
We have not been hit as badly as other organisations, but we do need raise £2000 to put us back at the level we were at in mid-March and enable us to make a difference once again to our players’ lives in the future, without having financial worries. Several of our players are suffering from effects of the lockdown and we are determined to be in the strongest position possible to provide services for them.
Any amount raised above £2000 will be put towards new projects (when the world returns to normal) designed to further benefit people with disabilities and learning difficulties. You can learn more about the organisation HERE and on our Facebook page.
Watch the video below to see highlights from our three years as an organisation. The video was produced for our players at the end of March to remind them of good memories from the last three years.