Copperpot controversially out of Champions Cup

Sunday League Copperpot FC went out of the North West Champions Cup beaten by Irlam in the quarter finals, but just how legitimate was the Irlam victory is a question that has stirred great controversy and called into serious doubt the organising committee’s diligence and their interpretation of their own rules.

Copperpot became suspicious during the game when the Irlam outfield players did not appear to know the name of their own goalkeeper. On checking the match card the keeper was named as Hesslop, however, the player on the field was known to a Copperpot player as Steve Dryden, because he plays cricket with him at Milnrow Cricket Club!

Challenged by Copperpot after the game that they had played an ineligible player, the Irlam defence was, according to Copperpot officials, an implied admission of guilt: "if you want to win like that".

At an appeal hearing on Thursday evening, Irlam claimed that Dryden was registered and had played the requisite three games needed to be eligible to play. Controversially, they provided no proof of this to the appeals panel, although it is claimed they have since done so. However, chairman of the competition Phil Morris refused to send copies of the evidence provided by Irlam when asked to do so by Copperpot official Tony McCarrol.

To add insult to injury, McCarrol was notified that the Copperpot appeal had failed by a Manchester Evening News reporter at 4.00pm Friday afternoon, some three hours before he was notified by the organisers!

Rochdale Online spoke to Morris and he confirmed that Irlam will now play in the semi-final on Easter Monday. Asked if Irlam were guilty of any irregularities he said: "Irlam have been fined for an administrative error - incorrectly filling in a match card."

He added that Copperpot would receive “official” notification in writing and this would include details of a right to appeal to the FA. Asked if the semi-final result would be quashed should the FA uphold Copperpot’s appeal, a clearly irritated Morris said: “that is up to the FA”.

Secretary of the Champions Cup Committee, John Taylor, also admitted to McCarrol that Irlam had not, as per competition rules, submitted a list of players when entering the competition. McCarrol said: “Irlam have not submitted a list of players and hence they should not have been allowed to compete at all. The committee are guilty of failing to uphold their own rules and procedures”.

"As for the goalkeeper, we are very suspicious and will be exercising our right to appeal to the FA."