Town have been excluded from this year’s Endeavour Automotive Suffolk Premier Cup for fielding an ineligible player in their first-round win at Hadleigh United last month.

The Blues play an U18s side usually augmented by a handful of more senior players in the competition.


Following the game at Millfield on September 23rd, which Town won 2-1, it emerged that one of the Blues side was 15 with the competition having a lower age limit of 16.

The rule is something of an outlier with 15-year-olds eligible to play in the Premier League, the EFL and the Carabao Cup, as well as the other competitions to the senior Town’s academy sides take part in, including the FA Youth Cup.

We understand the club, who accepted the expulsion with no argument, are now lobbying Suffolk FA to amend what appears an anomalous rule.

In a statement, Suffolk FA chief executive Andy Wilesmith said: “It’s never nice to have to remove a club from a competition and we don’t take this decision lightly.

“Unfortunately, the evidence was clear and the rule, which is not only a competition rule, but an FA rule was broken.

“It’s complicated by the fact that Ipswich Town, as a professional club, operate under slightly different playing rules around the eligibility of players, including young players.

“In this instance the Suffolk Cup competitions are played under Open Age adult football rules and so we have to apply these to all participants equally.”

Town’s exit means Hadleigh will be reinstated and will visit Cornard United, who Town were due to face next Tuesday, for a round two tie on a date to be set.

Photo: TWTD

backwaywhen added 15:30 - Oct 10 Ooops
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trncbluearmy added 15:55 - Oct 10 Bloody hell, talk about jobsworth and we only enter to help local side's
6

ronnyd added 15:56 - Oct 10 So, the old saying 'if you're good enough, you're old enough' doesn't apply with Suffolk FA.
2

Caz460 added 17:03 - Oct 10 I’m sorry but rules are rules - Someone at the club wasn’t doing their job properly & that is worrying!
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Dissboyitfc added 17:16 - Oct 10 Doesn’t worry me, I won’t lose any sleep, stupid rule especially when you can play in the premier league at 15, Suffolk need to get up with the times!
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Radlett_blue added 17:54 - Oct 10 Ashton out!
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armchaircritic59 added 18:21 - Oct 10 So important I think I'll go and wash my hair ( won't take long! ). Though it's true, someone didn't do their job properly.
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Zondervantheman added 21:16 - Oct 10 It’s Cornard I feel sorry for they would of been looking forward to a lucrative cup tie.
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Northstandveteran added 22:12 - Oct 10 Cheats never prosper.
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SpiritOfJohn added 06:58 - Oct 11 Is the rule antiquated or is it there to protect boys from getting injured playing against men?
1

blueboy1981 added 09:02 - Oct 11 RULES are RULES - and there for reason of control in all instances. Anyone with their Blue Tints on who condones Rule Breaking should be ashamed of doing so. A hugely embarrassing admin’ bobo by someone - result - justifiably Excluded from the Suffolk Premier Cup. End of.
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inghamspur added 11:34 - Oct 11 Bit of a daft rule when 15 year olds are playing in the Premier League!!
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Paulc added 12:06 - Oct 11 @blueboy1981 literally no one has ‘condoned rule breaking’ in their comments. The expulsion is correct and the rule needs looking at for future reference. You must be ecstatic to finally find a story on here to bring your negativity to, after what has been a hugely positive week for the club.
1

tetchris added 14:27 - Oct 11 “If you are good enough you are old enough.” - Sir Bobby Robson Although Al Murray would probably say “ if we had no rules where would we be…..FRANCE!
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Bazza8564 added 15:30 - Oct 11 PaulC, yep! i suspect heads won't r oll but there will be a few trolls on here who will be happy I can't see those comments ive been more liberl wit the ignore user function
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blueboy1981 added 16:35 - Oct 11 …. Paulc - get your ‘facts’ right !!! - I said ‘anyone who does’ - I did NOT say they had … !!! And totally irrelevant to the ‘week the Club have had’. Whatever - it’s still a bobo by someone - and certainly unexpected from the Senior Club in the Competition. That’s not ME being Negative, but has spoilt the Competition for some no doubt !!
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