Berkeley Town become latest side to withdraw from GNSL

Berkeley Town have confirmed their resignation from the Gloucestershire Northern Senior League.

Following the withdrawal of FC Lakeside and more recently Staunton & Corse, Berkeley become the third side with resign from the league this season – with loss of players a factor

Club Secretary, Mark Edwards, has posted a statement on his designated Facebook page, citing a lingering disciplinary issue following fielding an ineligible player last season causing an exodus, resulting in the resignation of First Team Manager, Paul O’Connor.

The statement says the following:

Regretfully, I have to inform you that representatives of BTFC committee and football management have reluctantly decided to withdraw our first team from the GNSL with immediate effect.
I think you all deserve an explanation. This decision was very difficult and we believe every possible avenue was explored before agreeing as we did.
We have experienced a constant exodus of first team players, especially in the last 2 weeks, which has left us unable to field a team for Saturday’s game against an unbeaten Harrow Hill. The resignation of first team manager Paul O’Connor on Tuesday was almost inevitable.
League rules dictate that in such cases we have to cancel the third team game and bump players up from 2nds to 1sts and 3rds to 2nds. However, this would only be a temporary solution.
With a lack of players in the club, dropping the first or third team was our only options. We have chosen to drop the First team.
If you recall last season? Our first teams form from January onwards saw us rise to the top half of the division, finishing a very respectable eighth. Paul was very optimistic that the new season would see us pushing for promotion. However, for two matches we were found guilty of playing ineligible players for which we were fined £290 and docked 4 points. For these two offences, we gave full the league full cooperation and a sincere apology to our opponents. We believed this was the end of it.
How wrong were we? What happened next, we wholeheartedly believe is the catalyst for this season’s demise.
We were informed by the GNSL that additional penalties were being added. Paul O’Connor (first team manager) was suspended for 18 months, 2 players were suspended for 5-6 months and finally a 10 point deduction for the new season. As you will understand, this was to have a detrimental effect to our preparations for the entire pre-season and especially player recruitment. Although, the very Professional Football Association appeals team exonerated us; the damage was done!
Our plan is to venture forward with what will be a first team in Stroud league 4 South and a Reserve team in 5 South. We believe that the first team will have a good opportunity to win the league this season. There could be a good chance of promotion, maybe even to division 2. I hope that the BTFC teams going forward will be an essential blend of mostly local senior players and an even more essential, a crop of youth. What we have now is a loyal bunch of lads that are willing to dig deep and enjoy football. We ask for your patience, please. We will rise up the leagues once again!
I would like to thank Paul, Darren, Jon, Andy and Jess for bravely doing what so few would attempt to do and manager our teams. Paul, good luck watching Cheltenham.
In addition, I would like to thank our core, sub committee, helpers, players and families. Most of us have been seriously over worked this season in our endeavours to make this fantastic club a success.
Up the Hunters
Mark Edwards BTFC Chairman

The GNSL Division Two is set to drop to 15 teams, with Berkeley’s results likely expunged from the records – which will see adjustments made to the standings with Lydbrook Athletic, Viney St Swithins, Bream Amateurs, Winchcombe Town and Wickwar Wanderers all impacted.