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ECFC not fulfilling a fixture
- Thread starter Stelios
- Start date
eurogrecian
Active member
1973-4 vs Scunny. We couldn't raise a team due to injuries. We were fined. Remains a scandal to this day as big club break all the rules but have clever lawyers!
It was in about 1973 or so (just checked - the 73/74 season) - due to an illness (flu?) sweeping the squad we had something like 8 players available (including two goalkeepers). Despite the doctor's evidence saying we couldn't raise a side, the Football League insisted we had to play at Scunthorpe. We told the FL to FRO, they awarded the match to Scunthorpe.
The end of season table has us and Scunthorpe each playing 45 matches.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973–74_Football_League#Fourth_Division
The end of season table has us and Scunthorpe each playing 45 matches.
https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/1973–74_Football_League#Fourth_Division
mustangspeed2006
Active member
From Wikipedia:
In the 1973–74 season, City refused to fulfill their away fixture against Scunthorpe United, which resulted in Scunthorpe being awarded the two points. City were experiencing severe financial difficulties which had restricted the club to a small squad of players. City then had an injury crisis which left them with only eight registered players that were fit. The Football League refused to postpone the game, despite City explaining that they would have to field unregistered players in order to fulfill the fixture. As a result, City did not turn up to the game and were fined £5,000 by the League plus a further £1,334 to compensate Scunthorpe and pay for the match officials' expenses. The League's reason for refusing City's request was their impatience with uneconomic clubs and their acceptance that some would go bankrupt.
In the 1973–74 season, City refused to fulfill their away fixture against Scunthorpe United, which resulted in Scunthorpe being awarded the two points. City were experiencing severe financial difficulties which had restricted the club to a small squad of players. City then had an injury crisis which left them with only eight registered players that were fit. The Football League refused to postpone the game, despite City explaining that they would have to field unregistered players in order to fulfill the fixture. As a result, City did not turn up to the game and were fined £5,000 by the League plus a further £1,334 to compensate Scunthorpe and pay for the match officials' expenses. The League's reason for refusing City's request was their impatience with uneconomic clubs and their acceptance that some would go bankrupt.
SEA Grecian
Well-known Exeweb poster
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https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/q-a-the-mexican-wave-mystery-and-the-tale-of-144-pauls-1549657.html
In April 1974 we failed to turn up for a game against Scunthorpe and apparently it was the only game ever to be not completed. I thought our excuse was sickness but this link suggests otherwise. Amusing to also read that at the time the League were impatient with uneconomic clubs!
In April 1974 we failed to turn up for a game against Scunthorpe and apparently it was the only game ever to be not completed. I thought our excuse was sickness but this link suggests otherwise. Amusing to also read that at the time the League were impatient with uneconomic clubs!
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mustangspeed2006
Active member
Taking inflation into account, that fine would be similar to a 70,000 GBP penalty today.
mustangspeed2006
Active member
Back to the OP, I'm not sure Exeter were the last club to fail to fulfill a fixture in the FL. In 2015, Blackpool vs Huddersfield on the final day of the season wasn't completed due to fans coming onto the pitch and staging a protest. Maybe Exeter were the last team to not even bother showing up for the game though.
EDIT: Just reading up on it and the the FL ruled that the 0-0 scoreline at the time would stand as the result.
EDIT: Just reading up on it and the the FL ruled that the 0-0 scoreline at the time would stand as the result.
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Oldsmobile-88
Very well known Exeweb poster
The Grecians were never going to get much change out of the Football League Management Committee at that time,with Alan Hardaker & Bob Lord on it,they had little sympathy for a small club like Exeter.
Bob Lord said if we could not raise a team perhaps Exeter should not be in the FL.
How we laughed when Lord’s beloved Burnley ended up in Division 4 & nearly dropped out of the League just a few years later.
The headline on the back of the Daily Express(then a paper with huge circulation & kudos) was ‘Football Mutiny’ Little Exeter Stand up to the Football League,under the threat of expulsion.
Bob Lord said if we could not raise a team perhaps Exeter should not be in the FL.
How we laughed when Lord’s beloved Burnley ended up in Division 4 & nearly dropped out of the League just a few years later.
The headline on the back of the Daily Express(then a paper with huge circulation & kudos) was ‘Football Mutiny’ Little Exeter Stand up to the Football League,under the threat of expulsion.
iscalad
Very well known Exeweb poster
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Grecian-on-Tyne
Member
Middlesbough refused to play at Blackburn in 1996 https://www.independent.co.uk/sport/middlesbrough-rocked-by-three-point-penalty-1283330.html similar reasons to City, but game was eventually replayed.
In Football League history (inc. Premiership) Exeter & Scunthorpe in 1973-4 are the only teams to have played a odd number of games according to the Final (official) tables.
In Football League history (inc. Premiership) Exeter & Scunthorpe in 1973-4 are the only teams to have played a odd number of games according to the Final (official) tables.
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