It was what we all wanted and, as ever, it has made the collective feel so much better. In the hours after last Thursday night’s vindication at Windsor Avenue we all went to bed happy in the knowledge that (i) Gary Beckett was indeed eligible to play in the Mulhern Cup, (ii) “Town” had been reinstated in the Mulhern Cup and (iii) the Club’s reputation for fair play and righteousness remained intact.

If ever there was a place where fair play and righteousness should transcend scheming local bureaucrats it is at football’s highest table and the Members of the Appeals Committee - Professor Peter Hepper (Head of the School of Psychology at Queen’s University), Peter Dornan (Solicitor) and Maurice Johnston (Architect) - exhibited a professionalism and objectivity decidedly lacking on 20th April when several Members of the Management Committee of the Fermanagh & Western Football Association chose not to govern responsibly and effectively by inexplicably upholding a protest from Strathroy Harps in respect of their Mulhern Cup Round 3 Tie against “Town” on Saturday 26th March and dismissing “Town” from the Mulhern Cup. There is no doubt that several Members of the Management Committee seized the opportunity to discriminate against “Town” and the Club was left with no alternative but to lodge an appeal with the Appeals Committee of the Irish Football Association.  

These noble men of the Management Committee, tasked with the responsibility of managing our football affairs, failed to act in the best interests of the Association and by so doing have done the local game a great disservice. It is NOT acceptable that these individuals chose not to support and promote the principles of equity. If they are to remain as administrators they must uphold and advance high standards of ethical conduct by being honest and impartial; they must be consistent and objective regardless of personals feelings towards a team or individual and they must refrain from participation in or condoning unfair discriminatory practices and guard against the intrusion of any personal bias – an impossible ask for some!
“Town” argued that the “sufficient evidence” which Strathroy Harps produced - a team list of the 2006 Derry City team which won the FAI Cup and a colour photograph allegedly of the post match celebrations both gleaned from City Web – the official website of Derry City - was not corroborated in any way whatsoever and should not have been permissible given that all Websites cannot guarantee the accuracy and completeness of the information contained therein.

“Town” also argued that a player eligible to play in the Irish Junior Cup should also be eligible to play in the Mulhern Cup given that the Rules of the Mulhern Cup now reflect the Rules of the Irish Junior Cup. Several Senior Members of the Irish Football Association including Vice-President Terry Pateman and Junior Committee Chairman Norman Livingston, together with the universally respected Head of Administration William Campbell and Head of Competition Services Craig Stanfield, all attested that Rule 6(b) of the Irish Junior Cup Rules (which reflects Rule 10(b) of the Mulhern Cup Rules) referred to Senior Competitions played under the jurisdiction of the Irish Football Association only and  that  matches  played  outside the  jurisdiction of  the Irish  Football  Association were covered under Rule 6(f) of the Irish Junior Cup Rules (which reflects Rule 10(e) of the Mulhern Cup Rules). “Town”, who had provided written confirmation of Mr Stanfield’s attestation at the Management Committee Meeting, queried how Darren Groogan and Rodney McCrea (each with less than one year’s administrative experience at Divisional Associational level) could be the prime movers in disputing the authority of such respected administrators. Indeed Groogan had earlier exhibited his distinct lack of knowledge of the Rules when lodging a protest on behalf of his Club Fintona Swifts in which he queried the eligibility of a Ballinamallard United Reserves’ player. Groogan contended that the player was ineligible under Rule 7 of the Mulhern Cup Rules but had he read Rule 7 in its entirety he would have realised that player was in fact eligible – a faux pas which caused him acute embarrassment.  

Furthermore “Town” contended that potential and actual conflicts of interest had been prevalent among Members at the Management Committee Meeting and that Members so affected should have withdrawn from participation in any way in decisions in which they had a vested interest.

After much deliberation the Appeals Committee determined that “Town’s” appeal should be upheld and we now await their detailed written verdict. However we do know that the Appeals Committee (i) endorsed the interpretation of Rules as argued by “Town” and attested by the Irish Football Association Officials alluded to above and (ii) expressed their concerns at the failure of Management Committee Members to disclose real and apparent conflicts of interest.

The rantings of Strathroy Harps’ spokesperson Seamus Fanthorpe in the aftermath of the Appeal Committee’s determinations, during which he declared that the Appeals Committee took the “easy way out”, are risible and lamentable. Perhaps Mr Fanthorpe would like to elucidate on his declaration which is as pathetic as the “sufficient evidence” Strathroy Harps produced. I await his elucidation with interest!