This is most bizarre. Hopefully we have entered this year and an admin error has led to us not included in the list of teams with a bye to the 2nd round. Although unfortunately I doubt that as that would make a total of 33 clubs in 2nd round. Would like to know from the club who and why has made this decision.
Why would be play friendlies like today but not these games? Has to be an admin error by us? Shame those are not over after the League Cup experiences last season
I hope it might be an admin error by the FA and just missed us out perhaps? Seems very odd said above why play friendlies but not these matches and by May or thereabouts we might be allowed into grounds and could easily socially distance at the Amex! (assuming we made the final)...SCRAP THAT there are 30 teams in round 1 and 17 byes (i.e. 15+17=32 = perfect maths for the future rounds) so really looks like bye bye Crawley.
strikes me as rather foolish to not enter this competition and yet at the same time try and draw support from the area and align ourselves as a west Sussex club. Lost opportunity for many reason, one in particular giving non-regulars and players coming back from injuries etc game time is a competition that is far better than playing friendlies. Disappointing.
Seeing this and the EFL statement on the government not allowing fans back in does have me very concerned not just for clubs like Oldham and Macclesfield but for all clubs (maybe bar Salford) in this division. As the efl said clubs are set to lose 200million this season. Whilst Ziya has kept us afloat can he keep it going? Let’s hope so but worrying times ahead.
To be honest I would expect we lost money playing in the SSC. Unless you get to the final and a game at AMEX it is largely a waste of time and a potential banana skin. On the other hand we shouldn't forget such games also generate cash for the local teams we play.
I don't think the games deliver anything that behind closed doors games against the likes of Maidstone don't offer, and they cost a lot less in terms of floodlights, officials etc.
The point about Ziya is a fair one. In the 2018-2019 season he made donations of £3,565 a day to keep the club going. Take out gate money and it looks bleak, even with some bigger earners off the payroll.
we wont make many friends this way, very strange how the Sussex FA would allow this surely the two professional clubs in it is what gives it the interest?
As a club they and every club has to cut their cloth accordingly, we won't lose any fans or support from lower league clubs as all games would be behind closed doors and could actually save some of the smaller clubs money