Welsh sting Hay for playing in Herefordshire

The Welsh FA have fined Hay St Mary's football club £400 for playing a team in the Herefordshire League.

Yet it will allow them to enter an under 18 side into the Herefordshire Floodlit League.

Historically Hay St Mary's has been part of the Herefordshire football set-up. And recently several of its youngsters have gone onto play for Hereford United's under 18 side.

This week the Welsh Football Association put its foot down in an attempt to stop teams close to the border playing in Herefordshire partly because of the actions of Hay St Mary's.

Hay resigned from the Mid Wales League after last season had ended as many of its players found the journeys to grounds such as Dolgellau just too far away. Instead they entered a side in the Herefordshire Premier League and were readily accepted by the Herefordshire FA.

However the Central Wales FA then found themselves a club short in their league and duly fined Hay £400.

Secretary of the Central Wales FA is Phil Woosnam.

"In the past such decisions have been based on the recommendations of the regional association, but the Welsh FA are now considering taking all powers for such decisions," he told the County Times.

"Obviously the fact that Hay developed their facilities, while enjoying the benefits of Welsh league membership, only to join the English system, has highlighted that something needs to be done.

"I do not think that a club based in Wales should be able to enter a team on both sides of the border."

Whilst the Welsh FA allows Cardiff and Swansea to play in the Championship, and Newport County in the Conference, it appears it doesn't want Hay St Mary's to play in Herefordshire League.

---