Westfields chief executive Andrew Morris has responded to comments made by Hereford United manager Martin Foyle that 'Westfields were adamant that the Senior Cup game should be played on that date (July 30th), and they went to the HFA and complained.'
Foyle made his remarks in an article on the Hereford United OS entitled 'Friendly Changes Anger Foyle' which was published last Monday. In it Foyle said 'Unfortunately Westfields got their way'.
In a statement Morris set out his views on the matter.
'The
Herefordshire Senior Invitation Final is played annually between the
winners of the HFA County Senior Challenge Cup (in this instance for
this season Westfields FC) against Hereford United as a pre-season Cup
Final as it acts as Hereford United’s entry into a County Cup
competition and is played for in pre-season so that it does not
interfere with either of the finalist’s league and cup matches once the
season is under way.
'Therefore as secretary of Westfields I duly wrote to the HFA on 29th April suggesting dates when we could play in the competition as it is the County FA’s job to organise a date.
'Out of courtesy I also wrote to Hereford United and offered the dates to them also.
'I had no reply from Hereford United so I wrote again to them on 23rd May asking them for a reply as our MFA season was due to start on 3rd August and the County Invitation Senior Cup Final is due to be played prior to the start of the season as I have said earlier.
'As
I was getting no replies from Hereford United or for that matter the
Herefordshire Football Association as to a confirmed date I duly
contacted the secretary of Hereford United again and on 25th May we were sent an e-mail asking us to submit further dates for a final when in fact we had given dates as far back as 29th April to the organisers, being the Herefordshire Football Association.
'In
the end as the HFA and Hereford United could not get together with a
date, the Herefordshire FA suggested I spoke to Hereford United to see
if we could finalise a date and I telephoned and spoke to Martin Foyle
who said he would look at the situation.
'However, the matter was raised at an HFA Board Meeting on Thursday 30th May when I was asked to give to the HFA again two dates for us to host the Senior HFA Invitation Final which I did.
'The
HFA secretary, Jim Lambert, I understand then spoke to Hereford United
with the two dates that were put forward by Westfields and on Saturday 1st June I was telephoned by Jim Lambert to confirm that the fixture would take place on Tuesday 30th July at Westfields’ allpay.park ground, kick-off 7.30pm.