What’s the real cost of relegation? Well if you’re Thurrock FC it’s £16. No, really.
Part-timers Thurrock were deducted points and relegated from the Isthmian Premier Division because one of their players failed to pay a £16 fine.
To make matters worse, neither the player nor the club knew about the fine because he was playing for a different team when he got it – and has been in prison for hooliganism for the last few months. We’re not sure, but we suspect he may be related to Joey Barton.
Joel Barnett (see, even the name sounds like Joey Barton), played just four times for Thurrock last season. But he should never have been able to play after failing to pay a fine issued while he was on the books of Yorkshire Sunday league team Wilton.
Wilton went under owing the West Riding FA money in unpaid fines, some of which were for a ban Barnett had been served for a dismissal.
“Joel should have told us but he never knew because he was in prison,” Thurrock owner Tommy South told BBC Essex.
“It’s a disgrace. It all happened 11 months ago and what the FA and Ryman League have told us is that we should have checked this website and that, but we followed procedure by checking with our own county FA.”
After leaving prison Barnett had a trial at Bishop’s Stortford – who escaped punishment as he only featured in friendlies – and signed for Tilbury, who were docked 18 points but avoided relegation from Isthmian Division One North. We doubt any other clubs will be signing him soon.
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