‘Not sure this level of football has the right priorities at times’ – reaction to Finchampstead news

There has been an awful lot of response to our piece on the news that Finchampstead are to leave the Hellenic League due to the uncertainty around ground grading for step 6 clubs.

The overriding majority of comments feel that the clubs decision to effectively consolidate in the Thames Valley Premier League at step 7 is ‘a shame’.

Our friends over at OxOnFootball tweeted: ‘Never like seeing clubs have to step down.’

Sad it's had to come to that. Never like seeing clubs having to step down.

— Oxon Football (@OxOnFootball) May 9, 2017

A poster in our new WhatsApp group said: “I am a Hellenic league referee and love going to Finchampstead. Will be such a shame not to go there anymore.”

AFC Aldermaston manager Kieran Jennings tweeted a response to our post, possibly putting it best and reiterating points he has made before: ‘Not sure this level of football has the right priorities at times. Too many hoops to jump through for well run clubs.’

Not sure this level of football has the right priorities at times. Too many hoops to jump through for well run clubs

— Kieran Jennings (@KieranJ_1979) May 9, 2017

There were messages from neighbouring Hellenic League Division 1 East teams including Wokingham & Emmbrook and Holyport.

Very sad-yet another grass roots club forced out by FA Regs-other than floodlights do clubs at this level really need hardstandings & stands

— Wokingham & Emmbrook (@wokingham_sumas) May 9, 2017

Sad to see @FinchFC1 dropping out the @HellenicLeague had some good games over the years. Another good club gone.

— Holyport FC (@HolyportFC) May 10, 2017

Ben Sadler added a point anyone who has played at or against Finch in it’s many forms from Sunday League to Hellenic.

https://twitter.com/bsadler88/status/862066166348599296

Quite Steve..

There will be three sides left in Hellenic League East before long..

— Steven (@mirkobolesan) May 9, 2017