Club Statement | Macron Cup

The NWCFL League Board of Directors have considered a protest submitted by Thornton Cleveleys that West Didsbury & Chorlton fielded three ineligible players in the Macron Cup Quarter Final tie between the two clubs, played on Thursday 5th March 2026.

After considering Thornton Cleveley's protest, as well as our response to that protest, the League Board have concluded that the Quarter Final tie must be replayed. 

The protest relates to Rule 14(f) of the NWCFL League Cup Rules 25/26, which states that:

"All players must have been eligible to play in the original tie in order to play in a replayed or postponed match"

Our response was that the match which took place on Thursday 5th March 2026 was not a "replayed or postponed match" therefore does not fall within the scope of Rule 14(f).

The fixture was not a replay, nor was it recognised as or communicated to be a postponement, nor shown as a postponed fixture entry.

Our interpretation was therefore that the match was a "rescheduled" match that doesn't fall within this sub-section of the League Cup Rules. We provided detailed submissions to the NWCFL on this point, along with evidence to support our position. 

We acknowledge the NWCFL League Board in taking Rule 15c into consideration re Validity of Player Qualifications.

"Where the club satisfies the Board that the club (or any of its officers) did not know and could not reasonably have known, even had it made every reasonable enquiry (with the exercise of the utmost caution), that the player was ineligible, the club shall not be removed from the Competition but may still be subject to any other penalty. (e.g. fine, ordered to replay the match)."

The decision of the League Board of Directors, which is final and binding, is that the tie is to be replayed on a date to be set by the League Fixture Co-Ordinator, which we will announce as soon as it is communicated to us.

The winners will travel to Burscough in the Macron Cup Semi-Finals.