2026/27 Cup Competitions

Marmaduke Jinks · Thu Sep 17, 2026 7:18 pm

Kick-off 19:45?

Hampdan · Thu Sep 17, 2026 11:57 pm

What a shocking read. I was taken aback to learn that this kind of incident could occur under the umbrella of this football club. I sincerely hope that H&RBFC will address this asap and denounce it as exactly the sort of behaviour from which the club wishes to disassociate itself. This debacle needs to be investigated, urgently, as a matter of utmost importance. Come on chairman, step up to the plate and deal with this swiftly and appropriately, please. I don't care how the ground improvements are progressing when an issue like this rears its very ugly head. PR priority surely?

JimS · Fri Sep 18, 2026 12:30 pm

BeaverWatcher wrote: Thu Sep 17, 2026 4:14 pm Presumably, because, there was already this arrangement in place with Kinetic. And had what happened on Monday not happened they would have played in the County Cup as well.

Which would of course beg the question why would the club make an arrangement with Kinetic and totally ignore our own youth team?

Someone at the club has a lot to answer.

Lord Elpus · Fri Sep 18, 2026 12:54 pm

Hampdan wrote: Thu Sep 17, 2026 11:57 pm What a shocking read. I was taken aback to learn that this kind of incident could occur under the umbrella of this football club. I sincerely hope that H&RBFC will address this asap and denounce it as exactly the sort of behaviour from which the club wishes to disassociate itself. This debacle needs to be investigated, urgently, as a matter of utmost importance. Come on chairman, step up to the plate and deal with this swiftly and appropriately, please. I don't care how the ground improvements are progressing when an issue like this rears its very ugly head. PR priority surely?

It's extremely disappointing to say the least isn't it? I wonder if our owner/chairman etc are even aware? Anyone know the answer to this?

JimS · Mon Sep 21, 2026 12:53 pm

Fyi a fellow supporter pal of mine who doesn't post here tells me that last week he emailed the club (using the contact info on the official website) referencing this thread asking if the club were investigating and/or planning to issue a statement. He hasn't yet received a reply but he will keep me posted as I will you.

(If anyone has a direct email address for a club official I can pass it on to him should he wish to try someone else in the absence of a reply in a week or so).

Adam · Mon Sep 21, 2026 1:05 pm

If we win the replay home to Weston super mare.

BeaverWatcher · Mon Sep 21, 2026 1:05 pm

Adam wrote: Mon Sep 21, 2026 1:05 pm If we win the replay home to Weston super mare.

Or Wimborne....

Tony · Mon Sep 21, 2026 1:20 pm

I understand there are still some issues to be sorted arising out of the match so guess any statement is delayed until then.

RogerB · Mon Sep 21, 2026 6:05 pm

Tony wrote: Mon Sep 21, 2026 1:20 pm I understand there are still some issues to be sorted arising out of the match so guess any statement is delayed until then.

In that case, the club should still have issued a short statement acknowledging supporters’ concerns, saying that there are ongoing issues to be sorted and promising a full statement in due course. The current silence makes it seem like the club are trying to sweep it under the carpet.

ChiswickJim · Mon Sep 21, 2026 11:33 pm

Curious to know if this is something that other clubs do or have done, bring in a group of ringers to play under their badge in a youth competition?

I’m having a hard time seeing what the benefit of doing that is, surely if there’s no suitable youth team then just don’t enter. Guessing there could be some kind of prospective business relationship between the club and this academy outfit, which if that is the case could also explain why the club might prefer to keep quiet about how the fixture unfolded.

Tue Sep 22, 2026 12:53 am

ChiswickJim wrote: Mon Sep 21, 2026 11:33 pm Curious to know if this is something that other clubs do or have done, bring in a group of ringers to play under their badge in a youth competition?

I’m having a hard time seeing what the benefit of doing that is, surely if there’s no suitable youth team then just don’t enter.

My understanding is there's a deadline of March to enter the cup competitions for the following season (including FA Cup, FA Youth Cup, FA Trophy). Therefore we had registered for the competition before the decision to mothball the academy. To be fair I think it was a good idea to respect the competition and our opponents by fielding a side rather than just cancelling the match, it just should have been a Hampton youth side.

Fortunately a Hampton youth side has now been selected to fulfill the (Jeff Ritsen) Middlesex Under 18s Youth Cup fixture in a couple of weeks, so thats positive.