GFA 'would never disadvantage KGV' but FA affiliation bars it sanctioning 11-a-side

I would, therefore, be grateful if, in the interest of balanced reporting, through your letters page you would permit us to place on record some facts which may have been forgotten, or are simply not generally known about, in this matter.

The GFA has supported the KGV project since day one and has attended many meetings to discuss the use of the facility. Following our own research we put forward, in March 2013, our commercial proposal to support the use of the 3G pitch. The KGV Development Committee did not feel that our proposal was viable from their perspective so both parties agreed that the GFA would not have any commercial involvement in the running of the facility.

The GFA then undertook to continue to support the development in any other way that it could.

At the behest of the GFA, a meeting was held at KGV in January 2014 to see if there were ways in which usage could be increased. At that meeting the GFA agreed that it would sanction any small-sided leagues that KGV wished to establish without the requirement to affiliate, thereby allowing GFA- registered players to participate in the leagues.

The GFA also agreed that its member clubs could utilise the facility at any time for either training, friendly matches, juniors, minis etc.

In short, therefore, the only activity that the GFA has been unable to sanction is competitive 11-a-side matches and this is due entirely to the rules and regulations of our parent body, the Football Association. A fact that has been well publicised.

It seems that a number of people in the commercial and social media do not, or choose not, to accept the fact that as a County Association we are obliged to follow FA rules, whether they suit our particular circumstances or not. For the avoidance of doubt I would like to restate the position of affiliated football.

The FA currently will only permit a 3G pitch to be used for 11-a-side matches if it has been accredited as a result of an independent inspection by an approved testing institution and the competition rules permit its use. This position will change from the start of the 2014/15 season inasmuch that once tested and accredited the pitch will be available for use, for a period of three years after accreditation, before the need for re-testing, for all football below National League System Step 7 (the GFA Priaulx League) and including women's and youth football, without the need for specific sanction.

During the January 2014 meeting, given the pitch testing requirement, the GFA made the point that restricting usage to affiliated teams/players would be counterproductive and financially inhibiting, particularly in these early stages, as it would be unlikely that the affiliated clubs could generate the same potential income as the social leagues.

The GFA also recommended to KGV (contrary to their initial plan) not to affiliate as a facility, in that way it is hoped that the 3G could be utilised by both affiliated football and the social leagues. Therefore, contrary to what was recently in the Press, the GFA has never sought to dictate who should be able to use the facility and has never and would never seek to disadvantage in any way such an important community facility.

CHRIS SCHOFIELD,

Chairman,

Guernsey Football Association.