Jersey Bulls’ opponents blame covid rules after pulling out of game

Wednesday 05 January 2022

The next visitors due to face Jersey Bulls at Springfield have been branded “gutless” by home fans after saying they were not prepared to travel to the island for Saturday’s clash.

Jersey Bulls’ home match against Beckenham Town on Saturday has been scrapped after the visitors said that they could not travel because of the island's covid restrictions.

Beckenham Town FC posted a statement on Twitter yesterday saying: “Our scheduled fixture vs Jersey Bulls FC on Saturday Jan 8th has been postponed. 

“This is a direct consequence of the implications on our playing squad of the current travel requirements / restrictions in place due to the ongoing covid situation.”

This statement prompted a brief response from the home team, which did little to hide the Bulls’ disappointment at the Beckenham decision.

“Sadly Beckenham have decided not to play the fixture,” the club posted on social media. “The matter will be dealt with by the league. As everyone knows, coming to Jersey is straight forward. If you are not fully vaccinated then you take a PCR test before travelling. We will not be commenting any further.”

Sadly Beckenham have decided not to play the fixture. The matter will be dealt with by the league. As everyone knows, coming to Jersey is straight forward. If you are not fully vaccinated then you take a PCR test before travelling. We will not be commenting any further. https://t.co/LyJ0bnDrOL

— JerseyBullsFC (@JerseyBullsFC) January 4, 2022

Responding to comments following its post, Beckenham added: “Hotels should be 48 hrs notice to cancel which is why we have made the call today. Unfortunately at the moment due to covid and the requirements of travel to Jersey, unlike an Away Day on the UK mainland, teams are either cancelling the game OR travelling with under strength squads.”

One Jersey fan replied: “Basically, your best players aren’t jabbed so you don’t want to play,” to which the official Beckenham feed said: “Very good point. The game should have all the best players playing but there’s the problem every side that’s managed to turn up in Jersey we’re under strength which is not right if Jersey wish to reverse the fixture then game on.”

Jersey fans were critical of Beckenham's decision. A Twitter post from ‘Jersey Bulls UK Supporters’ said: “I can totally support a postponement if you cannot field a team due to positive tests but a point blank refusal for no valid reason is gutless and cowardly.”

Jezza ‘Barbie’ Fields wrote: “Disgraceful outcome which really brings the league into disrepute. Becks shouldn't be made to play IF they don't have the numbers because of covid. But if they do have numbers and are scared due to being out of form, then that is equally as shocking.”

Hotels should be 48hrs notice to cancel which is why we have made the call today. Unfortunately at the moment due to Covid and the requirements of travel to Jersey unlike an Away Day on the UK mainland teams are either cancelling the game OR travelling with under strength squads.

— Beckenham Town FC (@beckenhamtownfc) January 4, 2022

Jersey Bulls are currently third in the Combined Counties Football League Premier Division South, which forms the ninth level of the English football league system.

The Springfield-based club is seven points adrift of league leaders Walton & Hersham and two points off second-placed Redhill. However, with 16 games under their belt so far this season, the Bulls have played three games fewer than Walton and four fewer games than Redhill. 

The Bulls have won their last four league matches.

Beckenham Town FC are currently fifth in the league, four points behind Jersey Bulls. They beat the Bulls 1-0 at home in the season’s opening game in July.