Vauxhall Motors promotion is erased from history by FA

Vauxhall had gained promotion on the last Saturday prior to the coronavirus lockdown, thanks to their amazing 20th consecutive away victory - but a few short weeks later, the FA declared all leagues from Step 3 to Step 7 in the non-league pyramid were being declared null and void for the season due to the pandemic.

The Motormen, with the backing of their league, hoped to be still promoted but on Friday, at a special convened FA meeting for all Step 5 and Step 6 leagues across the country, the FA restated that all results for 2019-20 season at that level are expunged, rendering them null and void and no promotion or relegation will take place.

Vauxhall Motors vice-chairman Alan Bartlam

Vauxhall vice-chairman Alan Bartlam said: “This is absolutely scandalous. Clubs across the country have decided points-per-game is the only way to recognise the efforts of clubs for a period of over seven months from early August to mid-March with only a handful of games left. But the FA think those seven and a half months of graft did not happen. It must have been a figment of our imagination!”

The FA ruling has come despite many representations to them and the overwhelming feeling of clubs across the country, who have voted to use the FA’s own Points-Per-Game (PPG) system, to decide league placings, along with promotion and relegation.

The PPG system has seen Tranmere Rovers relegated from Division One, while at the top of the non-league game, league leaders Barrow have been voted by their member clubs to be crowned champions and gain promotion back into the Football League.

Vauxhall were already 16 points clear at the top of the NWCL Division One South with seven matches left to play and promotion guaranteed when the lockdown began, having won 27 of their 31 league fixtures and were clearly destined for the championship in a very short time.

Club manager McGraa simply said: “I’m absolutely gutted,” not wishing to add to his comments.