Shield shock for Whites

There was dismay when staff at the club were inundated with phone calls on the day of the draw from angry supporters, who asked why the club had not entered the competition.

However, the reality was that this was the first the club had heard that they wouldn’t be in the Shield this season.

Club Secretary Colin Hopkins said: “The first I heard of it was when the phone calls started on the day of the draw.

“I had three or four people onto me about it. Some supporters were very irate.

“It is a blemish in our history we could have done without,” he added.

After contacting the Co. Antrim FA to find out the reasons for their exclusion, the club were advised that this year’s criteria to receive an invitation was that clubs either had to have floodlights in order to host a home game or have qualified for the final of last seasons Steel & Sons Cup whereby they could play away from home.

Hopkins added: “We did ask back in June about the lighting and said we’d be happy enough to play away from home. We heard nothing more and then lo and behold, we weren’t in the draw.

“We are a bit disappointed that nobody could say to us, ‘we’re sorry, we can’t invite you this year’. Instead we were just cast aside.

“We were one of the nine original member clubs of the County Antrim FA back in 1888 and we’ve played in every tournament that has taken place since then in 126 years.

“Since the draw has been made, Carrick Rangers, who had been given a home tie, their floodlights haven’t been finished in time. I’d like to see what the FA do with that, if they are allowed to play away. I’ll be interested to see how that turns out.”

Club Director Ashley Wragg commented: “I think it fair to say we are not only stunned but also immensely angry and upset that we are not participating in the County Antrim and District Association Shield for the first time in its’ 126 year old history.

“We have taken immense pride throughout our history in taking part in the County Antrim Senior Shield and to be left out this season is a source of great disappointment and anger and a decision which has left a blemish on our clubs proud history.

“We were after all the inaugural winners away back in 1888 and have played in the tournament every year since then so to be stripped of the right to even participate is deeply hurtful,” Wragg commented.

“Given the long history we have in the Shield and also the potential loss of matchday revenue in the current climate, it’s also understandable that the players, supporters and officials at Lisburn Distillery are somewhat upset at the decision.”