Matlock Town is set to be relegated to Step Four in the English football pyramid after they fielded an ineligible player.
The club beat Hyde United 4-0 in a Northern Premier League clash on April 12.
However, Matlock have since confirmed via a club statement the valuable three points gained by have since been deducted.
That’s because they played Joshua Smith, whose youth loan from Accrington Stanley had expired.
Matlock explained neither they or Accrington Stanley recognised the loan had ended until after the contest due to Smith ‘missing several weeks previously through injury’.
The win over Hyde United placed Matlock on 43 points and although they lost their most recent fixture against Worksop Town, they still had a mathematical chance of survival given 18th-placed Hebburn Town sat on 48 points with two games remaining.
However, the points deduction means Matlock will drop to 40 points and are therefore unable to catch Hebburn Town.
In the statement, Matlock revealed it was an unfortunate administrative error made by the club secretary that has sealed their relegation to the Northern Premier League Division One.
“Everyone at the club is extremely upset at how this season has ended, none more so than our club secretary responsible for the error who has taken full responsibility and who has issued his unreserved apologies,” the statement read.
“Please be mindful at this difficult time that our staff are predominantly volunteers who dedicate large parts of their lives to the club.
“This is a human error and we are all saddened by our season’s outcome.”
Several Matlock Town supporters and even rival fans expressed their sympathy towards the club secretary on social media in a warm display of camaraderie.
@nonleaguesean – XFans expressed their sorrow for the Matlock club secretary[/caption]
One user said: “Very sad to read this, best wishes to the volunteer who made the error and good luck next season.”
Another wrote: “Matlock are a great club. Not the way you wanted the season to end. Human error, and hope your club secretary is not blaming themselves. I’m sure they have done an amazing job all season.”
A third added: “I am sorry for this and the way that it’s happened. It’s a human error which happens to all. A great away day and great people. Volunteers are a huge part of a club and it’s a simple error. Hope to see you back in this division soon.”
Matlock travel to Ilkeston Town on Easter Monday for their penultimate game of the season before they host Lancaster City on April 26.
