14 goal thrashing for 7 man team.

[oldfart]

Non-league Billingham Town lose 14-0 as just seven players turn up
By Joe Townsend BBC North East & Cumbria Sport

A non-league side were thrashed 14-0 after fielding just seven players - two of whom were injured.

Billingham Town played with the minimum-allowed number in order to avoid a fine for forfeiting the match against Stockton Town in the Durham Challenge Cup.

They were also without a manager after Paul Burton's resignation.

"We apologised to Stockton and just took what we knew would be a very heavy defeat," chairman Glenn Youngman said.

Billingham, who are four steps below the Conference Premier, suffered the defeat on Saturday. One of the injured players had to go in goal.

Billingham in the football ladder

Northern Football League Division One is level nine in the English football pyramid, meaning Billingham need five promotions to reach the Conference Premier.

This term they are second-bottom with a goal difference of -53 having lost 16 of 17 matches.

They are the first club of former Manchester United defender Gary Pallister.

Former manager Burton resigned after last Wednesday's defeat at Guisborough Town and several of the players told the chairman they were not willing to play for the club any longer.

"I texted 22 players on Thursday and seven said they were unavailable," Youngman told BBC Sport.

"Four had fair excuses but three just asked for transfers. Those three, along with the ones who didn't reply, have let their team-mates down and will be shipped out."

New boss Wilf Constantine was unable to start his new job at Billingham, who play in Northern Football League Division One, until this week.

A team must field a minimum of seven players in order for a match to go ahead, with a fine the penalty for having to forfeit a game - and Youngman was grateful to those who did play.

"Full credit to the lads who did turn up because we very nearly had to forfeit. Then we would probably have been banned from next year's competition and been hit with a huge fine."

It's a Hard Life for these clubs but, somehow, they manage to keep going - "For The Love Of The Game".

[Black_Panther]

What's so amazing about an amateur team playing with only 7 players?

[Kojima Haruna]

It could have been worse... they could have lost 28-4.

[ozzie owl]

Sounds like some the games in Div 12 Sunday SAASL.

[Del Boca Vista]

I took it as saying the 7 man team won until I read the apology quote. That would've been a real news story.

[Kojima Haruna]

Sounds like some the games in Div 12 Sunday SAASL.

I think it was division four.

[God is an Englishman]

I once lost 18-0 in a 7 man team. One of the blokes was in his wellies as he was walking his dog before we made him play, another was one of the blokes younger kid brother and 3 brothers who drove across when they should have been playing reserves.

Our keeper got man of the match.

A club ref (which I only ever had once in my whole time there) made it even more fun as we knew he wasn't going to send any of us off.

[God is an Englishman]

oh and we held them out for 30 minutes

[oldfart]

"For the Love of The Game?"


That's what grassroots Football is all about.

[bapa]

oh and we held them out for 30 minutes

with ur belly, I am not surprised. Did u go take a piss and they scored 18?

[Black_Panther]

oh and we held them out for 30 minutes

with ur belly, I am not surprised. Did u go take a piss and they scored 18?

What is it any of your business?

[God is an Englishman]

oh and we held them out for 30 minutes

with ur belly, I am not surprised. Did u go take a piss and they scored 18?

Oh another jibe about me being fat. Well guess what sunshine - so are you.

The difference is, I can still manage to play 90 minutes of football. When was the last time you managed that?

[Black_Panther]

oh and we held them out for 30 minutes

with ur belly, I am not surprised. Did u go take a piss and they scored 18?

Oh another jibe about me being fat. Well guess what sunshine - so are you.

The difference is, I can still manage to play 90 minutes of football. When was the last time you managed that?

How does the saying go:

"Great people talk about ideas. Average people talk about things. Small people talk about other people."