I have worked closely with my county FA for years now. I would normally defend the organisation as they do a hell of a lot of good things despite the premier leagues power. However in this case I cannot defend them. This is a poor decision. I have no issue with trying to reduce fixture lists, it is probably needed. But not at the expense of what should be the centre piece of the english game. It even sickens me to think it is not the final game of the season, the premier league get to revel in that too.
Anyway, I wrote to my county FA last night to express my anger. Not in any official capacity for a club, but as a local FA supporter who has given loads of my time to work with them on their football development strategies locally and nationally over the last 15 years or so. Only a couple of months ago I was with them developing the national strategy for game growth at grassroots and non league level. This was not even a discussion point. The ripple effect this will have, down to young kids not having access to the game, is frightening.
There are some brilliant folk working for The FA. The passion they have for our game is unreal. All they want is for the game to be a national treasure with access to it for everyone who wants it. I have no doubt a lot of those folk are as sick as we all are at this. There you are after all, a little defence of some of the FA.