Biggleswade United vow to fight switch to United Counties League

Chairman Guillem Balague insists Biggleswade United will do all they can to prevent the club's proposed switch to the United Counties League

Biggleswade United have vowed to fight FA restructuring plans that, from the start of next season, would see them moved out of the South Midlands Spartan League and into the United Counties League South describing them as the “worst of all worlds” and a “nightmare scenario”.

Unless the club can successfully appeal against the ruling they now face a season which they feel will result in substantially increased travelling time and expense to and from matches, fewer local derbies, potential loss of local sponsorship, and a lack of historical and geographical affinity with the vast majority of clubs in that area that they will have to play.

Club chairman Guillem Balague said: “We are certainly going to appeal and put as much pressure as we possibly can on all those people that can help us.

“We don’t want to move, nor does the Bedfordshire FA want us to and nor do the Spartan League.”

“Rest assured, we will do everything we can to try to overturn this decision.”

The club received notification about the move in an email from the FA that said while the past year has been challenging and uncertain as a result of the pandemic, “we enter the 2021-22 season with renewed optimism given the gradual relaxation of the national lockdown”.

Confirming the club’s intention to appeal, which has already been lodged, club secretary Tracey James said: “It is the worst of all worlds and a nightmare scenario for everyone at the club that rather than giving us renewed optimism has left us feeling very pessimistic about the following season.

“Worst of all, at no point have we been consulted about it. At no point has anyone asked us for our opinion.”

Currently, in the Spartan League, the club enjoys six derby matches – a minimum of 12 games – every season against teams some of which are no more than six miles away from the club and none of who are further than 20 miles from Biggleswade.

“Local derbies are not just about the distance but also about the history that comes with the games that have been played between the clubs in question,” James added.

“And that is something else that we will lose.”