A non-league club from Kent have expressed their “deep regret” at being chucked out of this season’s FA Vase due to fielding an ineligible player.

Ambitious Southern Counties East Premier Division Faversham Town released a statement on Tuesday, confirming the news.

The Lilywhites had beaten Horsham YMCA in the First Qualifying Round - but had broken rules while doing so!

Their scheduled FA Vase Second Qualifying Round tie against Southern Combination Premier Division Loxwood was postponed last Saturday after they were charged. Faversham attended a hearing on Tuesday but were unsuccessful.

The news is a bitter blow for the Lilywhites, with manager Sammy Moore having set out to go all the way to the Wembley final in the competition.

FA Vase rule 15(i)(i) states “A player on a temporary (loan) transfer, including a player who is registered on a scholarship for work experience, is ineligible to play in the competition” with the Lilywhites having already fielded forward Jefferson Aibangbee - on a season-long loan from Sheppey - in the competition.

A Faversham statement by chairman Gary Smart on behalf of their board read: “It was brought to our attention a week ago from a media outlet that Faversham Town Football Club had fielded an ineligible player on August, 26, 2023 in the FA Vase game away to Horsham YMCA.

“After hearing this news, which was very concerning, the board looked into all of the rules relating to the FA Vase competition. It states in the rules that no short-term temporary loan players are permitted to play in the FA Vase competition.

“The club did not believe we had a short-term loan player. The situation was we had a player on a dual-reg/long-term loan that was permitted to play for Faversham Town for the season 2023/24. The FA requested a hearing today at 11am.

“After the hearing with the FA, this morning, they have decided to withdraw Faversham Town Football Club from the FA Vase for this season of 2023/2024.

“It’s with deep regret that such an oversight has been made by the club and, personally, I would like to apologise to all the playing staff, our management team and all of the supporters on behalf of Faversham Town Football Club. This was an oversight on our behalf.

“It was never the intention to gain an advantage in the FA Vase, no intention to disrespect this wonderful competition and it goes without saying that we are very disappointed in the FA’s decision. But we accept the decision made.”

Smart added the club will now focus their attention on winning promotion back to the Isthmian League this term.

They have been knocked out of the FA Cup, beaten at home to Lewes, but remain in the Kent Senior Trophy and the Challenge Cup.

Smart continued: “Faversham Town Football Club will focus on all other competitions that the club are still participating in and re-focus to our bread-and-butter objective for the season to win promotion back to the Isthmian South East League and focus on the cup competitions that we are still competing for.

“Internally, at the football club, mistakes have been made but - as a team, a club and as a community - we go again this evening with the league game against Kennington.”

Fourth-placed Faversham host Punjab United in another home match this Saturday after their midweek game against Kennington.