National League playoff final referee subbed off with CRAMP in extra-time of dramatic tie at Wembley
THE referee had to be substituted with cramp during the National League play-off final.
Shortly after half-time of extra-time in the contest between Southend and Oldham, the whistler had be replaced by the fourth official.
Advertisement
1
Aaron Bannister stepped in for the stricken ref
THIS IS A DEVELOPING STORY..
The Sun is your go to destination for the best football, boxing and MMA news, real-life stories, jaw-dropping pictures and must-see video
.
Like us on Facebook at
Try Our AI Features
Explore what Daily8 AI can do for you:
Comments
No comments yet...
Related Articles
The Irish Sun
35 minutes ago
- The Irish Sun
Pat Ryan vows redemption as Cork bid to bounce back from Limerick mauling in Munster final rematch
PAT RYAN felt the attitude of his players in their 'embarrassing' defeat to Limerick was unacceptable. And the Advertisement 2 Cork manager Pat Ryan has urged to bounce back in their rematch against Limerick 2 Cork and Limerick face one another in the Munster final on Saturday However, Ryan has vowed that the Rebels will give a much better account of themselves when the teams meet again in Saturday evening's Cork are set to contest their first provincial decider since 2018, despite being blown away during the round-robin phase by a Limerick side chasing a seventh straight Munster title. Reflecting on the 3-26 to 1-16 defeat, Ryan remarked: 'It was a puzzling one and I probably look back on my own role. Maybe I didn't go after them enough. 'Maybe I wasn't driving the standard over the last couple of weeks and maybe a small bit of complacency slipped in as regards we were kind of winning matches and going well enough. Advertisement READ MORE ON GAA 'But obviously Limerick were well prepared. They had a lot of stuff right on the day, as they always do. You could see that was a game they had really targeted since we beat them last year in the All-Ireland semi-final.' Cork, who romped to National League glory in April, were subjected to a sobering loss at the TUS Gaelic Grounds by a Limerick team who showed scant regard for the opposition's then-status as All-Ireland favourites. For John Kiely's men, who the bookies now fancy to reclaim the Liam MacCarthy Cup, it was sweet revenge for the defeat last summer that ruined their bid for an unprecedented five in a row. Acknowledging his team was 'ill-prepared to what we were facing', Ryan — whose side scored Cork's lowest Championship tally since 2016 that day. Advertisement Most read in GAA Football He said: 'Your standard has to be your standard around your attitude and your effort. "That wasn't what our standard has been over the last three years that we've been here. That was the most disappointing thing. 'Like something out of the French Revolution' - RTE GAA pundit Donal Og Cusack slams Dublin star's reckless swipe 'We let down our fans. Losing to Limerick is never embarrassing but losing to any team in that manner is embarrassing.' While a Limerick win was by no means an upset, the resounding manner in which they were beaten was an eye-opener for Cork. The manager is sure they will be far better this weekend. Advertisement Ryan added: 'We felt that we had got out of that situation where we wouldn't be putting in that kind of a bad performance. "Maybe I took my eye off the ball on that, but I can guarantee you we'll be able to perform. 'Complacency is probably the wrong word because there's never complacency against Limerick. 'It was more, 'Yeah, we're going grand' — that kind of attitude. Things are moving along grand and that kind of thing. Advertisement 'You need to be on it. We need to be physical, aggressive and really going at it and, in fairness, we weren't going at it that day.' Cork rebounded to beat Waterford and earn a chance to set the record straight this weekend. But significant improvement will be required if they are to collect their second piece of silverware in 2025. Ryan said: 'When you put on that Cork jersey, it has to mean something to you. We've been saying that all the time. From our point of view, it wasn't acceptable. Advertisement 'We talk about the fans all the time and that's one thing. But at the end of the day, it wasn't acceptable for our group, it wasn't acceptable for their parents, their families, their friends. 'They're the people you're playing for all the time. People are spending big money to get up there and support us and we need to make sure we're honouring that.' In the aftermath of the win over Waterford, Ryan expressed the belief that there were 'twisted' motives behind some of the pre-Championship hype around Cork. A series of impressive displays en route to claiming National League honours prompted some observers to suggest a first All-Ireland title in 20 years was becoming increasingly inevitable for Ryan's side. Advertisement ALL TALK Speaking at a press event arranged by Cork in advance of the Munster final, the gaffer said: 'We weren't talking about it inside here but it's hard because fellas are amateur athletes. "They're going into work, you're hearing it. 'I'm not on social media. Fellas are seeing it on social media. 'There are WhatsApp groups, text messages going around. There was even one that came to my phone about Saving Private Ryan. A fella sent that to me on the Sunday morning before the match. Advertisement 'And I was thinking, 'What the . . . ?' You just get on with that. 'Don't get me wrong, I know that's the game we're in now as well and it's brilliant. 'That's why we had a media night. Some people don't have it but we like to have it. I think we're here to promote the games. 'Fellas want to hear and read about the matches. I loved reading about the matches myself when I wasn't involved. That's why we do it but from my point of view, I thought some of it was rubbish. Advertisement "The really annoying thing was some of our own people writing off Limerick. Are they off their game? That's only setting us up for a fall. 'They're things that fellas pin to dressing rooms and that couldn't be further from the truth. We try to be as humble as we can.' Before Cork began their Championship campaign with a rematch of last year's All-Ireland final against Clare, one bookmaker even paid out on the 2024 runners-up going all the way in 2025. Ryan insisted: 'That was only a gimmick and a stunt and wrong for a betting company to be doing that to amateur athletes, putting them under that pressure.' Advertisement Twenty days removed from their 16-point hammering in Limerick, Cork will return to the same venue to face the only team ever to win six consecutive Munster crowns. When he reminds his players that to be forewarned is to be forearmed, Ryan knows that they cannot afford to allow the advice to fall on deaf ears. He added: 'I had told the lads we were going to get an unbelievable version of Limerick on that day. Maybe they didn't believe us –— but they know now.'
Irish Independent
12 hours ago
- Irish Independent
York co-owner calls for immediate reform of English fifth tier promotion structure after finishing 23 points above Oldham
The Minstermen missed out on a return to the Football League as they lost in the play-off semi-finals to Oldham, having finished second in the league table behind champions Barnet, 28 points clear of the final play-off position. In February, the National League launched the '3UP campaign' with the aim of securing three promotion places to League Two for the 2025/26 season. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. But Uggla has called for 'an immediate review, temporary relief measures, or an accelerated implementation of the '3UP' model' with the intention of York earning instant promotion to League Two. In an open letter to the National League and the EFL chief executive Trevor Birch, she said: 'I am writing to express my deep concern and disappointment at the current promotion system between the National League and League Two, following a season where York City FC, despite finishing 28 points clear of seventh place and winning 12 more matches, were denied promotion. 'Such a glaring imbalance not only undermines sporting merit but erodes the very foundations of fair competition. 'To dominate a league campaign so comprehensively (Barnet the only exception), only to be forced into a play-off lottery, is structurally unjust. 'It penalises excellence and rewards inferiority in a way no professional league system should condone. 'While I am aware of the historical basis for the two-up structure, it is no longer fit for purpose. 'The gap between the top National League clubs and the lower EFL clubs has narrowed, and in many cases reversed, making the case for three-up promotion beyond compelling. 'The '3UP' campaign rightly reflects the sentiment of every National League club and countless supporters. 'But waiting until 2025–26 only deepens the injustice for clubs like York City, who have already paid the price for a system built on outdated assumptions. 'I urge both governing bodies to urgently consider transitional reform, whether via immediate review, temporary relief measures, or an accelerated implementation of the '3UP' model. We need your consent to load this Social Media content. We use a number of different Social Media outlets to manage extra content that can set cookies on your device and collect data about your activity. Please review your details and accept them to load the content 'At the very least, this season's outcome should provoke an honest re-evaluation of what fairness in football truly means. 'For clubs, fans, and the integrity of the English football pyramid, it is time to reward merit and restore credibility to the system.' Oldham returned to the Football League after they beat Southend 3-2 after extra time in the play-off final at Wembley on Sunday. Uggla added: 'I would also like to point out that writing this letter should not undermine the achievements of Oldham Atletic from their victory at Wembley yesterday, and to Southend United for making the final. Their accomplishments should not go unnoticed. 'Too many great clubs, including Oldham and Southend, have fallen into this league with little chance of redemption due to the lack of promotion places. 'The current system is simply not sustainable anymore.' The EFL declined to comment. The change would require a change of league regulations via a vote of EFL clubs, and would require a majority among all clubs and a majority among Championship clubs. It is understood the matter was discussed by the EFL board earlier this year but no clubs vote is currently planned. Clubs have previously indicated they would consider changes to the current position on promotion and relegation from the National League to EFL as part of a complete package of measures and reforms across the pyramid from bottom to top.
The Irish Sun
17 hours ago
- The Irish Sun
Aidan O'Brien's massive Royal Ascot favourite and ‘truly exceptional' unbeaten horse OUT with injury in latest blow
A 'TRULY exceptional' unbeaten Aidan O'Brien superstar and red-hot Royal Ascot favourite is OUT - in the latest blow for the top trainer. O'Brien has already seen staying king Kyprios denied a tilt at a third Gold Cup after he was retired with immediate effect. Advertisement 1 Albert Einstein will miss Royal Ascot having been huge 6-4 favourite for the Coventry Stakes on day one Credit: PA And now awesome two-year-old speedster Albert Einstein is the latest big name to be pulled. The Coolmore-owned monster, who is two from two and won from a nightmare position in the Marble Hill Stakes last time, had been as short as 11-10 for the Coventry Stakes on day one. For many he was one of the big bets of the meeting, with second-fav Treanmor being as big as 6-1. But a tweet from Ballydoyle read: "Gr.3 Marble Hill Stakes winner Albert Einstein unfortunately will not run at Royal Ascot due to a sprained joint. He will have an easy three weeks." Advertisement More to follow. FREE BETS - GET THE BEST SIGN UP DEALS AND RACING OFFERS Commercial content notice: Taking one of the offers featured in this article may result in a payment to The Sun. You should be aware brands pay fees to appear in the highest placements on the page. 18+. T&Cs apply. . Remember to gamble responsibly A responsible gambler is someone who: Establishes time and monetary limits before playing Only gambles with money they can afford to lose Never chases their losses Doesn't gamble if they're upset, angry or depressed Gamcare – Gamble Aware – Find our detailed guide on responsible gambling practices here. Most read in Horse Racing
