Following an unsuccessful appeal to the Football Association, Fylde Ladies have been removed from the FAWPL Plate Competition for season 2017/18 having being found to have played an ineligible player in the Semi-Final against Luton Town Ladies.

The Women’s Premier League found that, although Fylde Ladies had made a genuine and honest mistake, the rules of the competition had to be upheld and that the mitigation offered by Fylde Ladies was not sufficient to justify the club remaining in the competition.

Fylde Ladies Manager Conrad Prendergast said: “We are all devastated at this outcome. It’s difficult to take, especially for the players. As a club we did everything possible to get the decision overturned but we have to accept it and move on.”