Bradford (Park Avenue) have hit out at the West Riding FA after being kicked out of this year's County Cup.

Avenue have a diabolical record in the West Riding County Cup, but they won their first game in the competition for eight years when they saw off Golcar United 3-2 last month.

Yet the competition's governing body have deemed Avenue to have fielded an ineligible player during the fixture, so Golcar have subsequently been reinstated instead.

Avenue believe they did everything right, and they released a fiery club statement yesterday lunchtime.

It read: "Bradford (Park Avenue) AFC are frustrated to announce that we have been expelled from the 2024/25 West Riding County Cup for seemingly fielding an ineligible player in the 3-2 victory at Golcar United in the first round of the competition on September 24, 2024.

"Having registered this player seven days prior to the fixture, we were then informed by the West Riding FA that the player needed to be registered ‘seven CLEAR days’ prior to the fixture taking place.

Having submitted all relevant evidence proving the fact, the West Riding FA still concluded that we were in the wrong, and the result is that we have been expelled from the competition.

"Bradford (Park Avenue) apologises to our loyal fans for the inconvenience caused."

The West Riding FA are yet to respond, but based on past precedents regarding ineligible players in domestic competitions, Avenue appear unlikely to be reinstated into the tournament.