Stowmarket Town opt to pull out of the FA Vase

Stowmarket Town have taken the 'difficult decision' to withdraw from this season's Buildbase FA Vase.

Following the recent decision to curtail a second straight league campaign due to Covid-19, the Vase – along with the Suffolk Premier Cup – remained the only active competitions in 2020/21.

After beating lower-league Norwich CBS in December, the Old Gold & Blacks had made it through to the last 32 of the national tournament, in which they were due to host Surrey-based Cobham.

However, with the FA looking to restart the competition next month – and the likelihood of ties being played behind closed doors – Stow have opted to pull out.

A statement from the club read: "The Stowmarket Town board of directors have made the difficult decision to withdraw the club from this season’s Buildbase FA Vase.

"While we understand this decision will be disappointing for our management, players, supporters and sponsors, it is unfortunately not financially viable for the club to play in the current circumstances.

"The board must put the club’s long-term future first, rather than focusing on a fragmented season which has already been adversely-disrupted by the ongoing pandemic.

"The club would like to wish Cobham and all the other teams who continue to compete in this season’s Vase the best of luck, and we look forward to Muzzy (Paul Musgrove, manager) and the squad returning in the summer for pre-season ahead of starting their 2021/22 campaign."

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