Frome Town FC has taken the decision NOT to risk the team by taking The Robins off to a Tier 4 area this evening.

The Club is now waiting to hear what the FA will do, after it wrote an open and impassioned letter to them yesterday (December 22).

One fan showed his exasperation on social media posting:" It is disgusting how the FA has treated Frome Town in this matter.

With only giving Frome Town hours to arrange things, it shows everyone that FA show be reformed due to having any common sense in this matter."

The full statement is :

Following the decision by the FA and DCMS the club has sought further advice and will not travel to tonight's scheduled match vs Maidstone United.

As a club our first thoughts have to be with the players, staff and officials of both teams who will be forced to play a match in Tier 4 against wider Government regulations. As a 'non-elite' team, we do not accept the decision of both bodies given all the news coverage and medical expert advice provided.

We will not put families and lives at stake. It's clear that no football match outside of the top level is COVID safe. We will not demand that our players travel in separate cars across the country to a tier 4 area. We have no clear clarification on the insurance procedures and coverage either. We've also been truly shocked by some of the wider fan comments who have a very reckless view on COVID and its effects. But more disappointed at the collective decision that has been made.

We are not withdrawing from the competition, and believe the FA can still make a sensible decision to postpone until it is safe to play. We will await further communication from the FA.

UPDATED with the FA statement saying Frome will forfeit their place:

The FA Statement in full

"In accordance with the attached communication sent to all Clubs on 20 November and FA Trophy Rule 11 of the Competition Rules also attached, any postponed match in the Third Round Proper must be played within the five day postponement window (on or before 24 December) and there will be no flexibility for a postponed match to be rescheduled beyond this date.

As communicated to your Club yesterday it was confirmed that DCMS are content that all Buildbase FA Trophy Third Round Proper fixtures can continue to be played, as scheduled, under the attached FA Trophy Protocol, which is in line with the latest DCMS guidance for elite sport.

As your Club have now confirmed to The FA in the email below that you will not be fulfilling the fixture this evening you are deemed to have forfeited the match your opponents will progress to the next round.