Football club apologises after its players walked out of the ground at half time while trailing 8-0 in a local derby
- Abingdon Town walked off in a derby match against local rivals Abingdon United
- Club’s board has since released a statement labelling the walk-off ’embarrassing’
- Opposition first realised something happening when rivals began packing kit
A football club has apologised after its players walked off while trailing 8-0 in a local derby.
Abingdon Town failed to appear following the half-time break after conceding eight goals in the first 45 minutes to arch rivals Abingdon United, leaving the 150 fans in attendance gobsmacked.
The club’s board has since released a statement labelling the walk-off ’embarrassing and not in the spirit of the game’.
The club’s board released a statement labelling the walk-off ’embarrassing and not in the spirit of the game’
The match – which took place at Northcourt Road, Oxford, on Saturday – was quickly dominated by the home side, who went 4-0 up within 15 minutes.
The score was then doubled by half-time – when the opposition decided to call it a day and left.
The reason for the walk out is yet to be determined.
United secretary John Blackmore revealed the first they knew of the walkout was when they heard their opponents putting away their kit.
He told the Oxford Mail: ‘We were sitting in the changing room when there was a bit of noise, which was them packing up their kit and walking away.
‘We told them they had to tell the referee first, but they basically refused to play. It wasn’t good for football.
‘There was no aggro or anything like that, they just left the ground. They’ve apologised, but they’ve got to go away and sort themselves out.’
Posting on Twitter, Abingdon Town FC said: ‘After yesterday’s events at @AbingdonUtd, we are currently trying to find out what caused the walk out at half time.
The match – which took place at Northcourt Road, Oxford, (pictured) on Saturday – was quickly dominated by the home side, who went 4-0 up within 15 minutes
‘The manager and players did not represent the clubs wishes. We have not directly heard from the 1st team manager.
‘We are clearly disappointed, and continue to find ourselves in a tough position and struggling to recover from previous club management. This has not helped us get back on our feet.
‘We apologise to everyone who turned up hoping to watch 90 minutes of football and we on the board agree this is embarrassing and not in the spirit of the game.’
Abingdon United have been credited with an 8-0 win which puts them a point behind the leaders in the Uhlsport Hellenic League Division 1 East.
The league will now have to decide if any action is taken against Abingdon Town, who lie four points adrift at the bottom of the table.
It is the second time this year a clash between the two sides has made headlines.
Abingdon Town lost 17-0 in March in a fixture where they had just seven players left on the pitch by the final whistle.