Whitmore Returns to the Moors 

First of all, the Club would like to thank the FA for the speed of its investigation and the openness and transparency with which the process was conducted. The Club also agrees with the statement published by the FA, in so far as it goes. Indeed, we wholeheartedly support a zero-tolerance approach to all forms of racism and the need for the football community to continue its journey to eradicate this scourge from our game. However, false claims of racism do not positively serve this objective in any way and hence due care should always be taken when responding to any allegation in such a sensitive situation. We accept that the FA is also in a difficult position in having to opine regarding on-pitch incidents, which happen in a split second and are not directly football related. Therefore, we are delighted that the correct and just verdict has been delivered and Conor Wilkinson’s innocence has been confirmed. However, the Club does have unanswered questions as to both how the events unfolded on the day and whether the current FA protocols are completely fit for purpose. Those involved in the incident on the day, including many players from both Solihull Moors and Boston United, believe that the incident could and should have been handled very differently and this would have avoided the disruption to the game and the widespread negative publicity, especially on social media, which followed. Specifically, because of the manner in which the match officials chose to handle the incident, including taking the players off the pitch, Conor Wilkinson has been subjected to abuse on social media and had his reputation sullied. The reality is that Conor was adjudged as guilty of making a racist comment towards the referee. The alleged comment was communicated to the referee by the assistant referee who was some 30 yards away from the incident. The referee then acted as if it was beyond doubt that a racist remark had been made despite at least 5 players on both sides being much closer to the incident and those players absolutely confirming that no racist comment was made by Conor. I do question why the referee chose to believe the assistant referee, who was further away than the relevant players who told the referee that no such racist remark was made? The referee effectively acted as judge and jury, on a non-football related offence, in a fashion that goes against the presumption of innocence and the equitable principles of English Law. The Club believes that in similar circumstances in the future a more pragmatic and balanced approach should be taken. The referee, given the balance of evidence and the material potential for the assistant referee to have made a mistake, albeit honestly, should have noted the assistant referee’s comment and referenced the need for a further investigation after the game. In this way, balanced justice would have been served and the unnecessary glare of publicity would have been avoided. An alleged racist comment should always be investigated but the punishment cannot be handed down until due process has been followed, especially when it is circumstantial and indirectly heard from a considerable distance away from the incident. In our view, the FA should consider whether their protocols need to incorporate the adoption of such an approach advocated above, especially when it is far, far from certain that the any racist comment was made and it was not directly heard by the intended recipient but was communicated by a 3rd party. Notwithstanding the FA’s findings and subsequent statement, the consequences of the incident are, unfortunately, still extant. Conor Wilkinson has suffered reputational damage and online abuse. Accordingly, we have asked the FA to contact the assistant referee and ask for an apology for his error. We are not doubting his integrity; it was a simple mistake but one which had significant consequences. In this day and age, a simple apology would go a long way. Conor is also under a two game suspension which will mean he will potentially miss our first game of the season. We have asked the FA to rescind the suspension and expunge the sending off from Conor’s record. Finally, the Club has had to incur legal bills on Conor’s behalf which again would have been avoided had the referee chosen to adopt a more balanced and equitable approach. We are relieved that Conor’s innocence has been confirmed and we are delighted that he can now fully focus on preseason and the forthcoming birth of his first child. 

Solihull Moors Football Club were delighted to welcome partners, sponsors and members of the local business community to The Belfry on Thursday 11th June for the Club's inaugural Golf Day. Despite challenging weather conditions throughout the day, spirits remained high as a packed field of golfers took to the course for a fantastic day of competition, networking and relationship building at one of the UK's most prestigious golfing venues. The club would like to place on record its sincere thanks to all attendees who supported the event. Given the conditions, the commitment shown by everyone involved was greatly appreciated and contributed significantly to the success of the day. A special thank you must also go to our event sponsors, whose support helped make the day possible: Myles Group Cars – CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE ISL Workwear – CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE Konsileo – CLICK HERE TO FIND OUT MORE Following a full day on the course, guests returned to the hospitality suite to enjoy a relaxed BBQ-style gala dinner, networking opportunities and the presentation of prizes and awards from across the day. Speaking after the event, Head of Revenue Harrison Taylor said: "Firstly, I would like to thank everyone who joined us at The Belfry. The weather certainly tested us throughout the day, but the support shown by our partners, sponsors and guests was incredible and made the event a huge success. Here at Moors are we committed to adding as much value to our partners as possible, and what better place to do that than the golf course? I would also like to thank our sponsors, Myles Group Cars, ISL Workwear and Konsileo, whose support was instrumental in making the event possible. We are more than just a football club. We are very proud of our community impact and we always like to champion local business. Events like today help us do just that. " The Golf Day forms part of the club's ongoing commitment to strengthening relationships with its commercial partners and the wider business community as Solihull Moors continues its journey both on and off the pitch.  Everyone at Solihull Moors Football Club would once again like to thank all players, guests, sponsors and The Belfry team for their support and contribution towards a fantastic day and we look forward to welcoming you all for future events!