THE B-Line Oxford Boys League are considering going to the very top of the football ladder after an appeal to the Football Association to overturn an OFA verdict was rejected, writes MERVYN COLLINS.

Swindon Robins protested to the league about referee Leigh Thompson, who was in charge of February's Under 12 Cup semi-final, after his son played for Northway in the 3-1 win, and were told the result would stand.

Robins then contacted the OFA, who, in a joint commission with the

Wiltshire FA, ordered the semi-final to be replayed.

"All the necessary paperwork is with our solicitors and we intend to fight the decision all the way.

"If necessary, we will take it to UEFA and FIFA," B-Line chairman Dick Cohead revealed.

"The OFA is out of date, out of touch and out of credibility. They're ruining boys football and that's the reason why I won't be standing for re-election this term."

The management committee of the B-Line meet on Thursday and, if feelings run as high as they did last month, then further action will be taken if the legal team find anything untoward in regard to restrictive practices.

"As far as the league is concerned, the result stands until we are unable to take the matter any further,'' Cohead added.

Northway, who also appealed to the FA, were met with the same response and they are now hoping that B-Line stand their ground and refuse to set a replay date.

"A fair hearing was all we were asking for, but the OFA seem to have ignored their own members and to date, have never had the guts to provide anyone with the reason for upholding the Robins appeal,'' said Northway secretary Jeannie Campbell.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.