Aveley have been thrown out of the Essex Senior Cup for fielding an ineligible player in their semi-final against Billericay Town. The Millers won last month's tie 3-0, but Billericay will now face Great Wakering Rovers in the final of the BBC-sponsored competition on 24 March. It follows the recent Vertu Trophy ruling which saw Swindon Town expelled from that competition for fielding two ineligible players against Luton Town. Aveley said in a statement, external that they were "extremely disappointed" and had been "misinformed" about the status of the player - thought to be Fletcher Hubbard, who is on loan from Brentwood Town. The club also claimed Billericay were "fully aware" of the situation before kick-off which made the result "irrelevant as soon as the referee started the match".

Source: BBC February 10, 2026 23:40 UTC