Bury thrown out of the FA Cup (and Chester are over the moon)

Bury have been chucked out of the FA Cup for fielding an ineligible player in their 3-1 second-round replay win over Chester City on 12 December. Chester, who are surely buzzing their tits off, have now been reinstated and will play Ipswich in the third round as well as receiving all the cash that comes with being in the second round.

Bury can appeal against the decision, and any hearing will take place on Thursday 28 December... but you fear that it would be unlikely. The player in question is Stephen Turnbull, who is a loan signing from Hartlepool. An FA statement said: "Bury selected Turnbull without receiving the required permission from Hartlepool United and lodging that permission with The FA. Bury also failed to comply with the required timescales for registration of players for the FA Cup." This could be disastrous for the club currently just outside a promotion place in Division Two. [Mof Gimmers]