Dave Reesby
29-9-05
One week after the joy of being offered a contract with Marlow FC, Dave Reesby's was informed by the clubs Chairman that he was ineligible to play for the club under the FA's ruling that overseas players can only sign for Semi Pro or Pro clubs who are issued with a Sporting visa.
Dave who has been a trialist at the club for the past few weeks was over the moon when offered a place at the club. Unfortunately a working Visas issued to travellers wishing to work in the UK are totally different to a Sporting Visa. This has been a problem for many overseas players in the past not only in football circles but Cricket also. Players arrive in the country on International passports with the great expectations of playing for a living only to find that clubs officially cannot pay players without the correct documentation.
Pro Football clubs will not consider any player unless they have the correct Visa or documentation. Sporting Visas for overseas players will be issued to Proffesional players & they would generally have to have played a certain number of games for the National team. Non Professional players will need a UK passport or Heritage Visa to even be considered for a trial. Players can sign for Amateur clubs without either of the above.