Match Postponed

 

 

Guilty Boston

Elsie Price is very angry

My son Steve and myself traveled to Boston. Our coach waited until we heard the 8.30 pitch inspection before setting off.

As we got into Lincolnshire, the fog was very bad and in some areas snow lay on the fields and in a lot of areas you could see the ground was rock hard.

When fans and teams have to travel long distances like this, can't the home club get the ref to inspect the pitch the night before to prevent expense to the away club and traveling fans?

I think Boston must be made responsible for all the expenses incurred. The least they could do would be to make the rearranged game cheap - say £5 for adults and £1 for kids, or even free entry for those who traveled plus quite a few who traveled in their cars.

It's not a cheap day when we go away; I and many others have to count the pennies very carefully to make the journeys. So please give more consideration and thought to the fans when postponing matches. Come on, referees, get your act together; it didn't take a genius to know that the first Boston game was never going to be played.

 In the light of the Boston match-cancelled fiasco, we quote the words of the Football League's Referees Officer to all refs and assistant refs (9 November 2000):

"In view of the recent climatic problems I thought I should remind you of the procedure to be followed regarding early inspection of pitches. Where there is any doubt, you are asked to carry out the following procedure:
  1. Contact the Referees' Department here with an "early warning" and seek advice.
  2. Contact the visiting club to ascertain the travelling arrangements of their team and supporters because it is essential for everyone to have these arrangements in mind.
  3. Contact the match referee, telling him of the situation with a request that he inspects the ground before the club and supporters commence their journey.
  4. If the match referee is unable to attend as requested, or if a very early inspection is considered necessary (eg on Friday morning for a Saturday afternoon match) contact The League Office. This is also true when a morning inspection is required for an evening match. In such cases, The League might well arrange for a local referee to make an inspection.
  5. If anyone other than the match referee is authorised by The League to inspect the ground, he will report to The League Office and a decision will be taken in the Office, based on that report.
  6. Whilst responsibility for the initial action rests with the home club, it is not permissible for a club to make a decision to postpone a match. Neither is it allowed for a club to invite anyone other than the match referee to make an inspection. It also needs to be stressed that the match referee's decision to play or postpone is final.
  7. At all times, news of pitch inspections and postponements should be made known to BBC Radio Five Live. Regular bulletins will be broadcast with news of matches affected by the weather so that supporters are kept informed. Regardless of weather conditions prevailing at the time, it is recommended that, during the months of December, January and February the home club makes contact with the match referee at least twenty four hours prior to the time of kick-off so as to be aware of his plans and travelling arrangements."

Yours sincerely
Referees Officer