Weather-proof: the Ford Hub
It’s raining (again). Four of the five Ebac Northern League matches scheduled for this evening are postponed, the only game playable – Boldon CA v Newcastle University – on the 3G at the Ford Hub in South Hylton, Sunderland.
Talk about Ford popular. Even Bedlington Terriers, marooned in mid-Northumberland, had to play a home game there on Monday evening, and it won’t come cheap.
Tonight’s attendance of 58, which includes all pass holders and what folk round here call hangers-on, probably won’t start to cover costs – and if proof were needed that it never rains but it pours, Boldon lose 4-0.
These are desperate, deluged days and if clubs, volunteers and players are to keep heads above water then big, big lessons must be learned.
*Before tonight, the FA – wholly out of its depth, drowning not waving – had obdurately insisted that all matches at steps 5 and 6 must be completed by April 27 with the play-off semi-finals and finals out of the way by May 6.
In the ENL first division, seven clubs still had six games to squeeze in – squeeze out? – while Crook Town had eight.
In the second division, Blyth Town and Jarrow still have seven of their 42 games outstanding, another eight clubs have six and poor old Boldon still have eight, scheduled for April 11, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25 and 27.
It’s akin to modern slavery, for both players and unpaid officials, but still the blinkered, blindworm blazers insist upon ticking their little boxes and no matter (as Pete Seeger so plaintively sang) that the little boxes are all made out of ticky-tacky and they all look just the same.
If time and money afforded, a good lawyer might win a legal action on the grounds that what’s demanded is simply inhuman. You wouldn’t treat a dog – and certainly not a horse – like this.
*Then there’s news. The FA, in its great wisdom and sensitivity, has this evening announced a five-day extension because of “exceptional circumstances”. Matches, including play-off semi-finals and finals, can now take place until May 11.
Clubs whose grounds remain unplayable will be allowed to play their “home” game on the opponent’s pitch – specifically against the rules but as the late Gordon Nicholson oft observed, the rule book to the FA was simply a basis for negotiation.
ENL chairman Glenn Youngman tells the blog that the play-off dates already announced “could well” be changed – as might other fixtures already jammed into an absurdly overcrowded timetable.
Spare a thought, too, for league secretary Kevin Hewitt who probably deserves a medal (or, at the very least, an outsize bottle of Phensic).
The weather forecast remains grim, both short-term and for the meteorological future. The FA pushes on with its plan yet further to bulk up club numbers at steps 3 and 4, yet further to increase pressure and problems.
The phrase about water on the brain comes to mind, but may not wholly be appropriate.
*We are not alone. Colne FC of the North West Counties League, up to the oxters at their Holt House ground, have released what’s left of their April fixture list – nine more games including a match against the Isle of Man, due to be played on the all-weather at Ilkley.
As things stand, and with a possible final to fit in, they have games on April 10, 12, 13, 16, 18, 20, 23, 25 and 27.
“We are hopeful that at some point the rain does stop” says a club statement – but right now you really wouldn’t bet on it.
*Blog reader Steve Jones planned to watch Colne v Skelmersdale last Saturday, was informed at 10 3oam that the game would go ahead and when he arrived was told that the match referee thought differently. Skelmersdale had travelled, too.
Steve also forwards a piece by Colne board member Ben Metcalfe, talking of 23 weather-related postponements – and one abandonment – so far this season. “It’s not just been a financial challenge for clubs but a mental one too” says Ben.
“Many days and evenings have been cancelled at the last minute, causing stress and adding a further date to the diary and volunteers having to spend more time away from their families.
“To add insult to injury, we have been told that failure to fulfil our fixtures, dictated by the FA deadline, could result in relegation. Those at the FA are so out of touch with this level of football, it’s laughable.
“If Coventry City reach the FA Cup final and the Championship play-off final (May 25 and 26) what will happen? Will the FA stick to the same schedule? Will Coventry be faced with the prospect of forfeting the Cup?”
So now grass roots football has five days of grace, and the FA will tell us we should be thankful. What it realy needs, and sadly lacks, is reality.
Grass Routes 