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General Category => Altrincham FC First Team => Topic started by: Brian Flynn on January 30, 2016, 09:39:04 AM
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Today's match between Altrincham and Dover Athletic has been postponed. The pitch was inspected this morning by Premier League referee Anthony Taylor, who lives locally. Although the surface appears fine from the Main Stand side there are other areas of the pitch where the ball does not bounce.
Altrincham's next scheduled game is On Wednesday evening, away to Crewe Alexandra in the Cheshire Senior Cup (7.45pm).
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Today's match between Altrincham and Dover Athletic has been postponed. The pitch was inspected this morning by Premier League referee Anthony Taylor, who lives locally. Although the surface appears fine from the Main Stand side there are other areas of the pitch where the ball does not bounce.
Altrincham's next scheduled game is On Wednesday evening, away to Crewe Alexandra in the Cheshire Senior Cup (7.45pm).
flabbergasted
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Going to cost the club money every home game on a Tuesday night it's a problem they will have to sort in the summer
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Agreed Jimmy and it won't help playing catch up either in a relegation battle. It's also one less game the loan players can play in.
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Really need to consider having a proper conversation about a 3G pitch, I've never know a season like it. More annoyed that we're missing games where we have these loan players at our disposal.
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The club need to stop calling Anthony Taylor to look at the pitch, clearly he is to fussy. This isn't the Premier league.
Call in a ref who understands this level of football, and we might get some games to watch
Not impressed, the ball doesnt bounce in some areas of the pitch? This is the f**king Conference in January, what do you expect? Prick
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Anthony Taylor is NOT too fussy. The pitch is just inadequate.
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Do we still have a groundsman?
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Anthony Taylor is NOT too fussy. The pitch is just inadequate.
bit of both
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Serious question - what's happened to the pitch between Tuesday and today? I don't live in Altrincham, but there's certainly been no significant rain in Stockport since Tuesday.
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Serious question - what's happened to the pitch between Tuesday and today? I don't live in Altrincham, but there's certainly been no significant rain in Stockport since Tuesday.
there hasn't been here in Altrincham either, its beyond me
Maybe Anthony Taylor didn't look at the pitch on Tuesday?
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Baffling.
Another serious question. Does the club have an obligation to get a ref to inspect the pitch on the morning of every game? If so, do they get to pick who inspects? And the areas of the pitch where the ball "does not bounce" - what does that mean? Is it underwater?
Another Tuesday night sub-800 crowd, another game where we'll end up having to play Lawrie, O'Keefe and Bowerman, momentum lost after Tuesday. It's very disheartening.
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I sometimes wonder if this club deliberately shoots itself in the foot. Am I annoyed? Yes. There's nothing that detrimental that has happened since Tuesday. Was it necessary to have Taylor inspect the pitch? If not, I hazard a guess the game would've gone ahead.
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I sometimes wonder if this club deliberately shoots itself in the foot. Am I annoyed? Yes. There's nothing that detrimental that has happened since Tuesday. Was it necessary to have Taylor inspect the pitch? If not, I hazard a guess the game would've gone ahead.
I too can't understand why there even been a pitch inspection today
However we must remember that we have a manager who travels in all the way from Hull
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I sometimes wonder if this club deliberately shoots itself in the foot. Am I annoyed? Yes. There's nothing that detrimental that has happened since Tuesday. Was it necessary to have Taylor inspect the pitch? If not, I hazard a guess the game would've gone ahead.
I too can't understand why there even been a pitch inspection today
However we must remember that we have a manager who travels in all the way from Hull
Conspirist theories aside, this inspection sounds odder and odder the more I think about it.
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I am frankly amazed at this. The pitch was sanded in a number of areas on Tuesday but didn't seem to play too badly. Being 15 miles away from Alty I'm not aware of exactly how much rain has fallen in the immediate area in the last three or four days but it does seem to me that if we can't get the pitch playable today we are going to be in serious difficulty over the next couple of months as the weather is almost bound to create further problems. The run of four successive home games from 9-20 Feb just won't come to pass at this rate & although we do have some free midweeks thru March & April at this stage many of them could soon be filled. Cash flow is another consequent difficulty, but I think the club needs to find the money to get someone in to look at & advise on the pitch asap.
On another matter - does today's postponement mean that it would be advisable to pick a slightly stronger XI for the Senior Cup? I'm thinking of people who haven't had much game time of late - principally our subs, even including Reeves & O'Keefe, for whom a game against any kind of opposition must be better than training.
On that basis, Williams in goal, Heathcote in defence, O'Keefe in midfield & Reeves up front to go along with our youthful 'squad numbers' Swift, Cain, Davis & Stouppis, with three defenders from youth/reserves, plus a bench from the same sources?
I shall now go and look for alternative entertainment this afternoon ... ???
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I sometimes wonder if this club deliberately shoots itself in the foot. Am I annoyed? Yes. There's nothing that detrimental that has happened since Tuesday. Was it necessary to have Taylor inspect the pitch? If not, I hazard a guess the game would've gone ahead.
I too can't understand why there even been a pitch inspection today
However we must remember that we have a manager who travels in all the way from Hull
Conspirist theories aside, this inspection sounds odder and odder the more I think about it.
It does sound odd. It would probably help if someone in the know could enlighten us on the pitch inspection rules.
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Baffling.
Another serious question. Does the club have an obligation to get a ref to inspect the pitch on the morning of every game? If so, do they get to pick who inspects? And the areas of the pitch where the ball "does not bounce" - what does that mean? Is it underwater?
Another Tuesday night sub-800 crowd, another game where we'll end up having to play Lawrie, O'Keefe and Bowerman, momentum lost after Tuesday. It's very disheartening.
lets hope we can get the loaness for three months if possible ?
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I think we need to know why an early inspection was required today? And was an early inspection done on Tuesday?
I also think we need to know why were calling in a Premier league referee with his Premier league standards instead of a referee who knows non-league pitches in January
The current situation is totally unacceptable
We should consider staging games elsewhere if the pitch is unplayable today, as we won't get much better playing conditons until the back end of March than today
Farce
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I think after the Leamington farce. The club have had to have an early inspection due to the overnight rain. I presume the home club would have to pay the away teams travelling expenses if todays game had been called off at 2pm?
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Thanks for your input Anthony, now how about you go back to the premiership pitches and let us roll up our sleeves and have a game of football. I'm losing the plot with this nonsense about a bit of a boggy pitch and then the calls for some bloody awful astro turf replacement.
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I see there have been further details on the reasons for the postponement on the facebook page (I saw it via the club twitter feed) - thank you for clearing that up.
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I think after the Leamington farce. The club have had to have an early inspection due to the overnight rain. I presume the home club would have to pay the away teams travelling expenses if todays game had been called off at 2pm?
going cost a lot more in the long run not playing home Saturday matches
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Stunned
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The game has gone. I wouldn't mind if we were playing Barcelona style football that required a carpet like pitch but come on this is the conference. 90% of what is served up in this league is tripe (from both teams) so the fact that the ball doesn't bounce in some areas is just a farce. Is the pitch safe? I would bet that it would be, so just get the bloody thing on.. Same conditions for both teams. Give me the days of Dave Pace churning up the butchers arms any day.
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Shocked and a little bit annoyed. Already traveled up form Shropshire.
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I think after the Leamington farce. The club have had to have an early inspection due to the overnight rain. I presume the home club would have to pay the away teams travelling expenses if todays game had been called off at 2pm?
going cost a lot more in the long run not playing home Saturday matches
True. I remember having a similar problem with the pitch in the 2004/5 season, when Man Utd res played their reserve games elsewhere costing the club a vital source of income.
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Shocked is an understatement...I hadn't even considered a postponement. There doesn't seem to have been any significant rain since Tuesday night when the pitch was fine. Ok, not perfect...but good enough for a decent match. They are talking about an overnight downpour, well that's news to me but I guess it's possible that it lagged it down whilst we were all asleep.
As a victim of a wasted trip and the expense to Leamington, I understand the value of an early call off but this does seem like an overreaction. As others have said, purely for selfish reasons we need to get as much from the loanees as we can and there has been a definite feeling of optimism this week.
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When I left for work this morning it was clear there had been heavy overnight rain but everything was drying out very quickly. In previous years there's been calls for volunteers to come and help clear water off the pitch. The club has two rollers for soaking up the water. I know that the club would have to pay Dover's travelling expenses, and
I also know that the ground is on moss land (hence the name of the road) and that it is a natural sponge for surrounding water, but it would be nice to know if every effort was made to get the game on rather than just call it off at the earliest opportunity.
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I am amazed by this, I've have just hammered it back from Bala hungover. Gobsmacked. Does no one get a bloody fork out nowadays?????
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No way I wonderd why the pub was empty
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The wind would have dryed out the pitch anyway
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I'm going the game any way sod it ile let you no the result
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I'm going the game any way sod it ile let you no the result
Referees 1 Supporters 0
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It seems no matter what the club do, they get slaughtered by some people on this forum.
We have also lost 2 games this season on unplayable pitches - Bognor and FGR.
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I wasn't there I'd guess Bognor played more for our benefit
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Looking at the hail and sleet coming in sideways...maybe it wasn't so bad a decision after all ;)
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I've read everyone's moans about the postponement, and I to was disappointed , but it think the club were being very responsible , everyone complained about the way we we're treated by Leomington , what if we let Dover travel today then call it off , I know we all want our club to be respected , we as fans cannot make these decisions ourselves and have to trust in the officials , we have to make sure players are safe from injuries .
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I was looking forward to this after Tuesday night, so am annoyed that it was called off. I, like others on here, think that the standard of pitch required for football at his level should not be measured alongside that expected of the Prem. (I sometimes leave thinking that goalposts flatter the standard!). The pitch seemed to play well enough on Tuesday and there hasn't been much rain to speak of since then. I took the opportunity to visit Wales this afternoon so missed the rain later on, however, I don't think that the forecast is what called it today.
Another point, the constant rearrangement of fixtures is surely going to mean that some with season tickets will find that they are unable to go to matches that have been switched. First world problem maybe, but there comes a point when the commitment stops making financial sense, regardless of loyalty etc. Given the change in fortunes earlier this week and the opportunity to build momentum, this will be seen by many as poor judgement.
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This may have been posted elsewhere and if it has then I'm sorry.
The Match Referee was coming from Bristol and asked the Club to arrange an inspection this morning which it did.
I, as you will be aware, am not a Premier League Official, used to bowling greens etc. as you accuse Anthony of being.
Not long after he left, incidentally NOT having claimed the fee to which he is entitled, I went out and the pitch was not fit, in a particular area for football at any level. Put simply it was dangerous and a player would could quite easily have sustained a serious injury.
This, I am afraid is down to the weather, not to the inadequacies of the Football Club, the Groundsman (who incidentally has spent hours on the pitch this week) or anyone else the conspiracy theorists would like to blame.
The Match Referee therefore did not travel from Bristol and we didn't have to pay him. I would be very surprised if any less Dover fans attended a midweek game than would have today and would be even more astounded if we got a Referee from that far away again
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Well said ATS, I'm astounded by the stupidity of some of the posters on here these days, partly why I post so rarely now. I imagine some still get dressed by their mummys
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Well said ATS, I'm astounded by the stupidity of some of the posters on here these days, partly why I post so rarely now. I imagine some still get dressed by their mummys
Given that the match seemed to be played without too great a problem on Tuesday, nor was there a great deal of rain between then and when the pitch was inspected this morning, I think calling people stupid is a it rich, frankly.
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The criticism of Anthony Taylor is a bit odd given that he refereed at non-league level for a good few years on his way through the ranks.
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I think a chill pill or two wouldn't go amiss.
Everyone is frustrated and disappointed and vent their feelings on here. I turned up at three o'clock not knowing the game had been cancelled. The club and ATS have provided adequate explanation. C'est la vie.
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The criticism of Anthony Taylor is a bit odd given that he refereed at non-league level for a good few years on his way through the ranks.
that he is a supporter and good friend of Alty.
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Went for a ride out to Tatton and Knutsford today. Wall to wall rice fields. It might be some time before things dry out.
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My 13yr old lad played this morning for Urmston,pitch was slightly muddy but playable. Good job Anthony Taylor didn't inspect the pitch prior to kick off!
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Those fields been like that a least a month now.
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I assume we didn't want to risk the match referee calling the game off as we'd have to cover Dover's travel costs. I believe they fly up for the Northern games so guess these travel costs are quite considerable! Are Dover another of our bank-rolled clubs?
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I assume we didn't want to risk the match referee calling the game off as we'd have to cover Dover's travel costs. I believe they fly up for the Northern games so guess these travel costs are quite considerable! Are Dover another of our bank-rolled clubs?
I doubt we have to cover air fares or hotel bills for league games. - more like X pence per mile for a return coach trip
We cannot be expected to pay for such luxury just because they can afford it
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I assume we didn't want to risk the match referee calling the game off as we'd have to cover Dover's travel costs. I believe they fly up for the Northern games so guess these travel costs are quite considerable! Are Dover another of our bank-rolled clubs?
I'm not sure what the league rules are in relation to home clubs covering travel costs when a game is postponed. Dover do fly to some games, but were planning to travel by train yesterday.
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I guess they dont fly to many games these days with the airport near Dover now being closed
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They've flown to games this season but used biggin hill with manston being closed
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http://www.manutd.com/en/Players-And-Staff/Reserves/Reserves-News/2016/Feb/u21s-match-preview-everton-v-manchester-united.aspx?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=ManUtd (http://www.manutd.com/en/Players-And-Staff/Reserves/Reserves-News/2016/Feb/u21s-match-preview-everton-v-manchester-united.aspx?utm_source=facebook&utm_medium=post&utm_campaign=ManUtd)
Looks as though Southport are also suffering more than just the postponement of their own league games.
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A genuine question here.
If I've read the explanation correctly, the main problem appears to be the golf rd end corner not draining due to the water table of the brook whereas a few areas on the other side of the pitch are better because they drain off elsewhere.
It'd be nice to know how we've tried to solve it. Whether we've watched a ball not bounce and said it's goosed, or put a fork in it and watched the water come straight back up. Have we tried to brush the water across the pitch and found it ruining other parts of the pitch and being akin to shuffling deck hairs anyway? Is it a grass problem, the 6 yard box at the golf rd which has had extra turf on it seems ok?
Anyway, in light of all that, my question is, has anyone at the club considered contacting Lancs CCC and asking them to, as Matt Taylor would say, "get the f**king Super Sopper out"?
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Ballers
I can assure you that the particular area we are referring to has seen more forks than a state banquest in an attempt to deal with the issue. There is however an additional issue with excessive forking in that it breaks up the soils structure and makes the whole area slushy for want of a better word.
Brushing water across a pitch will do far more harm than good.
Super sopper - fine idea in principle. However you can damage the area which you are sopping if it is so wet as to require one. Also, you have to dump the water somewher - where could you pump the water out of the sopper where you could guarantee that it either wouldn't come straight back or just move the problem a short distance.
Honestly not being awkward here but do you not think that perhaps Neil (who frequently consults ground staff from other places and sports pitch specialists) hasn't tried all these things?
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I think the the is Phil the club should probably make a bit of a proper statement which to be fair you have to a level,then people maybe less frustrated
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Ballers
I can assure you that the particular area we are referring to has seen more forks than a state banquest in an attempt to deal with the issue. There is however an additional issue with excessive forking in that it breaks up the soils structure and makes the whole area slushy for want of a better word.
Brushing water across a pitch will do far more harm than good.
Super sopper - fine idea in principle. However you can damage the area which you are sopping if it is so wet as to require one. Also, you have to dump the water somewher - where could you pump the water out of the sopper where you could guarantee that it either wouldn't come straight back or just move the problem a short distance.
Honestly not being awkward here but do you not think that perhaps Neil (who frequently consults ground staff from other places and sports pitch specialists) hasn't tried all these things?
1. Good
2. I alluded to that
3. Yes, I know what a Super Sopper does. Dismayed to hear it's not to be used in wet conditions though! I did phrase the question in the context of different parts of the ground to different areas didn't I?
4. Well, it was a question. To be answered. Rather raise that than just criticise. No idea what Neil does, only thing I've got to go from the outside is 4/5 postponed games whenever there's any rain..
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I've never had a problem with excessive forking......
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A genuine question here.
If I've read the explanation correctly, the main problem appears to be the golf rd end corner not draining due to the water table of the brook whereas a few areas on the other side of the pitch are better because they drain off elsewhere.
It'd be nice to know how we've tried to solve it. Whether we've watched a ball not bounce and said it's goosed, or put a fork in it and watched the water come straight back up. Have we tried to brush the water across the pitch and found it ruining other parts of the pitch and being akin to shuffling deck hairs anyway? Is it a grass problem, the 6 yard box at the golf rd which has had extra turf on it seems ok?
Anyway, in light of all that, my question is, has anyone at the club considered contacting Lancs CCC and asking them to, as Matt Taylor would say, "get the f**king Super Sopper out"?
Ballers good call about contacting Lancs CCC, looks like people do listen to common sense suggestions after all. Regardless of what ATS says about it