game off

[johnnojudo]

Absolutely p1ssed off!

 

Epsom and Ewell (merstham) v Cove is OFF

 

Go to the ground and the game has been called off. Nothing wrong with the pitch. It actually looked really flat and really good. Goal mouths were a bit messy but at least flat, no water and def playable! You should see our goal mouths at Cove but i bet the ressie game goes ahead!

 

Sounds and looks like to me that it was Merstham calling the shots and convinced the ref the game should not go ahead! Merstham have a home match on Tuesday and obv didnt want the pitch to cut up! Well thats unfortunately what happens when you groundshare! Absolute disgrace!! No one that i spoke to at the ground felt it was unplayable, nor did any of the epsom officials or players!

 

Mersthams pitch was always one of the best in the ccl and still looks great now even with the poor recent weather! I bet not one other ccl pitch is called off today!

 

Disgrace!!

 

A 1hr 40 min round trip has now got to be done again but this time on a tuesday night, costing the Cove players, management and supporters even more money!

 

Ref has let himself down and i look forward to him taking charge of the match whenever it gets rescheduled for! I will give him some sh1T.

Merstham - BOO!!

[TRS]

Chessington & Hook v Mole Valley SCR was called off earlier, although that's probably not a surprise!

Edited November 20, 2010 by TRS

[spy]

Absolutely p1ssed off!

 

Epsom and Ewell (merstham) v Cove is OFF

 

Go to the ground and the game has been called off. Nothing wrong with the pitch. It actually looked really flat and really good. Goal mouths were a bit messy but at least flat, no water and def playable! You should see our goal mouths at Cove but i bet the ressie game goes ahead!

 

Sounds and looks like to me that it was Merstham calling the shots and convinced the ref the game should not go ahead! Merstham have a home match on Tuesday and obv didnt want the pitch to cut up! Well thats unfortunately what happens when you groundshare! Absolute disgrace!! No one that i spoke to at the ground felt it was unplayable, nor did any of the epsom officials or players!

 

Mersthams pitch was always one of the best in the ccl and still looks great now even with the poor recent weather! I bet not one other ccl pitch is called off today!

 

Disgrace!!

 

A 1hr 40 min round trip has now got to be done again but this time on a tuesday night, costing the Cove players, management and supporters even more money!

 

Ref has let himself down and i look forward to him taking charge of the match whenever it gets rescheduled for! I will give him some sh1T.

Merstham - BOO!!

 

As you say johnno, the vagouries of groundshare !! Merstham have the youth at home monday, 1's tuesday and ressies wednesday. I can understand why they would want it pulled, but WHY OH WHY didnt someone at Epsom or Merstham sort an inspection this morning to save you guys travelling !!!!

[johnnojudo]

INSPECTION???

 

What for??

 

There was nothing wrong with the pitch!!

[eefc supporter]

Can only apologise chaps .Sorry you had a wasted trip but glad you saw just how playable that pitch was. To be fair to Merstham they had the pitch looked at early morning and that ref deemed it playable which it was by a country mile. I ended up at Cointhian Casuals v Merstham and spoke to some of their people and they were shocked it was called off.

 

The decision by the match referee was an absolute disgrace and I'm afraid I did not pick up a programme to name and shame him. You start with a playable pitch with a dry weather forecast for the day .Unbelievable .

 

Thats the worst refereing decision I've seen all season and it wasn't in a game.

[E&E Rich]

I can name and shame on here. Mr Hilary Achegenui from Streatham was the referee and there are times when I think these officials believe they are above the rest of us little people, many of whom, players and supporters have incurred costs in getting to the game. One of our playing staff heard the Linesman say to him that he had made a mistake as they walked off. Our Coach walked across the pitch and didn't even have mud on his shoes by the time he got over to the other side.

 

In thirty years watching Epsom, I have never seen a game called off where the pitch was so playable. I have asked our people to complain about the decision to the League. It may not achieve anything, but it might make this particular official think twice before making a similar decision. I certainly think that the League should look into any postponement when no other games are off (Chessignton doesn't count).

 

As for whether or not Merstham "called this off" all I will say is that I am certain they were happy with the outcome. However, I recall many years ago when at Egham, they wanted the game off, but the referee said that it would go ahead, so it did, and they weren't able to change his mind, so any alleged outside interference should have had no effect. A referee is responsible, or at least should be able to justify his decision, so whether or not he had someone in his ear saying it was dodgy shouldn't change his decision. Then again we had the Easter Monday game with Banstead called off, which the ref did and then promptly disappeared within five minutes to avoid the flak he would have got from all the angry people.

 

Krooner, as a qualified ref, or any others here, what is the routine these days, just so that us mere mortals who've wasted their time and money are at least a bit more knowledgeable next time. Isn't it supposed to be dangerous or totally unplayable?

 

Nice to see that johnno also saw the state of the pitch so it's not Epsom who will get the blame for this. It is all down to Hilary.

Edited November 20, 2010 by E&E Ed

[Krooner]

If the referee deems the pitch dangerous to the players safety he should call it off. It need only be a very small area while the rest is perfect playable.

[johnnojudo]

pitch was in great condition, simple as that. I wish Cove's pitch was as flat and playable as that in August!

[Krooner]

Not suggesting it wasnt JJ. I was asked a question and I answered that. There is a popular misconception amongst some players and club officials that if 1 yard of the pitch is dangeorus the game is ok to go ahead. I am not saying that this has any bearing on today where clearly something has gone badly wrong.

[VPCTFC]

I've driven to Merstham before only to find out the match was called off. We didn't bother checking with anyone as it was such a lovely day - the sun was shining, it was dry etc. etc. The pitch looked lovely that day as well.

 

Anyway Johnno / E&E - did the ref get his balls out? If not, then he hasn't inspected the pitch properly according to FA guidelines published on their website.

 

Inspect thoroughly! A professional approach must be adopted when carrying out an inspection. It is not acceptable just to take a cursory look at the field of play in normal dress (i.e. Suit / Blazer etc.). Sports kit should be worn, along with appropriate footwear (i.e. football boots). All areas of the pitch should be inspected. A ball should be used to determine whether the surface is playable (for movement and bounce), if appropriate, playing staff may be able to assist you in this practical session.

Edited November 20, 2010 by VPCTFC

[eefc supporter]

If there is one little area making a pitch unpayable (which today there wasn't) then surely the ref should mention this to the club officials to explain a decision that everyone else there found inexplicable. That he didn't means that he couldn't making that decision worse. If he is capable of deeming that pitch unplayable he shoudn't be inspecting pitches.

[Krooner]

I would of thought so.

 

Also I am under the impression the match referee has to sign a form to say why he called it off.

[TRS]

Looks like the pitch will have another day off on Tuesday, as I note that Bognor (Merstham's visitors for Tuesday) drew their trophy game with Hampton so will have a replay.

 

Perhaps E's v Cove can be hastily pencilled in....

[johnnojudo]

Dont get me started TRS!

 

If i'm lucky enough to score in this fixture, i'm going to do the longest slide on my tummy (Jurgen Klinsmann style) just to f8ck that part of the pitch up!!

[NICE GUY]

Dont get me started TRS!

 

If i'm lucky enough to score in this fixture, i'm going to do the longest slide on my tummy (Jurgen Klinsmann style) just to f8ck that part of the pitch up!!

 

GOOD IDEA JJ, THAT WILL FLATTEN THE PITCH EVEN MORE......LOL !

[Molly11]

Find this a little ironic, after the fuss made about calling games off early and me posting surely its better than turning up at the ground and it being called off!! Hope Duncs took it well

 

 

[johnnojudo]

dont agree Molly11. Yes call it off early if the pitch is in a right state but not if it was looking as good as it was yesterday!

[Molly11]

dont agree Molly11. Yes call it off early if the pitch is in a right state but not if it was looking as good as it was yesterday!

 

 

my point is not about Merstham's pitch

[Footy Mad]

The whole point is that if the pitch is not playable and has no chance of being playable then the earlier in the day it is called off the better.

 

If the pitch (or part of it!) is not great but has half a chance with a bit of TLC then give it every chance and leave it as late as possible.

[Medic]

I've driven to Merstham before only to find out the match was called off. We didn't bother checking with anyone as it was such a lovely day - the sun was shining, it was dry etc. etc. The pitch looked lovely that day as well.

 

Anyway Johnno / E&E - did the ref get his balls out? If not, then he hasn't inspected the pitch properly according to FA guidelines published on their website.

 

Inspect thoroughly! A professional approach must be adopted when carrying out an inspection. It is not acceptable just to take a cursory look at the field of play in normal dress (i.e. Suit / Blazer etc.). Sports kit should be worn, along with appropriate footwear (i.e. football boots). All areas of the pitch should be inspected. A ball should be used to determine whether the surface is playable (for movement and bounce), if appropriate, playing staff may be able to assist you in this practical session.

 

Well I was there when the ref arrived to do the inspection; and can confirm:

 

 

The Ref was still dressed in his Blazer/Suit, still wearing he's shoes, and at no time was a ball used to test the playing surface!!!!