Pitches

[VPCTFC]

I know it's not pleasant to watch or play in but how come some refs call games off for a little bit of frost or rain whereas others are made of sterner stuff?

 

Woking v Bath in 2009 -

 

Pictures from SV Pfiffelbach v SV 1951 Gaberndorf in Germany (the same level as the CCL Premier):

 

A right pig's ear of a pitch in the Ukraine:

 

Decent players don't mind poor pitches:

 

A little bit of rain never hurt anybody:

 

Probably not wise to play in a thunderstorm:

 

I don't know if this match was abandoned or not:

[Smudge]

The problem with some people is they don't like change.

[Teflon]

Pictures from SV Pfiffelbach v SV 1951 Gaberndorf in Germany (the same level as the CCL Premier):

Have played on similar many years ago all be it Sunday football, but it was great fun

[Park Life]

Brilliant post VPCTFC!

[Weeble]

Its all about the culture these days .... too many people sue for injury claims but having said that I used to hate playing on frozen pitches and it is no good to watch either.....

[The Fan]

Its all about the culture these days .... too many people sue for injury claims but having said that I used to hate playing on frozen pitches and it is no good to watch either.....

re frozen pitches i remember when there was a big thing about W B A under big ron playing with revolutionary, footwear

with rubber pimples on the bottom. as worn by 2 of his 3 degrees.

[Krooner]

The problem with some people is they don't like change.

 

Get your own sayings Smudge.

[Weeble]

Its all about the culture these days .... too many people sue for injury claims but having said that I used to hate playing on frozen pitches and it is no good to watch either.....

re frozen pitches i remember when there was a big thing about W B A under big ron playing with revolutionary, footwear

with rubber pimples on the bottom. as worn by 2 of his 3 degrees.

I used to screw in rubber studs with pimples.... useless as they did not stop my mate breaking his arm on a frozen pitch...........

[Big J R]

Its all about the culture these days .... too many people sue for injury claims but having said that I used to hate playing on frozen pitches and it is no good to watch either.....

re frozen pitches i remember when there was a big thing about W B A under big ron playing with revolutionary, footwear

with rubber pimples on the bottom. as worn by 2 of his 3 degrees.

I used to screw in rubber studs with pimples .... useless as they did not stop my mate breaking his arm on a frozen pitch...........

 

FAR FAR too much information, Weebs !!!!

 

[Weeble]

Never failed at Queens m8.........

[Smudge]

Always been a bit Kinky our Weeble,lets hope he screws East Thurrock tonight in the F.A Trophy Replay at the Beveree.

[MiddleMan]

Please remember that referees are just as keen as players to get a game on. I'm like a bear with a sore head if my game gets called. But player safety is the paramount concern. And agreeing to play on an unsafe pitch, is all very well until something goes wrong - and then the finger is pointed straight at the referee. But I do agree that some match officials could use a bit more gumption. Not CCFL, but for local morning games a simple 30 min delay in KO time will often do the trick. The last two Sundays are perfect examples with the sun just doing enough to soften up the playing surface.

 

All that said, you should never criticise a referee for erring on the side of caution. Frozen pitches are potentially very dangerous.

[HKP]

But they could take the decision after consulting both Coaches? Yes he makes the final decision but a bit of common sense would not go amiss.

[E&E Rich]

The only issue I have is when a game is called off early in the morning, despite the forecast being for a decent day.

 

Of course it will be frozen at 9.30, the sun's only just come up!

 

I'm sure some people have a few inspections to do, but if a frozen pitch is the only issue, then why can't it be left for the match ref to decide? What are the regulations on this?

[Krooner]

HKP it matters not who you consult it is solely the referee's decision.

 

Ed I agree but then clubs moan when they have to pay the referee for turning up and away clubs moan as to why an earlier inspection wasnt done.

 

Also the Match Official has to call it off so has the right to insist on coming down. I once did a match inspection when Krooner Park was under about 4 inches of snow. The Match Referee still wanted to come down and inspect when he was de there at 1.30 anyway and it took a lot of persuading from both me and the Sec to stop him I think the snow melted about 3 weeks later !!!

[Weeble]

Always been a bit Kinky our Weeble,lets hope he screws East Thurrock tonight in the F.A Trophy Replay at the Beveree.

Inspection at 2.30pm not too hopefull may be postponed till wed ...........

[VPCTFC]

Please remember that referees are just as keen as players to get a game on. I'm like a bear with a sore head if my game gets called. But player safety is the paramount concern. And agreeing to play on an unsafe pitch, is all very well until something goes wrong - and then the finger is pointed straight at the referee. But I do agree that some match officials could use a bit more gumption. Not CCFL, but for local morning games a simple 30 min delay in KO time will often do the trick. The last two Sundays are perfect examples with the sun just doing enough to soften up the playing surface.

 

All that said, you should never criticise a referee for erring on the side of caution. Frozen pitches are potentially very dangerous.

 

Player safety? Unsafe pitches? It's just a bit cold that's all. There's potential danger every time there's a game. If you're going to use that as an excuse no game would ever be played. I can't remember there being a load of refs facing compensation claims when players have got injured just because the pitch.

Tonight shows the farce that some of the softer officials are creating - Staines off (against the wishes of both clubs) but Ashford on. Can there really be that much difference between the two pitches? The Met. Office say the temperature at Heathrow at 7pm was 5.1 degrees (and rising). Staines' pitch passed a 4pm inspection when the temperature was almost exactly the same. How does that work?

How come games out here in the sticks where it's colder are on? Old Farnboronians, Sandhurst etc.

The FA need to bring in a similar system to horse racing where they can measure the 'going'. A walking stick is a bit out-dated now but you can get things that measure the hardness of the ground. Get each club issued with one and get FIFA or the FA to set a level and Bob's your aunties live-in lover.

[Don't Blame Me]

Strange that a frozen ground in winter is more dangerous than a rock hard one on August.

[VPCTFC]

Just seen that Farnborough v Eversley in the Aldershot Cup was postponed tonight due to a frozen pitch. It's been re-arranged for tomorrow.

The game at Cove half a mile away is still on (currently 2-1 to Chertsey) and the temperature's still rising.

Maybe there's something about Conference South pitches that make them more dangerous than others when it's cold?

[Mewcenary]

Strange that a frozen ground in winter is more dangerous than a rock hard one on August.

 

There is a difference between the two. If the ground is frozen solid, there is no 'give' whatsoever. A very hard and dry pitch may still have some give to it, even if it is not very pleasant to play on.