Pitches

[NICE GUY]

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.

 

I go back to my previous comment, perhaps the games were ''conveniently'' called off, but of course I could be wrong.........lol !

[NICE GUY]

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.

 

I go back to my previous comment, perhaps the games were ''conveniently'' called off, but of course I could be wrong.........lol !

 

Yet another subject where club forumites choose not to discuss, strange I wonder why, perhaps 'cos I'm right maybe ?.......Interesting !

[Big J R]

As Kroons stated earlier, the MATCH referee has the right to do the inspection himself.

 

This can be problematic when you find out that the referee is travelling by public transport and will only arrive at the ground about half an hour earlier than if he hadn't been called in early.

 

By this time, the 'away' team are already in the starting blocks or have already commenced their journey !!

[Bob Hoskins]

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

 

 

To be fair a rock hard pitch in August will not be rutted and you will be able to turn safely. If a pitch is rutted or you are slipping when you try and turn then the match should not be played.

 

 

As stated before player safety is of paramount importance. Most referee's once their will want the game to go ahead as much as the players I am sure. However I would rather call a game off than play it and a player ends up with a broken ankle or arm etc because of the pitch.

 

As for the video's come on let's be fair....apart from the lightning one which was a freak accident the only games that should have been played was the Woking game and in that one the lines should have been cleared and an orange ball should have been used and the Man Utd match as for the rest....well i just PMSL!

[HKP]

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

Err, thats what I said.

[Weeble]

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.

Have to disagree on this one.... Our pitch was rock hard last night at 7.30 at the end where the stand is as no sun has been able to get it.... The depth of the frost is the problem and when it is freezing for several days it takes more than a couple of hours above zero to defrost it. And I would say that as a player and you can ask many, Playing on a hard pitch in the summer is completely different than playing on an ice rink...

[VPCTFC]

Lucky you didn't have the ref at the Woking v Bath game then Weebs.

He's not a soft head like the majority of the others.

Myself and Krooner were at that game. Pitch rock hard. Nothing wrong with it.

Cotton wool society is taking over.

[Rother]

Rock hard frozen pitches are dangerous to play on.

 

How anybody can dispute that is way way beyond my comprehension.

[Smudge]

Rother,totally agree with you for once!!!

[NICE GUY]

Rother,totally agree with you for once!!!

 

Just picked myself off the floor 'cos I do as well Roth ........what, now where's that brandy ...............lol !