GAMES OFF 12th

[newby marvel]

Thanks mate

 

Unless i am really lucky I might get two but these are few and far between...Stuart has a lot of referee's on the list so one a month is the norm...my last game was November 3rd...

thats shocking ive had you a few times an you are very much one of the better ones!

[HKP]

mind games maybe? guernsey rumoured to not be as strong midweek? they are going for the title surely a bit of a trick has been done here?

I think that's a little unfair as they wanted the game played on Saturday to. They were as surprised as anyone when the referee rules the pitch unsafe.

[newby marvel]

how is that unfair? i havent slated either party mearly posed a few question mate? all of which are a possibility!?

 

i used to play at egham albeit yonks ago so im not digging them out at all

[HKP]

I thought you were saying that they wanted the game off so they could play a weakened GFC team midweek? Apology if offended.

Edited January 14, 2013 by HKP

[Carthorse]

Played two on ours on Saturday Under 16 in the morning and the Reserves against leatherhead in the afternoon

[E&E Rich]

ITK, Good equipment if you have good grass cover but if you have standing water on any bare patches they just skid and don't collect unless of course they've improved the machines since we had one about ten years ago ?

 

Big JR, looking at the amount of games off yesterday it would seem the rain was torrential in some places and not so bad in others so you may have been one of the lucky ones [as were we !].

 

As far as inspections go I'm afraid it's a case of 'Damned if you do, damned if you don't' where referees are concerned. Nobody wants to call games off for the sake of it so it's a judgement call by someone who WILL be held accountable if someone gets badly injured ! What doesn't help refs though is the people who get at them while they're trying to make an honest decision. We've probably all witnessed managers/club officials trying to get games on or off to suit and I believe the only person who should be on the pitch when the referee is inspecting is the groundsman who can answer specific questions such as how well does the pitch drain or will that area in the shade thaw out by kick off time !

 

Sorry Windsor Sec but I disagree about this bad injury scenario.

 

Imagine the situation. Player A breaks their leg. In what way can they blame the pitch for that? You are certainly not more likely to break your leg because of some puddles. Further to this, in what way is it the referee's fault? If he feels with his experience that the 22 players can kick a ball about for 90 minutes then why should he be at fault? Accidents regrettably happen. I've seen plenty where players were injured. They don't all start suing the ref because a) there was a small rut on the pitch, there was a puddle, or even c) because the pitch was quite hard. Clubs are supposed to be well insured for such circumstances anyway. What about the things they can't get insurance for like programme printing costs, or food wastage and travel costs, not to mention everyone's time? All wasted because officials "err on the side of caution". Not good enough.

 

It's time we started applying common sense here. Bob Hoskins said that 95% of his pitch was playable but there were just a few muddy patches. So why not just throw a bit of sand over them, give it half an hour and get on with it then. So it's a bit muddy. So what? I've read hundreds of old reports where historically, 95% of the pitch was ankle deep in mud. Never do they say, the game should have been postponed. They just got on with things.

 

We've all gone too soft.

[Krooner]

VP/Fred far too alike !!!

[maisiecat]

E&E Fred, well said!

[Redrup No2]

Totally agree Fred!

[padlock]

Here here.

[Krooner]

I tend to agree as well but we all know what would happen. Team would lose and then it would be "Pitch not fit to play on" or "No way should the game have been played" or "Stopped us playing our normal passing game"

 

You are right Fred and it is easy to agree until a pitch goes against you and then all the excuses are wheeled out.

[Mewcenary]

They don't all start suing the ref because a) there was a small rut on the pitch, there was a puddle, or even c) because the pitch was quite hard. Clubs are supposed to be well insured for such circumstances anyway. What about the things they can't get insurance for like programme printing costs, or food wastage and travel costs, not to mention everyone's time? All wasted because officials "err on the side of caution". Not good enough.

 

You say that, but I recently had a player turn to me after seeing a divot in the pitch (which was nothing, incidentally), and say that it would be entirely my fault if he got injured.

[E&E Rich]

Well I hope you laughed at him then!

[Krooner]

Mewie laugh ?

[Windsor_Sec]

Fred, don't get me wrong as I also think games are called off far too easily nowadays but the point I'm making is referees now have a 'Duty of care' to consider caused mainly I'm afraid by our copying of our American cousins' ambulance chasing lawyers looking to make a fast buck ! I remember Stag Meadow [And West Street !] back in the late 70's early 80's when most pitches were literally ankle deep in mud but do we really want to see football played in those conditions ? By all means sand a few small areas if the rest is fine but the line has to be drawn somewhere and we have to trust referees to make the right decision !

[Mark-Tommo]

With reference to injuries and pitches. I think it's very rare that a wet soggy pitch can cause injuries. I think they are just bad luck and unfortunately can happen even on the best pitches.

[newby marvel]

its the old health an safety bollox again thats what it is soon we'll all be wrapped in cotton wool