Canvey whingers

[Rotten Johnny Shawcraw]

No it's not me saying that but a gentleman from Romford in the letters section of yesterdays non league paper, just thought I'd draw your attention to it <img src="/forums/images/graemlins/cool.gif" alt="" /> I have to admit though I wouldn't fancy a trip up there on a Friday evening but then fans of premiership clubs have to put up with that sort of thing all the time, us non league fans get rather spoilt with all games normally kicking off at 3pm on a Saturday!

[YELLOW]

Yeah, that's a valid point. To be honest if we were in the Conference, we would have to put up with travelling to the likes of Halifax or Northwich on Tuesday nights.

 

It's just that this could have been avoided. Northwich surely knew before the start of the season that there would be a problem if they were drawn at home in the cup or the Trophy, and Witton Albion were at home on the same day.

 

They should have secured a legal agreement saying that matches in the Cup or Trophy take precedence over Witton home games.

 

It's not only us who has been disadvantaged. Northwich could have expected a very healthy attendance for a Saturday game. Now for a Friday night fixture they'll get little more than 500.

 

You expect games these days to be rearranged because of television but not because the club you are playing hasn't got a pitch to play on!

 

[Exile]

As I believe somebody suggested on another thread, why not switch it to the following Saturday (assuming Witton are not at home then !) ? Round 5 is not until 22 Feb so it would still allow time for a replay. And of course the game on Friday could still be moved - weather forecast is not too good for second half of this week, so a postponement is not out of the question (even if the ground is playable, a 450 mile round journey might not be achievable). Presumably the game would then be switched to the following Tuesday ? If it goes ahead on Friday, what is the betting Witton will complain about the state of the pitch on Saturday ?! I bet they wish their agreement prevented Northwich playing less than 24 hours before Witton are due to play...On a related note, Northwich have apparently gained planning permission to redevelop their ground so hopefully they won't be at risk of this problem too often in the future (not that that is of any help now).

[David Holden]

Sounds easy, but then you involve two more innocent parties. ie Doncaster & Grays who would then have no matches on that Saturday because of something that is absolutely nothing to do with them.

 

There is no easy answer other than to ban groundsharing altogether, and I doubt that will ever happen.

[Exile]

Point taken. I am not opposed to groundsharing in principle, but you would have thought the FA would have a standard set of criteria which all parties have to agree to, which (amongst other things) would cater for fixture clashes across competitions. Obviously not though.

[pabird]

I remember mostly from far away playing days that the FA cup for instance took precedence over all other matches

It would not appear beyond the wit of man to agree across leagues the absolutes in priorities where shared grounds are concerned

IE the FA cup and the FA trophy take priority over league games which ever league is concerned

In all other situations the league of the principle ground owners has the right to judge on individual merits

Then again I am considering normal man with some degree of logic and balance and not the blazers involved

[David Holden]

I must confess that I thought that the Trophy would have taken precedence, but it seems that the FA thought otherwise.

 

Given the extra distances involved in the Trophy match I think that they got it wrong, but there you go.