Match Postponed - Off

[Theatre of Trees]

It should be made non-subjective.

For example, the decision to play/not play a game could be based on, say, the BBC 24 hour (ie hour by hour) forecast for a particular town. Take it out of the hands of the referee.

Would be an easy thing to do.

Which is what the ref did last year before the Gillingham game then had to call it off later because the expected cloud cover did not arrive.

 

[drew]

The guy who sits next to me comes down from Reading (poor sod) and there was NO announcement on TalkSport until at least 1415... which is about 75 mins after the decision was taken. Not sure if other radio stations hadn't been told either, but they were listing the other postponements every 15 mins.

Well that is bad luck and I'm sorry for him and other albion fans that have to travel but at the end of the day, how many times has this happened in the last 30 years? Perhaps he should ensure he has a local mate that would do the decent thing and text him!

 

[Basil Fawlty]

They should of called it off earlier, and not leave it till two hours before kick-off. What a absolute joke....

 

[portlock seagull]

Well, as with the Gillingham postponement last season, I drove 150 miles to see todays game so was less than impressed when sipping my beer at just gone 1ish in the Sportsman to hear that the game was now off. In the end me and a bunch of former STH mates (we'd organised to all congregate for this particular game months ago!) had a nice afternoon just chatting over drinks - stayed until 4pm (Martin Perry and what I can only assume were officials were checking the pitch at around 3.15 too, probably just to assure themselves the right decision was made; which it undoubtedly was).

But what I am annoyed about is the fact that for the past 3 days I've watched the appropriate media, inc albion's website, like a hawk and there wasn't the slightest inclination that it would be called off - yet the weather has stayed the same for weeks now. So if the ground was frozen at 3pm on Wed, Thur, Fri there was a damn good chance it would also be today. But the only thing coming out on various news channels, inc BBC SCR just half an hour before was "the Brighton game is definately on". No mention about inspections etc even though the weather's been freezing for the entire Xmas period. If there had been any doubt I wouldn't have set off on such a long journey. I knew the ground was frozen this morning so hearing no word or doubt about the game being called off I naturally assumed we must have had covers on - and that's what had saved the Albions match.

On that score, the sportsman bar staff also said the cover was NOT on all y'day and last night and if that's true then somebody should be issuing a sincere apology. This wasn't freak weather. A lot more should have been said a lot earlier. Micky as good as said that in his interview. WE NOT ALL LOCALS ANYMORE!!

PS Anyone know if I'll get a full refund if I can't make the rearrangement? I doubt all 8 of us will be able to make it and I paid for everyones on my cc

 

[dougdeep]

yet the weather has stayed the same for weeks now. So if the ground was frozen at 3pm on Wed, Thur, Fri there was a damn good chance it would also be today.

But that simply isn't true, this was the first frost since Monday night. There has been cloud cover since then that kept it just above freezing. It got down to -3 last night, and as the sun doesn't reach the pitch in December and January, there was no way that the pitch could defrost today.

 

[portlock seagull]

The club has to consider the safety of the fans within the ground who may slip over and then pursue a claim for injuries received. Even professional footballers playing on a frozen pitch could end up breaking a leg which might be career threatening. If the referee inspects the pitch at 12 and decides to do another at 1 , then its his prerogative.

Nonsense. Because everyone's always trotting out this fear people believe it and what's more it becomes self-fulfilling. The 'risk' of someone hurting themselves AND the appropriate event hosts being at fault for said accident doesn't happen as much as the ambulance chasers would have you believe. even on a football pitch in what was once a contact sport. The real damage is the climate of fear compensation culture has created amongst everyone as it's always quoted without any second thought as to actual chances of someone successfully suing.

 

[eastlondonseagull]

Just got back from the 'game' and am still pissed off. Though did have a nice drink in the Sportsman to drown sorrows. Can I claim my £20 rail ticket back? Oh, thought not.

I wouldn't be all that annoyed if it hadn't been for the barmaid in the Sportsman who said that the pitch hadn't been covered over night. Apologies if this has already been discussed on this thread (not read it yet), but why oh why (if it's true) not cover the pitch in this cold weather?!

It's bad enough coming down from London, but god knows what all the other buggers who've travelled further must think...

.

 

[eastlondonseagull]

Just got back from the 'game' and am still pissed off. Though did have a nice drink in the Sportsman to drown sorrows. Can I claim my £20 rail ticket back? Oh, thought not.

I wouldn't be all that annoyed if it hadn't been for the barmaid in the Sportsman who said that the pitch hadn't been covered over night. Apologies if this has already been discussed on this thread (not read it yet), but why oh why (if it's true) not cover the pitch in this cold weather?!

It's bad enough coming down from London, but god knows what all the other buggers who've travelled further must think...

.

Ah ha, Portlock, beat me to it

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[portlock seagull]

But that simply isn't true, this was the first frost since Monday night. There has been cloud cover since then that kept it just above freezing. It got down to -3 last night, and as the sun doesn't reach the pitch in December and January, there was no way that the pitch could defrost today.

Ok, if that's definately the case then I'm wrong. We've been having far more severe weather all week up in South Bucks as I'm out walking several times a day, inc early morning, with the dog - it's been practically permafrost since Xmas.

 

[eastlondonseagull]

Nonsense. Because everyone's always trotting out this fear people believe it and what's more it becomes self-fulfilling. The 'risk' of someone hurting themselves AND the appropriate event hosts being at fault for said accident doesn't happen as much as the ambulance chasers would have you believe. even on a football pitch in what was once a contact sport. The real damage is the climate of fear compensation culture has created amongst everyone as it's always quoted without any second thought as to actual chances of someone successfully suing.

To be fair, the running track did look icy, and god knows what would have happened to your lardy arse if you'd slipped

.

 

[clippedgull]

PS Anyone know if I'll get a full refund if I can't make the rearrangement? I doubt all 8 of us will be able to make it and I paid for everyones on my cc

Legally you are entitled to a full refund as your contract ala ticket stated that the game would be played at 3pm today.

It wasn't so the club have broken the contract and therefore a refund is due to anyone who bought a ticket today.

Any problems, then your credit card issuer is liable if your spend was over £100 on a single transaction.

 

[eastlondonseagull]

Perhaps he should ensure he has a local mate that would do the decent thing and text him!

Not all that useful having one of those when you need to leave three hours to get down, though, sadly.

 

[portlock seagull]

To be fair, the running track did look icy, and god knows what would have happened to your lardy arse if you'd slipped

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Then people should be more bloody careful! It's not someone else's fault everytime a mishap occurs. Who do we sue when we fall over walking up to the game in the same environmental 'conditions'? The council? The club? Or do I just get up, dust myself down and stop blaming everyone else for my own clumsiness?! Besides a bit of salt and hundreds of feet treading the same path would have melted any ice

 

[clapham_gull]

Can you advise exactly when you think the cut off should be? Say we are playing Carlisle. Is it to be 10 minutes before you leave your front door so you are not inconvenienced or should it be 6.00am when the Carlisle fans are about to leave?



I suppose you reckon they should play with flat soled shoes and the game becomes a lottery. I'd rather the match postponed and I get to see a reasonable game rather than a players sliding around on rock hard ground.

Well you can't really legislate for away fans, and using an exteme argument like Carlisle hardly strengthens the argument.

On the basis that the person who knows the pitch the best (the groundsman) deemed the pitch unplayable at 11:30, the weather forecast predicted the conditions were worsening and the fact the club themselves think the decision was made too late suggests that the referee probably made a bit of a mess of the situation.

You can't really generalise because each case needs to made on a case by case basis, but I would have thought a decision made before midday would ensure that most people don't end up travelling. Like other people I travelled to the game with the information it was on.

 

[portlock seagull]

Just got back from the 'game' and am still pissed off. Though did have a nice drink in the Sportsman to drown sorrows. Can I claim my £20 rail ticket back? Oh, thought not.

I wouldn't be all that annoyed if it hadn't been for the barmaid in the Sportsman who said that the pitch hadn't been covered over night. Apologies if this has already been discussed on this thread (not read it yet), but why oh why (if it's true) not cover the pitch in this cold weather?!

It's bad enough coming down from London, but god knows what all the other buggers who've travelled further must think...

.

Exactly. ELS and I should get expenses from the £40 notes fund or something similar. It should also cover the £7.99 gammon steak and chips with a grilled bit of pineapple on top which we ate as 'alternative entertainment' in the sportsman as a result of the postponement (I can thoroughly recommend by the way. Classic 70's dish which I very much enjoyed. Twas good to re-visit so not all was bad today).

 

[Icy Gull]

One of those things. I was a bit miffed as I got closer to Withdean and it became apparent that the game was off, but it was fecking cold and I wasn't pissed off for long. As someone else said Radio 5 live had not announced it was off by 1330, which is a bit bit piss poor from someone?

 

[portlock seagull]

Well you can't really legislate for away fans, and using an exteme argument like Carlisle hardly strenghens the argument.

On the basis that the person who knows the pitch the best (the groundsman) deemed the pitch unplayable at 11:30, the weather forecast predicted the conditions were worsening and the fact the club themselves think the decision was made too late suggests that the referee probably made a bit of a mess of the situation.

You can't really generalise because each case needs to made on a case by case basis, but I would have thought a decision made before midday would ensure that most people don't end up travelling. Like other people I travelled to the game with the information it was on.

Precisely. What the **** has playing Carlisle got to do with this argument? Nothing. That's what. So anyone doing all matter of shit stirring using other random comparisons, inc the past, is frankly, at risk of a thick ear from me (and ELS).

 

[portlock seagull]

Legally you are entitled to a full refund as your contract ala ticket stated that the game would be played at 3pm today.

It wasn't so the club have broken the contract and therefore a refund is due to anyone who bought a ticket today.

Any problems, then your credit card issuer is liable if your spend was over £100 on a single transaction.

 

[bristolseagull]

Moronic post as are most on this thread.



I very much suspect it will be sometime in the future!!!!!!!



Because if a match was called off at 12 and was subsequently deemed playable by 3 you would be on here moaning about that.



Thought they have already stated we will not have underground heating as the records show the costs are prohibitive bearing in mind how many games have been called off for frost in the last 30 odd years.



Perhaps you should learn the difference between snow and frost. Go and throw yourself into a pile of snow, note the consequences and then throw yourself at a frozen football pitch.



How many more moronic posts - no, wait a minute, you're the one talking sense. Wasn't expecting that on NSC!



The ref has to make the final decision. Also, what would happen if a ref called a game off purely because of groundstaff recommendation only to find the home team couldn't field their strongest team and wanted the game delayed anyway!!!



moronic, moronic, moronic. Oh, sorry, you again, apologies as you seem to be talking sense again.


On a general point, was anyone here present at any of the inspections and if so, did the ref definitely state the game was on or did he state he would review the conditions?

Personally, I am not bothered that it is off as I would much prefer to go to an evening game which has better atmosphere (cold or not), just bad luck on those with distances to travel who had already set off.

oh do f*** off, are you the ref's boyfriend?