Mike Thorpe - TWAT

[BensGrandad]

There was only one announcement he should have made at 2.30, and that was to say there would be another inspection at, say, 5. QUOTE]

Probably did it to at 2.30 for the Gillingham team but like you I think that the decision should have been made at 5.00pm and allowed enough time for Gillingham team to travel and if needed put the kick off back 15 or 30 mins to accomodate them.

 

[ali jenkins]

If it was SOOOO obvious that it would only get colder and the pitch would DEFINATLY be unplayable and "Any idiot could tell you that" then why did you all expect it to be played and then get so angry when it is called off?

 

[Stoichkov]

FWIW, last nights weather was quite strange. As posted in this thread -

http://www.northstandchat.biz/showthread.php?t=116391

there was a 7.5 degree difference last night between the temperature in BN1 & BN2 with Woodingdean actually being the warmer of the two - not often that happens.

This was caused by the milder area moving in over the colder air so the hilltops were warmer than secluded places like Withdean where the temperature fell away rapidly rather than warmed up as forecast. We're not often going to have that sort of sequence of events again.

 

[BensGrandad]

If it was SOOOO obvious that it would only get colder and the pitch would DEFINATLY be unplayable and "Any idiot could tell you that" then why did you all expect it to be played and then get so angry when it is called off?

I didnt get angry but was suprised when they said on the radio at 3.00pm it was going ahead as by then it was freezing again. So much so that for the first time in about 20 years I asked her iundoors to buy me a pair of gloves, which is unknown in my household for me to wear those.

 

[Colbourne Kid]

The inspection was called for 2pm to give plenty of time for staff and supporters to be informed if it had been called off if that was the referees decison. He had been asked on Thursday to attend early to carry out the inspection.

At the time of the inspection the pitch was perfectly playable and the areas around the stands were defrosting. I along with PC BHA was on the pitch with the referee, Dean and others. The weather forecast for the night was rising to 5/6 degrees mild and slightly cloudy. That was confirmed by the local weather centre. I had no doubts at all that the game would be on.

Between 4.30pm and 5.30pm there was a sudden and very noticeable drop in the temperature with the temperature inside the stadium dropping to near freezing. The referee, his assessor and Dean were called back to the stadium and a further inspection took place. The pitch particularly on the south side and in the goal areas was freezing fast and had become dangerous. The referee decided to call off the game. That was the right decision.

The south stand track areas have been mentioned. Although they were perfectly safe at 2pm and even 4.30pm by 6pm they were freezing up and starting to ice. The frost was laying on top of the salt that had been put own and further salt was having no effect. Had the referee decided to play the game it is likely that it may still have been called off for spectator safety reasons.

If you must blame someone blame the weather forecasters. Had the forecast been any different or the pitch conditions or stadn areas of any concern then a second inspection would have been put in place. The fact is that it wasn't because no-one at the 2pm inspection could see any reason why the game would not be played.

 

[BensGrandad]

The fact is that it wasn't because no-one at the 2pm inspection could see any reason why the game would not be played.

The point that is causing the argument is that everybody who weren't present at the stadium KNEW that there would be a doubt due to the temperatures dropping as they had done every day and was doing so at 3.00pm, so with due respect to all concerned it was a stupid decision to hold the inspection at that time, before the afternoon set in.


Also we must remember that Friday was the shortest day of the year with the least amount of hours of sunshine/daylight so the most likelyhood of dropping temperatures as darkness fell.

 

[The Large One]

The point that is causing the argument is that everybody who weren't present at the stadium KNEW that there would be a doubt due to the temperatures dropping as they had done every day and was doing so at 3.00pm, so with due respect to all concerned it was a stupid decision to hold the inspection at that time, before the afternoon set in.


Also we must remember that Friday was the shortest day of the year with the least amount of hours of sunshine/daylight so the most likelyhood of dropping temperatures as darkness fell.

The weather forecast for the night was rising to 5/6 degrees mild and slightly cloudy. That was confirmed by the local weather centre.

So you KNEW that the weather forecast was going to be wrong, and you KNEW that it was going to be cold on Friday purely because it was cold on Wednesday and Thursday? Blimey.

You're wasting your talents trying to pass yourself off as being a mere mortal on this board, Brian. You need to ascend to that higher plane.

 

[BensGrandad]

I used common sense and the feeling that I had when I was outside that it was getting colder. I didnt need an expert to tell me that, as it wasnt getting warmer quite the reverse.

 

[The Large One]

I used common sense and the feeling that I had when I was outside that it was getting colder. I didnt need an expert to tell me that, as it wasnt getting warmer quite the reverse.

Yes, and when it did get colder at about 5.30, the game was called off.

But they weren't expecting it to get colder. YOU were, because it had done on Wednesday and Thursday. Supposing the weather forecasters got it right?

 

[BensGrandad]

It had started getting colder in Worthing, where I was before 3.00pm, as soon as what little sun there was had gone in.

 

[The Large One]

Two things. One the game was due for 7.45, not 3pm (and that cloudy/weather front thing was expected for late afternoon/early evening), and Brighton play in Brighton, not Worthing.

It's a noted triple fact that Brighton has its own climate system, which is probably why it ignored the weather forecasters.

 

[Barrel of Fun]

Also, Withdean Stadium is in a bowl and has its own micro climate. The correct decision was made. How many times have we seen games started and then called off after kick off? That is much more of an inconvenience, just bad luck and no need to lose any sleep over it.

 

[BensGrandad]

Two things. One the game was due for 7.45, not 3pm (and that cloudy/weather front thing was expected for late afternoon/early evening), and Brighton play in Brighton, not Worthing.

It's a noted triple fact that Brighton has its own climate system, which is probably why it ignored the weather forecasters.

That may be so but Ben told me that it was on the radio that the game was on and I said then I would be suprised if it went ahead, who was proved right. As I said I used common sense and the past knowledge of local weather. Knowing that as long as I have lived Brighton is always a lot colder than Worthing.