Waterlogged pitches

By dw (legacy user)30/1/2014 23:14Thu Jan 30 23:14:07 2014

Views: 5162

There was some debate on both the Billericay website and forum about waterlogged pitches prior to last Tuesday's match. Had either club expressed doubts the referee would have called it off shortly before kick-off as I understand it. There was a boggy segment of the pitch near one corner flag, true, but 90% of the pitch played very well. Back in the 60s 70s and 80s it would have been laughable to even consider a postponement.

Referees have to abide by strict FA guidelines. Reading the Middlesex guidelines for example, and put simply, if the ball does not roll or bounce properly then the match has to be postponed. Some latitude is allowed depending where the problem area is.

With 46 league games to play in total this year, let's hope that when the present awful weather abates, the powers that be allow referees to use a bit more common sense.

As for Maidstone….