Not good enough!!

[stroz]

Having travelled from porhleven all the way to plymstock to then get the game called off is not good enough. Apparently a ref came in the morning and said the game was playable to then get the game called off by the match referee. The league need to do something about this as to a club with little money this is unacceptable. It's not plymstocks fault but the official who checked pitch.

[Mr unorthodox]

the original ref was a certain Mr jackson i believe

Take it from me the Plymstock lads were as annoyed as your lads! Maybe the league will re-emburse you for the travel :blink:

[stroz]

I bet I know it was not plymstocks fault. It's just not good enough when it's a 3hr 150mile round trip the league need to do sonething

[Home Waters]

To be fair to the early ref, at the time of inspection the pitch would have been playable. We had the same problem in the Vase v Bodmin. The early inspection was good, then when the match referee arrived he considered it for some time, then went ahead after taking diferent views. The problem was that as the thaw set in, the water softened the top inch and a half ( english) and left the concrete underneath. We had a few cuts and grazez from this suface, so I can understand the later refs view and indeed the earlier one as well. They would not have known that it would change that drastically. Once he sees the danger, then that is that. It doesn't matter how far you have travelled, if its become dangerous its out.

[Magic Mike]

had the problem myself in goal at clijah today

slid out for the ball and my elbow scraped the soft dirt up only to be ripped to shreds by the solid ground underneath

[Mr Cornwall]

hey hang on a minute before you start criticising the league just what decision did the referee give. i live in plymouth as many people know and the weather was fine for pitches to be available to play on.

if any matches were to be called off then other games in this region would as well. one game in the young boys league in plymstock was played fine so get on with it and look forward to playing them the next time. but think of it as if plymstock making the round trip would you reply today feeling sorry for plymstock travelling down 300 miles etc, considering you came from that distance to be disappointed. thats football.

[Home Waters]

Really Mr Cornwall, it doesn't follow that just because its mild, all pitches in Plymouth are playable, each pitch is different, some thaw quicker as they drain, others thaw slowly, leaving a dangerous surface underneath. Give match referees some credit. Each club would give you a different answer on their own pitch, in the same City, as to how it fairs under different types of weather. :rolleyes:

[Mr Cornwall]

yes ben but my view is that kids football in plymstock can be played so whats with mens football in the same area. last week it looked and was played well for their seconds and being a little milder than that more colder i wanted to know the reason the referee gave having know porthleven making a round trip of about 130 miles.

[Mr unorthodox]

The pitch had been cut to shreads from the previous week by the east cornwall team, and as the pitch thawed out the mudbath was revealed. Indeed every pitch is different, i refereed two matches in the morning before rushing down to deans cross to find it off. There was no football last week for any kids football (or even for a few weeks) so their pitches wouldve been in better condition. bottom line every pitch is different. Perhaps it wouldve helped if the same referee that called it in this morning was the ACTUAL referee for the match.

[Argyle Fan]

This is the pitch inspection guidance from the League website.

FOOTBALL ASSOCIATION DIRECTIVE

Recommended procedure for the guidance of Clubs and Referees

in determining the suitability of grounds in adverse weather conditions

Each Club must take every precaution to ensure that its ground is in a fit playing condition.

When the regional weather conditions are known to be extreme (e.g. prolonged severe frost, clear water logging or heavy snow) then the game can be postponed at the discretion of the League following consultation with the League Secretary, League Rules will apply; this is not an issue for the match day Referee. Should a Competition decide to agree to an early postponement under such circumstances there will be no requirement for a pitch inspection.

In all other circumstances and subject to the time and travelling distance, the match Referee should be called in to make a decision. In the event of the match Referee being unable to carry out the inspection, the Home Club must select an alternative Referee listed within the National List of Supply Referees (Level 4) or in exceptional cases a senior level 5 or a member of the list of assessors.

If a specific League Rule exists where the timing of a pitch inspection is stated, this will apply but is a League issue only. The South West Peninsula League Rules do not list a time as such but requires inspections to be carried out on the day of the match and in such time as to prevent unnecessary travelling of the away team.

Prior to reaching a decision the Referee who is making the inspection must:

o Consult with the match Referee prior to the inspection

o Consult with the match Referee during / after the inspection to mutually

agree on a decision prior to notifying the Home Club Secretary and the League Secretary.

Prior to reaching a decision the Referee who is making the inspection should consider the following:

o Whether or not the ground (playing area) is dangerous (e.g. ice / frost)

o Whether or not that the spectator standing areas are dangerous (e.g. ice / frost)

o Whether or not conditions are or could turn farcical

o The views of the Home Club Groundsman in terms of local knowledge

and draining capabilities in the event of standing water

o The existing condition of the playing surface in conjunction with the

prevailing weather conditions as previously confirmed with the local

weather authority

o Inspect thoroughly - use a ball, and playing staff if necessary

o Fog creates its' own problems - check forecast (remember that there is a responsibility to paying spectators)

o When dealing with such elements as frost or ice - remember that the

highest temperature of the day is usually around mid-day. Get a forecast if necessary of the projected temperature for the time when the match is due to conclude

o The manpower available to the Home Club to carry out any necessary

work to make the ground playable

o The time the visiting Club are due to commence their journey

o Liaise with Managers BUT the decision as to whether the match is played

is yours

If after consultation with the match Referee, the ground is declared fit and the away Clubs instructed to travel, then only in exceptional circumstances should the match Referee reverse the decision.

If an early inspection has not been carried out and the match Referee arrives at the ground to find the playing conditions in doubt due to unexpected deterioration in the weather, he should first consider as many of the above points before committing himself to a decision.

[stroz]

Well on this occasion then the two officials obviously didn't luase with each other therefore did nit act in accordance with the rules. There us no way the pitch changed that much in the space of a couple of hours with no bad weather at all

[Home Waters]

There us no way the pitch changed that much in the space of a couple of hours with no bad weather at all

I can assure you that in this weather the pitch does change drastically, I know that Bolitho park went from a fairly firm suface to a quagmire in 6 hours, the early ref was right and the match ref was nearly right he should have put it out. You obviously dont read the earlier posts.

[stroz]

Read them all and judging by the state of the pitch at 1pm disagree but hey ho