'clun cancellations

[mishman]

Not at all surpised to see that Pontyclun yet again called their game off at the earliest opportunity today. They were due to play Pontypridd Town and I was speaking to a few Pontypridd players at our game who were fuming that Pontyclun called it off this morning with no consideration that there were 4 hours thawing time before kick off. Basically they were avoiding playing for not the first time this season. Funnily there was a eggby match being played down the road.
Our pitch (like most others) was frost bound this morning but we let nature take it's cause and it was playable by mid day. Pontyclun did exactly the same to us by calling the game off at 10am (and informed us at 10:55) even though we were happy to travel the short distance and let the ref inspect before kick off. Also one of our players went to the ground at mid day and said the pitch was very playable. Today history has repeated itself and now Pontypridd Town are the victims. Do Pontyclun want to play football or not???. Their reluctance to try and get games played means that teams like us and Ponty Town have unwanted mid week fixtures and ultimately this could impact the oputcome of the league/promotion.
For a team that fought so hard to save their place in the Welsh League last season they now don't seem to want to play the beautiful game!!!!
Rant over

[fairplay]

Mishman, this is a problem that could have and should have been resolved by abiding by the rules that clearly says that a suspect pitch should be inspected by the referee 2 hours before the ko. Ponty did question the early decision which was nearly 4 hours before the ko and did ask that it might be taken later as conditions were already improving and the club were prepared to wait for another couple of hours or even turn up and let the ref decide then. After all we are talking about an almost local derby and it would be no problem whatsoever in waiting until the latest possible time before making a decision. It does seem that both Bridgend St and Ponty have wanted to play the game and even prepared to travel. Local football matches and even Pontyclun rugby club who are approx 100yards away from the football pitch were able to play on a frost free but heavy pitch. Ponty will now be without a game for 2 weeks which would not have been the case if the rule book had been followed. When Pontypridd played Llanwern a few weeks ago there was an even heavier frost but it was felt that the pitch would improve by ko time and both Llanwern and the ref were happy to wait. The decision proved to be the right one and enabled two teams who wanted to play a game of football, play.

[huwjones]

not making any comment here on yesterdays postponement but I have proposed something to the Welsh Lge management Commitee on this very subject.
Just before xmas on dec 10th we let officilas travel only have game called off with both teams on pitch at 1 45 ,cost me £80 as they travelled from chepstow areas.Week later calls in local welsh lge ref to inspect at 11 am as officials travelling from swansea he says unplayable game off, would have cost around £75
What I have proposed is that if we allow officials to travel and they call it off the league pays the fees, clubs will then not be so keen to call games off prematurely (not accusing anyone here)as there will be no costs to the clubs , probably pi$$ing in the wind but a thought.

[ronjeremie]

Last saturday our game against Newport CS was called off as the teams were about to go on the pitch.
And thats after traveling about 60 miles up the M4.
Pontypridd to Pontyclun is what 20 miles.?
Surely that could have been left as late as possible before calling it off.
But as Bridgend Street have 15 games left in 16 weeks, and Pontypridd have 13 left, there are times left to rearrange games.
And why is Bridgend Street's game with Risca in February already called off.

[fairplay]

Ron, you are right games where clubs are only a few miles away should be left for the time of ko unless there is a few feet of snow or ice has set in for a few days. Ponty is only about 7 miles away. Reason for Bridgend St v Risca game cancellation is due to Risca playing in the Welsh Trophy comp which our level clubs were not eligble until a few years ago. If we all follow the few Welsh League clubs that have entered this season we will find we will be cancelling league games left right and centre. We have expressed our concern to the Welsh League about our clubs entering this comp.

[KingsleyLloyd]

The ref for the Pontyclun .v. Ponty Town game had a 29 mile trip, big deal if he turned up and with both teams in attendance called it off, at least every chance would have been given to get a game on. Our pitch was frosty at 10-11 am yesterday but we took a punt and it worked out. I agree with Fairplay that every chance should be given to play the game not waive the white flag at the very earliest opportunity. Our under 13 team travelled to a bitterly cold Pentyrch on Saturday morning. At 9am the pitch was a no-goer but we decided to travel and take a chance and guess what we played. The pitch was fine with an hour and half of sunshine and thaw. Thats Cardiff & District under 13 level so its no wonder people are questioning a Welsh League team who have yet again called a game off as soon as they had the opportunity.

[philpreene]

Mishman and Fairplay, whoever you are. Your comments regarding Ponycluns pitch are completely untrue. The playing surface at Ivor Park at 11am yesterday was unplayable. Although the pitch was thawing out , the top end of the field(changing room side) did not thaw out even at 2pm, so please give our Club some credit- the Ref made the right decision. Regarding the Bridgend St. game a couple of weeks ago, ex Bridgend St. Journeyman, Mr Kendall turned up at the ground at 12.30pm and
walked the pitch with 2 pairs of boots, similar sitation as this week, rugby field end of pitch thawing out - top end of pitch frozen solid, and he agreed with the decision to call the game off.
I have taken photographs at various angles of the pitch on both occasions and are available for inspection . Having played over 600 Welsh Leaque games I think I know if a field is playable or not. SO to Mishman and Fairplay, put your correct names to your posts like men and stop hiding behind your masks.

[KingsleyLloyd]

Mr Kendall rang our boys having a right moan saying there was nowt wrong with the pitch!!
The level of communication is crap. If you are going to do an early inspection then tell the opposition there might be a problem not just ring up out of the blue at breakfast time 4 hours prior to kick off.
You have created your own problems by acting too rashly and not involving the opposition with events which has aroused suspicion from quite a few clubs.

[barryquinn]

Just been alerted to this crap by a fellow Welsh League Manager -

Maybe.......just maybe as I have been SO brave as to actually use MY NAME on here, instead of one of many bullsh*t usernames, then perhaps that qualifies me to comment!!

Let me just make something clear if I may!!
Mishman, Fairplay, and CF24street - says it all really, no balls just hidden nicknames and ill informed comments and childish snipes, grow up!

What especially alarms me is that CF24 is obviously an official of Bridgend Street, to know the referee's itinerary etc, which will be dealt with appropriately! I have also been made aware of the identity of 'Mishman' which is frankly even more shocking! This coming from another official of the club!

Not really sure why I am even on here, having to justify the referee's decision, to people who know nothing about the game or do not even have the basic principles to at least use their name!!
I was at the ground yesterday, trying to persuade the referee to let the game go ahead, as for the fist time in months, we had something resembling a full squad. Our record against Pontypridd is very, very good and believe me, we wanted the game to go ahead!

However, having played at our ground for nearly 30 years, I know from experience that the one side of the ground does not get any sun on it, because of the huge trees behind the goals, regardless of the sunshine etc!! Therefore, will not be any better at 1pm than it is at 11.30am!! As a club who do not have a silly budget to throw at players or anything else for that matter, we try to inform clubs as best we can if the game is in any sort of doubt, so not incurring silly costs only for the game to be callef off prior to kick off. Common sense!!

Lee Kendall did turn up at the ground back before xmas, (no doubt wanting to play, so he could pick up his match fee - make your own mind up there)! 80% of the pitch was ok apart from the shaded areas which were frozen solid (same as yesterday). I explained this to both Kingsley Lloyd and Gary Proctor, so in terms of communication, you cant get better than that.

Being someone who always wants to play football, as soon as the game was off, we had to ring around and try to find a venue for training, which cost us £90 in the end. So, please do not insult my club by throwing cheap shots with no names, as it stinks and shows no class!!

[KingsleyLloyd]

Barry I'm more than happy for you to report this thread to the WL MC, there's nothing malicious just discontent for the lack of football. As clubs both we and Ponty now have to scramble a mid week fixture which is far from ideal and we both feel could have been at least been attempted to have been avoided by your club.
Yes you did call me around 1pm some 3 hours after the game was called off and two hours after we were notified by your sec.
Last Saturday maybe the referee would have listened to your plea to play if a 12 noon or 12.30 inspection would have been convened, or perhaps he wouldnt have had to make an inspection. What both Pontypridd and ourselves mean by communication is simply letting us know in advance there may be a problem and alerting us to the fact there would be an inspection. We had 2 players en-route from work in Hereford that day that could have held back until the outcome of a pitch inspection had they/we know there was one.Their journey was fruitless and to say they were angry was an understatement as they could have stayed on and continued their work.
You can look back and see that our club has been slaughtered on here by people and it's not nice but we move on. Hopefully we all can. All the best Kingsley

[fairplay]

Barry/Phil, I agree with Kingsley and would suggest that if rule 26b had been adhered to in both these cases there wouldnt have been the complaints that have been aired. I believe that both clubs had to pay for an alternative training session. As regards user names I think you will find that approx 90% on this site are unamed although some disclose their email addresses. If people prefer it this way no problem, as long they are not abusive. All the best for the rest of the season. Max

[mishman]

Sorry if I've stirred up a hornets nest,but I only get out on a Saturday so to have games postponed gets me a bit arsey,see you at ivor park after the clocks go forward all the best Kim Young.

[iknowbest]

fairplay very intersting comments off yourself.. few weeks ago you put a comment about why newport civil service left it till 12 to call game off and not earlier and now you are maoning why pontyclun called the game off so early??? make your mind up.. before you say about distance newport aint that far away..

[fairplay]

iknowbest, do me a favour, we have already played Newport cc away on the 29th October as per the fixture list. Please get your facts right.

[mishman]

Just wondering what's so shocking about my identity Mr. Quinn ??