Ben’s statement re the postponements.

[mikeyboy]

For those of you who didn’t get the email:

AFTER the postponement of both the Cheltenham and Carlisle fixtures due to waterlogged pitches Chairman Ben Robinson has issued the following statement.

Everyone at Burton Albion shares the frustration and disappointment with our supporters that we have been unable to play the last two home games due to waterlogged pitches.

We have spoken to our pitch consultants who work with our grounds staff and who tell us that the impact of the winter’s weather has finally caught up with the pitch at the Pirelli Stadium, as it has done with a number of playing surfaces throughout the UK.

As you will all be aware the last two Tuesday night fixtures have been postponed, on both of these occasions we have seen a significant period of rainfall on the afternoon leading up to kick off. For the loss of these fixtures, we offer our sincere apologies.

Unfortunately, the amount and timing of the rain we have seen over the winter period from early October 2023 until now has massively impacted our pitch aeration, and the availability of a window to carry out these works has been significantly reduced due to periods of heavy rainfall and pitch availability between fixtures.

This we feel we can now address as we approach spring and are able to catch up with this important programme of works.

We wanted to take this opportunity to inform all our fans as to the reasons behind this loss of fixtures.

We know that fans make plans and travel arrangements, and fixture postponements are a frustration and expense, but we hope our supporters understand that our grounds staff tried exceptionally hard to save the fixtures but were unfortunately defeated by the heavy and persistent rainfall.

We are continuing to work on solutions with our grounds staff and pitch specialists.

[bennyboy]

Having seen the pics and obviously at the last home the state of the pitch I fear for it's condition for the rest of the season. Every time it rains pre-match day now you'll just wonder about it being on.

It's clear from the email major pitch works will commence end of season.

[superbrewer]

We used to borrow Derbyshire Cricket Clubs super soaker a few years ago,I take it that is now not an option for what ever reason.

[colstoncrawford]

They'll be going down deeper with aerating holes than usual is how it was explained to me, necessitated by the sheer amount of water it's had to cope with

[popsidepete59]

To be fair, the water table in the area is that high, the ground is saturated.
You've only got to see the fields around the Dove at Clay Mills,and the washlands around the Trent, they are like lakes.
In my garden at Stretton, a few hours of steady rain and there are puddles in the garden borders.
I'm not making an excuse for the club, but I can understand why the pitch is in such poor condition, and why the ground staff are finding it difficult to get on the pitch to improve the surface.
Let's hope that's the last postponement of the season, home or away🤞🤞🤞

[colstoncrawford]

Feb 14, 2024 18:02:40 GMT superbrewer said:

We used to borrow Derbyshire Cricket Clubs super soaker a few years ago,I take it that is now not an option for what ever reason.

No expert by any means but I think the soaker can take a downpour off the surface; not much it could do about the fact that the ground down a fair way is saturated 

[bartonyellow]

I think his statement should have drew reference to the visiting supporters not just “our fans”
Cheltenham and Carlisle fans had wasted journeys down. He could at least mention that. Perhaps offerthem free drinks etc. or something as a gesture of goodwill to placate them. We are getting slated on social media as a pub team. Not saying I agree - but I always like to read good of my team, and lately it’s not complementary on or off the pitch !

[popsidepete59]

Feb 14, 2024 19:29:02 GMT bartonyellow said:

I think his statement should have drew reference to the visiting supporters not just “our fans”
Cheltenham and Carlisle fans had wasted journeys down. He could at least mention that. Perhaps offerthem free drinks etc. or something as a gesture of goodwill to placate them. We are getting slated on social media as a pub team. Not saying I agree - but I always like to read good of my team, and lately it’s not complementary on or off the pitch !

Great idea, yeah, not nice seeing opposition fans slating our club.
We've been in their shoes too, went to Bournemouth on a Saturday for a FA Cup tie with a 3pm kick off, that was called off after 1-30 pm if I remember right?
We went back for the rearranged tie midweek.
Still think the EFL should make midweek games in the middle of winter more local affairs where possible.

[staffbrewer1950]

Looking at the video of the pitch last night,i don't know why they waited until 6 40 to postpone it.It should have been called off at the latest 4 pm,given the forecast.It could only be a financial reasons, that they waited so long to make a decision.

[ianmcgibbon]

Feb 14, 2024 18:48:50 GMT popsidepete59 said:

To be fair, the water table in the area is that high, the ground is saturated.
You've only got to see the fields around the Dove at Clay Mills,and the washlands around the Trent, they are like lakes.
In my garden at Stretton, a few hours of steady rain and there are puddles in the garden borders.
I'm not making an excuse for the club, but I can understand why the pitch is in such poor condition, and why the ground staff are finding it difficult to get on the pitch to improve the surface.
Let's hope that's the last postponement of the season, home or away🤞🤞🤞

My garden was not playable in Stretton either, but then again it doesn't have drainage designed to deal with steady rain.

I agree that the timings of the rain that happened were unfortunate, but, the pictures of the surface of the last cover removed did look poor, run off or not.

A partial cover will not work over a boggy area, it will just hold on the surface what is there.

The statement is useful to confirm the pitch is knackered. I am pleased the groundstaff are mainly exonerated, that felt like a pile on.

But on both games, what time did a referee arrive, bearing in mind the forecast and known state of the pitch? Surely 2pm on both times was the absolute latest? Did this happen? If not, why not?


As another poster has mentioned, on neither occasion was there a downpour, there was steady, maybe heavy rain for a period, but not sufficient to render a game at this level unplayable if there is appropriate drainage. As there is not, then earlier decisions should have been made.

I also agree that for both Cheltenham and Carlisle fans that attend the next game, we should look to treat them in some way, see Bournemouth.

Oh and we still should have played Cheltenham on 2nd December!

[cbh1]

Feb 14, 2024 18:02:40 GMT superbrewer said:

We used to borrow Derbyshire Cricket Clubs super soaker a few years ago,I take it that is now not an option for what ever reason.

I think that might have been a bit of a favour when Don Amott was chairman of Derbyshire CCC. Think we still have a good relationship with them but maybe not to the extent of getting the use of the blotter at short notice!