MUSSEYBOY Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Before I start, this is not aimed at any clubs, referees, assistants or supporters. Yesterday was looking forward to the excellent Scottish Cup matches with a plan of going to Bonnyrigg v Bellshill after work. Sadly despite the unbelievable effort of their people to get the game on - it was called off. As many supporters do they try to get to another game. Rossvale v Musselburgh - about 45 minutes from Edinburgh so a good chance of making it. Again, the match called off even though it's a plastic/3g what ever surface. A quick look at the god send which is twiter and options were down to 4. Oakley (4th bridge no thank you), Falkirk (again Edinburgh traffic) Haddington or Arniston. Decided as many did to head to Haddington. Left Edinburgh at 12.45, A1 a nightmare so went via Musselburgh The traffic capital of the world. A nice drive down the coast and into Haddington arriving about 13.35. Stunned to find that the derby game with Tranent had been called off shortly before! I believe their 1st call off in about 20 years. Enjoyed 5 minutes of Haddington training on a pitch 100 feet away and headed to Arniston getting in about 13.55. Arniston park was in excellent condition but amazed that despite only a handful of games being on there were no linesman! QUESTIONS. I think most supporters get that games are called off with safety in mind and the travelling of both clubs. What many don't get is why some pitches are not given time to clear and others are? Why can a game be called off with 15 minutes to go before it starts? Why a 3g pitch - which my understanding can't freeze over unless the temperature drops to -10 is still no different to grass!? Are clubs and councils being ripped off by companies who provide these parks which clearly still don't aid games being on? What is the point of having a 3g pitch if other issues - like owner of park (for example the council) shut the facility? Why if clubs are able to train on either their own park or a park a few feet away can't any match take place? Why are clubs able to set up friendlies - there were loads yesterday - why can't these pitches be used for a competitive game? Finally why when so many games were called off did the Arniston Montrose match not have assistants? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
lonewolfie Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Why are you so thick? Answers to most of these questions is obvious. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vollyman Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Regarding friendliest a club has to apply for a permit to play a friendly then when permit is issued the SFA allocate referee this is done to accommodate insurance of players. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Hertha_BJFC Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Regarding the 3G pitch I reckon 4 inches of snowfall is 4 inches of snowfall whether its on a 3G pitch or a grass one and sometimes you just need to hold your hands up to it being off unless your Mr Mulraney of Alloa who's got the contacts who specialise on clearing excess snow . A 3G pitch might be easier to clear with an abundance of tractors and man power but when trying to clear it via scooping the snow up via a tractor there is a danger of also scooping up the small black pieces of grain/ pellets which are to be found in these surfaces and if these are removed then you are probably doing more harm getting a game on than just calling it off. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Vollyman Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Regarding assistants,assistants are only compulsory in super League matches it would have cost Arniston £45 if they had requested assistants Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Sergeant Wilson Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 On days like yesterday you need to exercise a bit of common sense and personal responsibility. A blind man running for his life would have been able to surmise ALL games were in danger. Sometimes shit happens and it's no - ones fault. You make your own decisions about travel. I was disappointed I had no game to go to but on the bright side, some will get played over the next few weeks. So I'll get to few cup ties. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
valeman Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 The Rossvale/Musselburgh game was off due to a few inches of snow on the park. You cant sweep the snow off it as it damages it. This is a rare occurrence, with only one other game called off since we have been the league. Somebody got stuck in the snow in the car park so it wasnt just the pitvh but the surrounding area was hazardous. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MUSSEYBOY Posted January 18, 2015 Author Share Posted January 18, 2015 Regarding the 3G pitch I reckon 4 inches of snowfall is 4 inches of snowfall whether its on a 3G pitch or a grass one and sometimes you just need to hold your hands up to it being off unless your Mr Mulraney of Alloa who's got the contacts who specialise on clearing excess snow . A 3G pitch might be easier to clear with an abundance of tractors and man power but when trying to clear it via scooping the snow up via a tractor there is a danger of also scooping up the small black pieces of grain/ pellets which are to be found in these surfaces and if these are removed then you are probably doing more harm getting a game on than just calling it off. Just checking. The pitch must different to the one in Edinburgh where all you need is a rubber brush and someone to brush the snow off the park. I also believe there is a attachment which can fit onto a tractor but again not everyone has a tractor! Dissapointing that the surrounding area was hazardous again not anyones fault. Supporters think that gritters can clear snow from car parks and surrounding areas especially when it is predicted and all it takes is a brush and a few willing helpers to clear a pitch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MUSSEYBOY Posted January 18, 2015 Author Share Posted January 18, 2015 Regarding friendliest a club has to apply for a permit to play a friendly then when permit is issued the SFA allocate referee this is done to accommodate insurance of players. Thanks, my point was more why can a pitch be ok for a friendly but not ok for a league or cup match? And if it is a different pitch then why cant the league or cup match be played on this different pitch. From my point of view as a dumb supporter or 'thick' as that helpful twat suggested, it looks like either clubs or officials are looking for any excuse not to play games! For example this weekend was not armagedon in terms of weather in the central belt. Yes up North it was worse and in Ayrshire but not over the top. Planes were still landing, transport was largely fine, roads were ok, rugby games were on, shops were open but football always seems to implode at anything other than perfect conditions. It is like lets find a reason not to play instead of can we find a way to play Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glensmad Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Friendly matches can be played on any pitch you like. Competitive matches have to be played on official SJFA approved venues. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
MUSSEYBOY Posted January 18, 2015 Author Share Posted January 18, 2015 Friendly matches can be played on any pitch you like. Competitive matches have to be played on official SJFA approved venues. Thanks for that. So clubs apply for a permit to play friendlies on any pitch they like. again from my daft point of view and i appologise if this is clear to everyone apart from me What is the difference between an SJFA approved venue and any other pitch. If it has a fence round it and changing rooms and in some cases goal posts what is the big deal? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glensmad Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Thanks for that. So clubs apply for a permit to play friendlies on any pitch they like. again from my daft point of view and i appologise if this is clear to everyone apart from me What is the difference between an SJFA approved venue and any other pitch. If it has a fence round it and changing rooms and in some cases goal posts what is the big deal? I understand that competitive games have to be played at a venue where certain criteria are met, eg toilet facilities, changing facilities, entry points which allow the home team to charge for entry, lack of ability to view the match from outside, potential segregation of supporters etc. When the SJFA were looking for a venue last season for our long-running saga of the much-postponed cup tie away to Girvan, they looked at St Mirren's training ground as a possible venue, but it was inspected and ruled out as it failed on certain criteria. Friendly matches, however, are not bound by these strict rules as in many cases they are free entry for supporters. We use Toryglen a lot as the pitches and facilities are good, and it's on our doorstep. But anybody can walk in and out without question. We couldn't play a competitive match there without making a whole raft of other arrangements. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tommyboy Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 I understand that competitive games have to be played at a venue where certain criteria are met, eg toilet facilities, changing facilities, entry points which allow the home team to charge for entry, lack of ability to view the match from outside, potential segregation of supporters etc. When the SJFA were looking for a venue last season for our long-running saga of the much-postponed cup tie away to Girvan, they looked at St Mirren's training ground as a possible venue, but it was inspected and ruled out as it failed on certain criteria. Friendly matches, however, are not bound by these strict rules as in many cases they are free entry for supporters. We use Toryglen a lot as the pitches and facilities are good, and it's on our doorstep. But anybody can walk in and out without question. We couldn't play a competitive match there without making a whole raft of other arrangements. Well,if any club should keep a raft handy,glens...... Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
glensmad Posted January 18, 2015 Share Posted January 18, 2015 Well,if any club should keep a raft handy,glens...... Lol, it wasn't our home game. ;-) Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tamthebam Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 Edinburgh Uni v Edinburgh City game was called off at 12.30 yesterday. I live just up the road from Peffermill and judging by my back green I thought the game would be on but the ref thought otherwise .. then it was a dash to Haddington only to find that one was off when I got there (a Tranent player I met didn't really agree with the decision). Fortunately Spartans kicked off at 3pm so I was able to see a game... I remember when we had the really cold weather a few years ago a match at Alloa was the only game on in Scotland and that was because volunteers had cleared the 3G pitch at the Recs. The opposition that day were Peterheid so they must have had to give the club a few hours notice to come down. I dare say Glasgow Council might not have wanted folk brushing the sna' off at Petershill in case it damaged their pitch but what was good enough for Alloa.... . Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
james. Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 Regarding assistants,assistants are only compulsory in super League matches it would have cost Arniston £45 if they had requested assistantsFor a referee and his assistants is a total of £95 before a ball is kicked...I took in Oakley b Dalkieth game on Saturday and was a good match....thought Oaakley were better team in the first half and Dalkieth came back into the game in the second....the game finished 2-1 in Oakleys favour but I think a draw would have been fair....was talking to Dougie the secretary at Oakley who told me not many games get called of at blairwood park which is excellent for Oakley and the ground staff Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Larky55 Posted January 19, 2015 Share Posted January 19, 2015 Not many games will go ahead next Saturday either. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Euzi Posted January 20, 2015 Share Posted January 20, 2015 Not many games will go ahead next Saturday either. I agree. Temperatures struggling to get above freezing all week. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
tracy Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 U bringing the young team with the drums. Looking forward to ure visit on sat. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
musseygreen Posted February 13, 2015 Share Posted February 13, 2015 U bringing the young team with the drums. Looking forward to ure visit on sat. No point asking mussseyboy that. You can see from his profile his team is bonnyrigg rose. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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