6th December 2000  

Reserves off

ATHLETIC are facing more fixture chaos following the late postponement of last night’s game against Wigan. The two sides will now have to meet at only a few days’ notice as the LDV Vans Trophy tie was called off at 6.30 pm when torrential rain left the Boundary Park pitch waterlogged. With both clubs desperate to play the match, a decision was left as late as possible by Stoke referee Phil Dowd. But Mr Dowd was left with no alternative. And Alan Hardy, Athletic’s chief executive, said the surface “resembled a paddy field”. “It was touch and go when he inspected at 3.30,” Mr Hardy added. “So we worked on it for an hour and the referee then said we could go ahead. But the covers we have hired need to come off four hours before kick-off so that the pitch can be prepared. And it was during that time that the weather beat us. “I feel desperately sorry for the ground staff, who worked miracles to have the pitch passed fit after two inspections. We know we have a major problem with certain areas which don’t drain as they should. But I can’t believe our bad luck with the weather.” 

It is the second time in six weeks that Athletic have called off a game around an hour before kick-off. The league match with Luton was also a victim and that was one of the reasons why they hired the new covers, at a cost of £8,000, to protect the problem-plagued surface. Provisionally, the first-round Trophy tie with Wigan has been re-arranged for next Wednesday. But Wigan may be playing in the FA Cup 24 hours earlier, depending on the outcome of this Friday’s game between Gravesend and Notts County. If that is the case, they could visit Athletic on Tuesday, December 19. Again, however, that date is subject to change as it is the week set aside for FA Cup second-round replays. To complicate matters further, Oldham RL club, who ground-share at Boundary Park, play their first home match of the season this weekend. The confusion is also a problem for Athletic manager Andy Ritchie, who is battling to get John Sheridan, Mark Hotte and Barry Prenderville back to fitness. 

Athletic’s reserve-team game against Bolton, which is due to be played at Stalybridge tonight (7pm), is subject to a pitch inspection. Call 624 4972 before travelling. 

Reserves (from): Miskelly, Prenderville, Smith, McLaughlin, Hotte, Futcher, Sheridan, Salt, Tipton, Allott, Froggatt, Sugden, Haining, Doran, Donnelly, Walsh, Holt, Campbell. 

Official Oldham Athletic Web Site

There is some confusion as to when the postponed LDV Vans Trophy clash against Wigan Athletic can be replayed. The Football League have asked both clubs to schedule the game for next Wednesday the 13th December at Boundary Park with a 7.45 pm kick off. However if there is a result to the FA Cup First Round game Gravesend v. Notts County taking place on Friday night then Wigan will be involved in their Second Round FA Cup game against the winners on Tuesday 12th, meaning the game on the 13th can not proceed.

If that is the case then the clubs will try and play on Tuesday the 19th at Boundary Park but there are further complications as that mid-week is scheduled for any FA Cup Second Round replays with Latics having the possibility of a game against Peterborough. However the situation will become a little clearer after Friday night's FA Cup game between Gravesend and Notts County. Whenever the game is replayed the same reduced admission prices of £5 for adults and £1 for concessions will apply.

On Tuesday the Latics Youth Team took on Preston North End who were unbeaten League leaders in the Football League Youth Alliance and secured a terrific 2-1 win. The game was played at Latics Chapel Road training ground. Latics took the lead with a goal from striker Mark Donnelly after Preston had a player sent off. However Preston equalised midway through the second half before an immediate reply again from Donnelly gave the Latics a very creditable 2-1 victory. They have now won 6 of their 9 games in the Youth Alliance side and what was pleasing about this result was that it was achieved against a team that included one or two players who had played in the Preston First Team.

Defender Paul Jones who sustained a fractured cheek bone in the victory over Oxford Utd last Saturday will undergo an operation on Thursday in which the cheek bone will be reconstructed. It means that Andy Ritchie will be without the services of Jones for about 6 weeks as he will not be allowed to partake in any contact action but will of course be able to undertake some of the normal training procedures.

Latics officials were again counting the cost of the severe British weather as the second First Team game of the season was lost to the wettest period we have ever experienced. Rain covers had been in place at Boundary Park following last Saturday's game against Oxford but it did not mean last night's game in the LDV Vans Trophy against Wigan Athletic was played. Latics Chief Executive Alan Hardy explained "The pitch covers were fine in keeping the weather off the surface prior to games but they have to be taken off 4 hours before kick off to allow us to prepare the pitch. It was during this time that the weather beat us". He continued "I can't believe our bad luck".

High winds drove water under the covers in one area but the groundstaff worked miracles to have the pitch passed fit at 4.30 pm after two inspections by the match Referee. Weather forecasts then said the evening would remain clear but at 5.30 pm we got another band of heavy rain which left the whole pitch resembling a paddy field and the Referee had no alternative but to postpone the game. I feel desperately sorry for the ground staff who had worked extremely hard during the day. It is certainly not their fault that this match was lost to the weather as we know there is a major problem with certain areas of the pitch which are not draining as well as they should. There is only one way of solving the problem and that is to have a complete new pitch, the same system that is currently in place at Watford, Huddersfield and Wigan, but that task can not be undertaken until the end of the season.