REGIONAL 1 SOUTH CENTRAL

islander wrote:

Robb wrote:

Did anyone else see that directive from the League to all of a sudden say that 2:30 kick-offs were back on in February? It seems a bit odd to do that mid-season when they already said they were going to default to 2pm kickoffs at the start.

I saw it, didn't see any great controversy - even on 1st Feb sunset in London is around 4.50pm, allowing, at a pinch, 2.5hrs for a game starting at 2.30pm to be completed during daylight, which would mean a 45-minute cushion for injury breaks and any other extended delays.

More significant, I thought, was the line that the league expects clubs to take all measures to get a game on at the second time of asking, including moving to the opposition's home ground if that is playable when the hosts' pitch isn't and the hosts don't have an alternative venue available.

Its funny because last season, the league forced Tunbridge Wells to play a home game that would have been postponed a 2nd time at Havant, despite the fact that Havant had been offered some neutral 4G alternatives that they refused and there were some free dates later in the season. Reminder that this was BEFORE this rule magically came into being mid-way through this season. And I know a few clubs were not happy about that either.

It seems very odd that they would formally bring this supposed "precedent" into force half-way through a season. It seems contrary to fair play and open competition if you're forced to play at the oppo's ground for a home fixture. Yes, by all means mandate the finding of a neutral ground as an alternative but there really no need to specifically mention play at the opponent's ground.

Edited by Robb - 1 hour 44 minutes ago at 16:36