Midweek Fixtures

1. Midweek fixtures

Some concern has been expressed about the Midweek Fixtures scheduled for next week on Monday 20 September and Wednesday 22 September.

In view of the late start to the season, which was to accommodate the wishes of the majority of Clubs, it is essential that we try to get these fixtures played. No action is being taken by the Management Committee to postpone the fixtures, it is being left to the Referees on the respective nights to make a decision based on the weather at the time.

Remember there is always an option to play reduced time in each half, provided 2 equal halves are played and this may well be the case next week. Please try to get to the grounds as early as possible and perhaps cut down the warm-up. After all, when many of the Managers were playing football themselves, a warm-up on the pitch was unknown!

Let’s be sensible about this and do our best to get these fixtures played. The alternative is that they will be postponed until later in the season and will have to take their chances as night matches after the clocks go back again in March. If we have a bad winter like last season this will increase the pressure on teams and Managers to get the fixtures completed in time.

We have already had a number of fixtures postponed because of pitches being unfit and we’ve only played 2 fixtures so the signs are not good so all Clubs are urged to do their best to get these fixtures played. Also remember that, if your pitch is unfit, there is an option to try to move the fixture to your opponents ground and that should be the first solution tried.