Re: Match Off
 

The match referee is the one who has to take the ultimate responsibility. I am a bit puzzled from Ozzy's earlier comments about the time taken by the match referee to call the game off. The first thing a referee does when he gets to the ground is to inspect the pitch. I'd be interested to find out if he did and on what basis he didn't call the game off then.

Re: Match Off
 

thats what i'm on about, if it WAS an F.A. appointed ref who inspected at 10-00, then there was no rain, what possible reason is there for a later inspection, i say again ludicrous.

Re: Match Off
 

It's not that unusual. I remember it happening a few times over the years where a local referee (FA registered of course) pronounced the pitch fit to play on, but then the game was called off once the match referee arrived.
As Dave says, it is the match referee that makes the ultimate decision. The real question should be, why didn't he call it off when he first arrived at the ground and saw the pitch? One reason could be that he didn't inspect the pitch until well after he arrived.

Re: Match Off
 

Listed below are a couple of quotes from Brentford fans who travelled up for the game... Their M/B has lit up like a christmas tree, i take it they dont like what happened. I like the quote "amaturish" !!!

I think weve been found out :D

Dont suppose EW is jumping thru hoops we have lost good revenue and if i remember correctly we are liable for the Brentfords teams travel and accomodation for the re-arranged match :eek::eek::eek::eek:

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For Accrington to convince people to make the trip by telling them that the game was definitely on reeks of a stitch up - just so they didn't lose out IF, by some slim chance, the game did go ahead.

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I know they're here on merit but amatuerish Accrington simply shouldn't be in the league instead of the likes of Exeter and Oxford. You can't run football clubs like this and you can't treat fans like we were treated yesterday

<TABLE class=tborder id=post1150292 cellSpacing=0 cellPadding=6 width="100%" align=center border=0><TBODY><TR vAlign=top><TD class=alt1 id=td_post_1150292 style="BORDER-RIGHT: #ffffff 1px solid">Once again there is NO thought for the fans, the fans that make the trips week in week out at much expense.

Fair play to the vast numbers that made the effort, only to be screwed by a non league team with a non league ground.

Accrington should be ashamed of themselves.
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Re: Match Off
 

I don't see how the club can take any blame for yesterday.

Re: Match Off
 

We had one last season, passed fit by a local ref then postponed by the match ref. Like you say TM it's not that uncommon.

Still can't figure out the time delay. The only thing I can think of is that the referee looked at that pitch and said the bad parts were not playable. Proffesional pride means groundsman do not like being beat by the weather and it's possible he said 'give me an hour and I'll sort it', if there is any chance he will get his hour, but it wasn't enough. I'm only guessing from past experience though :)

I bet the groundsman sleeps today, he must be absolutely knackered from the last few days efforts to get it played.

Re: Match Off
 

Re: Match Off
 

I came from cleethorpes ,these things happen though ,i was gutted,feel for the brentford fans,i got talking to someone who said they had come from hampshire to see their first accrington game!although they was also doing other things in the area so they said it wasn't too bad,i bet they were cheesed off though .

Re: Match Off
 

i agree it aint the club, to me its the F.A. if they appoint a ref to do an early inspection n there is no more rain,that should be it-end of, could save a lot of grief from travelling fans. its not rocket science. they are the "powers that be" surely thats not beyond em, or do the fans not count?

Re: Match Off
 

Cashy it's actually the Football League not the FA in this instance. The difference being the FL is the worst of 2 evils :D

Re: Match Off
 

Im not 100% sure on this, however I think you will find that the F.A./F.L. did not appoint a Ref do the 10am inspection, rather it was Stanley themselves. To the best of my knowledge the final decision rests with the Appointed Official.

Re: Match Off
 

i do the route from here to Harrogate down the A59 on a regular basis with my parents living in Harrogate and you are looking at an hour from there to Stanley (depending on how you drive :D)

Re: Match Off
 

this is what i was basing my comments on, U.K. n Dave.:confused: but if its a toss up between the F.A. n F.L. they are both football authorities n should work together for the good of the game.:rolleyes:

Re: Match Off
 

I think there's more chance of a Stanley v Burnley Champions League final :rolleyes:

Re: Match Off
 

in instances like this the Match Official should be forced to travel earlier if there is a doubt over the condition of the pitch. There is no point having a first inspection by another referee if he can be overruled.

Unless there is increasing bad weather a game should be called no later than 10am. To a degree fans could put up with part travelling and then turning around, but for a small club like Stanley to have to pay for Brentfords unncessary travelling costs is absurd.