A few weeks off yet, but anyone know which venue is likely to host the away game against Leigh Genesis scheduled for Boxing Day?
Their “home game” v Bradford this coming Saturday (29th Nov) has been switched to the Horsfall Stadium, I believe, and the one in a fortnight v Hednesford (13th December) will be off due to their visitors being involved in the FA Trophy. Which means that their next actual home league game will probably be the one against the Albion.
Understand that Leigh have played recent home games at Chorley and at Ashton United now that Hilton Park has been condemned as unfit.
Leigh Genesis are due to move into the new Leigh Sports Village Stadium in December 2008
The first game expected to take place will hopefull be on Saturday 13th December 2008 against Hednesford Town but is yet to be confirmed.
Leigh Genesis Football Club are due to move into the new Leigh Sports Village Stadium in December 2008.
Until then, the club will be playing home fixtures at alternative venues.
Home games so far this season have taken place at Chorley FC, Radcliffe Borough and at Ashton United.
We would like to thank everyone for their valued support.
I pass the Leigh Sports Village everyday. According to Leigh Genesis’s website, the match against Witton Albion on Boxing Day, is expected to be the first game there.
Not according to my mate, who lives in Leigh, apparantly the first game in the new stadium is going to be the rugby team and he thinks that is in Jan sometime. He tells me that all the local papers talk about up coming events at the new stadium, even mentioning local junior teams playing there, but not Leigh Gen/RMi, or whoever. Dont know what is going on there???
I’ve just got off the phone to Donna Middleton, Leigh Genesis’s Commercial Manager, who tells me that our game could well be the opening fixture on the new council owned ground.
It should have been used this weekend, but the pitch was frozen.
She couldn’t say for definite, as they are still in the hands of the boffins at the council, but she was able to say that the first use of the ground would not be for rugby. The rugby team plan to use it on the 28th December, but there must be a football game on it before then, for Health & Safety criteria.
It is something to do with getting safety certificates for the ground, and that they must slowly ramp up attendances, to gradually come to the type of attendance that the Rugby team would get.
…and you wonder why their benefactor walked away because of all the red tape coming there way from the council!!
Frustratingly we still haven’t been able to secure any positive response from the LSV Co, though of course we are still working tirelessly towards securing our place at the new ground come Boxing Day.
We will of course update you all via the site as soon as we are assured of the position, so thanks for your patience and please watch this space… [/quote]
The story about Leigh’s move to their ground in time for us to play them there on Boxing Day was posted on Monday. It said they hoped for more news during the week. It is now Friday and there is no further news.
If it turns out that we shall be playing at their new ground then what is happening about us getting tickets? Do we phone up, book tickets and they are sent to us by post, or do we pick them up from the ground, or what?
Also, what will be happening about informing those Wittoners who either do not have internet access, or do not frequent this site, if the game is at Leigh so that they can get their tickets?
To be honest, I think it is an absolute joke that we are a week away from the game, we do not know where it is going to be played, and if it is going to be played at Leigh, we do not know what is happening about getting tickets. I hope this is sorted out soon, and if not, can we complain to the league about this?
Very good point Tone, I had overlooked the small matter of our pitch being in use. Let’s just play both back to back, Sprucie would love that suggestion!!!
It is absolutely crazy that six days before a game (and with Christmas in between) we still don’t know where this game will be played! I have some sympathy for Leigh’s situation but surely there is an obligation for venue’s to be fixed further in advance than this.
Pete has spent the last hour or so on the phone trying to find out what is happening on boxing day, he has tried to get in touch with Leigh council, Leigh Genisis secretary and the league secretary and the outcome of all his hard work so far… we don’t know where we are playing on boxing day, Pete has explained that we need to know before the end of todays game to be able to inform supporters, we’ll see what happens.
Just to further - possibly - complicate this VERY SERIOU ISSUE is that the three grounds Leigh have so far used to stage “home matches” - namely Chorley, Radcliffe & Ashton Utd all are staging their own home games so very unlikely Leigh can even find an alternative venue.
Will rules and regulations allow us to play both league fixtures at Wincham Park anyway?
Hopefully we’ll get an answer in time for me to announce it over the tannoy later.
The League Rules categorically state that the home team must confirm match details to the away side AT LEAST FIVE DAYS prior to the match.
IMO then if we don’t have confirmation from Leigh Genesis Association Football Club (Not their Sports Village people as that is a red herring) before Monday we should take a stand and refuse to play and therefore get on with arranging the rest of our lives for this very special week.
