As things have changed some what from the initial published list of games - this is the line up as of last week. (still subject to change of course)
Tuesday 22nd July Newcastle Town Away
Saturday 26th July Ramsbottom Away
Tuesday 29th July Trafford Away
Saturday 2nd August Congleton Away
Tuesday 12th Man City Home
Watch this space for further announcements
Gate prices have now been announced for the Man City game:
Adults - £6
Concesssions - £3
Under 14’s free
Access to stand and terracing as always.
Continuing this season access to the social club will be via the turnstiles first.
Just wondering why we dont play our friendlies at home? Wouldnt it be better for the bank manager if we did? We would get a few quid in through the gate and pie shop.
We would play more of our pre-season games at home (as there are more revenue opportunities in doing so), however this season and last season the pitch has required a significant amount of attention to get it in a good state for the season. As a result of this work, which was late in starting, we need to minimise the number of games played on it before August 16th.
We will play the Man City friendly at home and are looking to allow Runcorn to play AFC Liverpool on the pitch. By only playing two games on the pitch (with a possible third to be confirmed), we stand a far better chance of the pitch being in a good state. It takes 10-12 weeks of attention and time to grow (knit together) before games ideally should be played on it.
We need to make sure that next season that this work begins at the beginning of May and not during June and then we can schedule a mix or both home and away games for pre-season.
Nige has arranged to play Middlewich Athletic in a pre season game at Seddon Street on Tuesday 5th August. Kick off time has yet to be confirmed.
Middlewich Athletic = Middlewich Town, for our younger viewers!!!
Confirmation that the game on Tuesday 12th Man City at Home is a [color=#FF0000]7.00pm kick off.[/color]
The_Wincham_Rabbit wrote:
[quote]We would play more of our pre-season games at home (as there are more revenue opportunities in doing so), however this season and last season the pitch has required a significant amount of attention to get it in a good state for the season. As a result of this work, which was late in starting, we need to minimise the number of games played on it before August 16th.
[/quote]
:unsure: In that case, how come Nantwich are hiring the park on Friday night?
Peter_M wrote:
In that case, how come Nantwich are hiring the park on Friday night?
[/quote]
The key word here has been underlined and highlighted… :lol:
Having been to the ground today I spoke to one of the directors. You have to remember a few things, all the upheaval at the end of the season meant that no work was done on the ground until 6 weeks after the end of the season, GE (who arranges a lot of the friendlies) resigned, A new manager (who also needs to make decisions on who he wants to play) was appointed mid summer. My understanding is that a decision not to play any home friendlies until the week before the season started was made to give the groundstaff as much time as possible to work on the pitch, as usual they have performed miracles and the pitch is as good as they can get it, a very late phone call last week from Nantwich asking if we could host the game v FC United was receiced, the groundstaff were first asked and then Nantwich were told yes. I asked about next year and was told yes we will be looking for home friendlies as long as the groundstaff agree they will have enough time/money to spend getting the pitch ready for mid july. Hope this long winded answer helps Peter M, no conspiricy theorys going on at Witton (anymore)
Robbo and BigBob have answered this question very well and are quite correct.
Due to the circumstances at the end of last season the work on our pitch didn’t get underway properly until the middle of June. The previous administration at the club still had monies left owing to suppliers from 12 months previous and planning and paying for the work had to be coordinated. Starting the work over 6 weeks late (and then still not at full speed) meant the pitch needed the extra time to be in a playable position by now.
The decisions made, as I understand them, were to play no games on the pitch at all during July and even then to minimise the games played before the league kicks off on August 16th. We have been fortunate that both June and July have been good ‘growing weather’, in other words the dreadful English summer has at least provided some benefit. The chaps who have worked on the pitch have put an amazing amount of work in and arguably have managed to get the pitch to a better state than it was at this time last year.
It was initially decided to allow Runcorn to host one friendly against AFC Liverpool (one needs to remember that they are paying to use Wincham Park for all their home matches next year and it will overall bring in a 5 figure sum), plus that we would play our attractive friendly against Manchester City. As the pitch condition had improved we were considering a friendly ourselves for Friday 8th August which would have taken precedence, however due to the late timing this could not be arranged. Nantwich’s need to move their game against FCUM coincided with this and there enquiry was carefully considered and discussed with the groundstaff. The opportunity to host the game will generate a four figure sum for the club and it was felt that on the basis the pitch was up to playing this game that this was in our best interests.
Playing some home friendlies is certainly the aim for next year, however this relies on the pitch work being coordinated and started on the final whistle of our last home game (or any other end of season game)! That way the pitch can be ready in the early part of July and potentially accommodate 2 or 3 friendlies as well as those away from home.
I hope that collectively your question has been fully answered Peter, as Bob rightly stated there is no hidden agenda to the decisions made whatsoever.
:cheer: Thanks for the helpful explanations, folks!
Your welcome, I am sure that Mark will also be prepared to answer anything further on this on Thursday evening at the Information Meeting at the club.
i think alan spruce and peter robinson in particular deserve a mention for the tremendous amount of work that they have put in on the pitch.
I agree, it was looking a treat when I was there last week. Looking forward to playing on it on the 31st!
Red and White Blood wrote:
Noted.
Can an Admin guy update our home page, where it states next match as being v’s Man City at 07:30pm, Not 07:00pm as in your post.
While in update mode, can the banner at the top of the home page be changed to remove references to old players/mamager?
And the Club crest needs updating too!!!
Come on Admins - you’ve had all summer!! 
Pass me the brush and I’ll sweep the terraces as well, actually that is not a good answer as that is exactly what I have been doing!!!
:laugh:
Just what we need…a good sweeper!