Tuesday sees Witton welcome struggling Ossett Town to The NetDec Stadium in a re-arranged Evo-Stik Division One North fixture, postponed from it’s original date. The fixture begins a week of three games, all against teams at the lower end of the table that are all winnable but Witton can’t take anything for granted and any results will need to be earned, Ossett currently sit third from the bottom in the league and have in fact, won more games on the road than in front of their own fans. Their latest outing saw them pick up a very creditable point against Lancaster City at the weekend. Kick off at The NetDec Stadium is 7.45pm.
Parking: The Car Park is past the Social Club on the right
Admission Prices: Adults £9, Concessions £6, Students £4, Under 15s (Admitted FREE with WAITC “Kids Go Free” Season Tickets).
Matchday Programme: £2
Social Club: The Social Club is open from 6pm. Please note: Hot food is available from the tea bar inside the stadium
Social Club Access: Before the game, the Social Club is accessible by way of the main entrance ONLY. From half time onwards the Social Club is accessible from inside the stadium via a passageway within the main stand. Alcohol is permitted inside the stadium but MUST be in a plastic beaker.
Please note: As the Social Club is now a full-time food preparation area, dogs are not permitted inside the building - with the exception of assistance dogs (hearing & visually impaired).
Sat here in the office at work and the sun has just come out. Here’s hoping for a dry rest of the day because I’m sure Pete, Sprucey and co will get the game on tonight given a fighting chance. Really need this suffering from football withdrawal symptoms after a fortnight without seeing a match. UTA and fingers crossed
There needs to be significant investment in to the playing surface we cannot afford to keep having games postponed. I sincerely hope that the club are looking at increasing the tenants rent to partially cover the costs. The pitch in its present state cannot sustain two teams. I am sure these questions will be answered at the forthcoming agm.
Its not the pitch it is the volume and timing of the rain we have had, and the referee had looked at the weather forecast and it gave rain from 6pm onwards - there was standing water on the pitch at the time of the inspection so a call was made based on the known facts.
Of course a little more investment on the pitch will help to a degree and I think the club have plans for the end of season to improve the surface and if it was Me I would be asking for a further contribution from our tenants. UTA
I agree wholeheartedly with what you are saying but you can bet your bottom dollar that Vics game will be on this Saturday and that’s the typical luck that is Witton Albion. Can’t help but feel that a decision was taken far too early. Such a shame as I am sure the game would have been played as it stands now.
[quote=“WHS” post=63610]Personally I would prefer one team playing on the pitch next season. I for one will not share with Rushe.
WHS.[/quote] I for one will not replace the £ 20.000 or however much v*cs are contributing to our funds. :whistle:
I thought I’d post to answer Johnno on his viewpoint that the decision was taken too early.
At 8am-ish today Witton asked me to inspect the pitch which I have done since they moved to Wincham Park, FOC.
The list of local referees available during the working day isn’t long and, due to having to go to Manchester I was only available before 11am & after 4.30pm. The latter left it too late for Ossett Town to stop their plans to travel to Cheshire through rush-hour traffic so I inspected it at 10.35am & found 3/4 of the pitch under water where (a) the ball wouldn’t have moved & (b) was a danger to players.
The weather forecast was also for it to be light rain from 7pm (it started at 6.56pm) & to be heavier from 8pm.
With the amount of water on the pitch not going anywhere and with only a few volunteers to work on the pitch (as others were also at work inc Johnno(?)) it was a very easy decision to postpone the game.
Whilst I haven’t watched to see if the heavy rain came at 8-ish the amount of rain we have had has vindicated my decision this morning.
It cost Witton nothing, it saved Ossett travelling unnecessarily & whilst it’s frustrating not to watch a game of football, it will be re-scheduled for a hopefully drier day.
GE
Thank you for clarifying the events of today Mr Edgeley and for taking time out of your busy schedule to inspect the pitch which has as you pointed out been vindicated with tonight’s further rain. You are also quite correct in pointing out that I was busy at work and perhaps when I am in retirement I too will be working on the pitch with the rest of the tireless volunteers who do a fantastic job. I do however stand by my view that the pitch is not up to the job of accommodating two sets of fixtures. The drainage most definitely needs looking at close season and the tenants most definitely need to be digging deeper in assisting with the improvement costs. UTA
For most of the 25 years I have been watching Witton at Wincham Park, there has been 2 teams playing on the pitch. Usually it has been the reserve team, or when Runcorn Linnetts and Northwich Victoria were ground sharing. In fact I cant remember a season when there has not been 2 teams sharing the ground.
The pitch this season is in the best condition I have ever seen it.
The problem this winter is due purely to the worst wet weather ever witnessed for a very long time.
Any normal winter weather, and the ground would have easily coped well.
