The pitch

3 teams local and a league below all without any problems
Who are they then? I want the game on as much as you do. I remember when the soil structure under the grass back in the 70's had masses of sand in it, I haven't seen any of that for years, the pitch used to slope down on the edge too and doesn't now. If there is anything wrong with drainage it will be because of years of neglect from the Stains due to not maintaining the pitch properly. If the soil deeper down has become compacted then the water won't drain away. Maybe this summer the soil under the grass and deeper down needs a lot of work on it, compaction is not any easy thing to cure.
 
Didn’t the groundsman mention the drainage the last time it was waterlogged? I’m not saying it’s not partly his fault (didn’t seem any urgency to work on it, tho I’m no expert so if it’s sodden underneath there isn’t much he can actually do).

He clearly can’t control the rain and I’ve seen questions of putting the covers on. This is all well and good if it was one big cover where the water can run off the pitch, but the reality is, they are all smaller separate covers, and once you start moving these with rain water on top, this water can pour onto the pitch much more heavily then the rain would have hit it. I’m no expert on covering pitches by the way, but playing devils advocate for a second, I’m not sure it’s as easy as just plonking the frost covers on.

the drainage certainly needs working on in the close season mind.
 
try thinking outside the box labelled 'blame'.
I would be asking what the hell was the condition of the pitch and the areas under the pitch like when SS took over the club. My guess would be that years of neglect has left the ground compacted to quite a depth and that his why it isn't draining away. It needs some real work on it this summer to repair that if it is what is causing it.

It's another thing on the long list of Sabler's that needs money spending on it to bring it up to standard.
 
Considering our pitch is basically laid on sand, how come other games are going ahead???
I'm not sure it is anymore, not close enough to the surface to make any difference, it used to drain like a sieve back in the 70's. I think there is some depth of compacted soils above the sand now because it was never looked after properly.
 
If Morecambe’s game is on and ours isn’t, you do have to start asking questions.
The Oystons are long gone and the staff at the club want for nothing so what’s the reason for another postponement ???
Agree that is constructive criticism and totally acceptable comment, things do need to improve in the next few seasons in regards the pitch , we know it was the “O”s fault all along but its now down to this regime
 
Not good all these postponed games, people with little to look forward to currently and at least we have football.... to postpone last minute is a big let down.

Why is it mainly us and only us seem to get caught out by weather others play through.
 
I would be asking what the hell was the condition of the pitch and the areas under the pitch like when SS took over the club. My guess would be that years of neglect has left the ground compacted to quite a depth and that his why it isn't draining away. It needs some real work on it this summer to repair that if it is what is causing it.

It's another thing on the long list of Sabler's that needs money spending on it to bring it up to standard.
At this rate they'll be no time to do anything with the pitch as we'll be playing on through June!
 
I would be asking what the hell was the condition of the pitch and the areas under the pitch like when SS took over the club. My guess would be that years of neglect has left the ground compacted to quite a depth and that his why it isn't draining away. It needs some real work on it this summer to repair that if it is what is causing it.

It's another thing on the long list of Sabler's that needs money spending on it to bring it up to standard.
Thank you. That's better than suggesting that I'm looking for someone to blame. Anyway, the question I have just mailed to the SLO is as follows:

Given the recent spate of postponed fixtures at Bloomfield Rd, owing to problems with the pitch as a result of adverse weather conditions, are there any short term and long term structural pitch improvements that can be taken to improve the chances of matches being played in these poor conditions?
If there are, what are they and is the Board intending to pursue them?
 
What a crock of shite I work outside and it's been OK February.
Let's face it the pitch is at fault the drainage is bollocked.
yeah but you do live in Jamaica! 😉

I agree there is a real problem with drainage and this winters rainfall has exposed it. It can't be rectified till the summer but I'm sure SS will be on it.
 
Thank you. That's better than suggesting that I'm looking for someone to blame. Anyway, the question I have just mailed to the SLO is as follows:

Given the recent spate of postponed fixtures at Bloomfield Rd, owing to problems with the pitch as a result of adverse weather conditions, are there any short term and long term structural pitch improvements that can be taken to improve the chances of matches being played in these poor conditions?
If there are, what are they and is the Board intending to pursue them?
Spot on
 
Thank you. That's better than suggesting that I'm looking for someone to blame. Anyway, the question I have just mailed to the SLO is as follows:

Given the recent spate of postponed fixtures at Bloomfield Rd, owing to problems with the pitch as a result of adverse weather conditions, are there any short term and long term structural pitch improvements that can be taken to improve the chances of matches being played in these poor conditions?
If there are, what are they and is the Board intending to pursue them?
I replied to your email - it bounced back as undeliverable. SD meeting was yesterday however I will follow up with the board.
 
Some of you clearly haven't noticed that it's been the wettest February on record and January was the same before that. The water table is at maximum, the ground just can't take it. Nothing to do with our pitch or the groundsman or anything else, just the shittest of winters I can remember. It's frustrating but it can't be helped.
Just checked the rainfall record for February and up until today there has been around 32mm, compared to an average Feb month of 27mm rainfall. Also a third of this months rainfall fell on the second so since then there has been 20mm. As a comparison by the same time February 2020 there had been over 90mm of rainfall and we managed to play our 2 home fixtures that month without issue

So I don't think this months rainfall is anything out of the ordinary even with a high water table.

Also the problem seems to be in isolated areas which also implies issues with the pitch rather than just mother nature.

I'm not about to blame anyone but I think it is legitimate to ask what the issue is and what is going to be done about it.
 
How old is this pitch?I can't remember the last time the whole pitch was dug up and relaid? i Know every year they scrape the top few inches off but when was the last time it was properly dug up maybe this pitch is at the end of its cycle and needs serious work doing to it?
 
Just checked the rainfall record for February and up until today there has been around 32mm, compared to an average Feb month of 27mm rainfall. Also a third of this months rainfall fell on the second so since then there has been 20mm. As a comparison by the same time February 2020 there had been over 90mm of rainfall and we managed to play our 2 home fixtures that month without issue

So I don't think this months rainfall is anything out of the ordinary even with a high water table.

Also the problem seems to be in isolated areas which also implies issues with the pitch rather than just mother nature.

I'm not about to blame anyone but I think it is legitimate to ask what the issue is and what is going to be done about it.
I have said there is obviously a problem with the drainage and I have been going on the rain down here in Cambridge which has been horrendous, I thought it had been the same up there.
 
Please forgive my vagueness and detail but my understanding is that I recall having a conversation with a fellow supporter a few years back concerning water retention on the pitch. He knew and had spoken with the groudsman at the time. Apparently, at some point either during or subsequent to the redevelopment of the stadium, the perimeter area of the pitch where you generally can just walk around or where the players warm up, was also redeveloped to accommodate the new dug outs etc. This involved removing the previous surface area which was sand and soil and replacing it with a new surface of whatever material was used. Where previously , when we had excessive rainfall, the water would drain naturally , but with this new surface around the perimeter, the water was just being retained on the surface. Clearly no new drainage was installed and the grounds man was not very happy as his concerns were not listened to . I can only think that parts of the pitch have been laid on this unsuitable surface thus causing the problems we are currently seeing.
 
Please forgive my vagueness and detail but my understanding is that I recall having a conversation with a fellow supporter a few years back concerning water retention on the pitch. He knew and had spoken with the groudsman at the time. Apparently, at some point either during or subsequent to the redevelopment of the stadium, the perimeter area of the pitch where you generally can just walk around or where the players warm up, was also redeveloped to accommodate the new dug outs etc. This involved removing the previous surface area which was sand and soil and replacing it with a new surface of whatever material was used. Where previously , when we had excessive rainfall, the water would drain naturally , but with this new surface around the perimeter, the water was just being retained on the surface. Clearly no new drainage was installed and the grounds man was not very happy as his concerns were not listened to . I can only think that parts of the pitch have been laid on this unsuitable surface thus causing the problems we are currently seeing.
If you remember the paddocks, the pitch was 4 feet above the bottom level. There were drainholes in the walls at the front. Now it's level with the front of the stands. That must impact on the ability to drain.
 
Could have drop some money in the cricket clubs coffers and borrowed their water remover Bowdry think it moves 60litres a minute
 
Just seen pic of groundsmen using the machine that takes 60 litres of water a minute of standing water, looks like he has tried his best looks like it's a legacy from our past owners. .
 
If you remember the paddocks, the pitch was 4 feet above the bottom level. There were drainholes in the walls at the front. Now it's level with the front of the stands. That must impact on the ability to drain.
Was going to ssy the same,now it will be surrounded by concrete and a few drain holes,which maybe partially blocked. Maybe the foundations have sunk and blocked them. Could be a total rebuild.
 
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