I did email Harrow and this is what they replied:
I can only apologise on behalf of Harrow Borough Football Club for late postponement of the match yesterday and the frustration you must feel. I can assure you that this was a feeling shared with you by all at Harrow. We have also travelled some distance to an away game this season, only for the match to be called off after we had arrived, and so can I understand fully why you are so upset.
I would however like to explain the situation as it developed so that you and your friends don’t feel so aggrieved towards us:
We did as you were aware arrange for an 11.30am pitch inspection by a local referee and notification of this was put on the Ryman League website. The playing surface had improved considerably from the position it was in at 8.00am that morning and there was real belief that as the temperature rose then the pitch would be playable by 3.00pm. As is required on pitch inspections not undertaken by the Match Referee the inspecting official discussed the position by telephone at some length with the Match Referee and they agreed that Dartford Football Club should travel and that the latter would look again at the pitch on his arrival. We therefore left the Pitch Inspection Notice on the Ryman League website and this information was passed to numerous callers who telephoned me direct. Perhaps in hindsight we should have changed the notice to read that a final decision would be made by the Match Referee on his arrival – but hindsight is a wonderful thing as we all know.
The Match Officials looked at the pitch shortly after their arrival and then discussed the matter with the two respective managers who advised him that they were both keen to play the fixture. The Referee advised that he would make a final decision at 2.10pm shortly before team sheets were exchanged. On re-inspecting the offending areas in front of the terracing on one side of the ground he advised that in his opinion the improvement had not been sufficient to enable the match to take place and he was postponing the fixture. This was not a decision that was welcomed by the two managers, but the Referee refused to change his mind despite their pleas to the contrary. We immediately advised the Ryman League and the appropriate press agencies, but by then of course many people had arrived for the game.
I do believe we did everything correctly yesterday, but do understand your anger, I only hope that you will accept this explanation as an honest reporting of events and don’t judge Harrow Borough Football Club too harshly.
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Topic: Harrow Borough vs Dartford Sat 30th Jan 2010 3pm ko (Read 7381 times)