In his ceaseless quest to ensure the improvement of the Northern League I see the chairman has turned his attention from bad language to bad weather this past week or so, musing on the willingness or otherwise of clubs and referees to call games off when pitches are judged unfit. He is joined by the League secretary, already with his eye on Malta in May, in generally wishing that all concerned would just get on with it, ignore the clarts and the standing water, and bash away like the good old days. Makes for good entertainment he reckons. Well, he might be right at that, but it also makes for pitches knackered for the rest of the season, groundsmen left to pick up the pieces, and clubs worried whether they will ever get the place looking right again. Far be it from me to disagree with those in authority over us, it has rarely been known to happen, but I sort of wish we called more games off rather than fewer. Pitches are a million miles better than the middens we used to play on, which makes for better football, so surely we should try and keep them that way? And what with the ubiquitious "social media" news of a postponement tends to reach all and sundry within a few minutes. Admittedly this deprives us of the sight of some poor soul turning up five minutes before kick off after a two hour bus ride from Consett only to find the gates locked and a hand written notice on the gate saying match off, but on balance that must be a good thing, no?
And isn't it a simple fact of life that the first Saturday after the end of your fixtures always features just about the best football weather of the year, and by the Tuesday night everyone is remarking on what a great night it would be for a game? Don't get me wrong, I am no proponent of summer football, give me a crisp November night every time, but freezing your proverbials off in icy wind and rain while lads try in vain to run with the ball through the treacle does nowt for me either. Spring football? I'm all in favour of that.