Aldershot Town FC

Football: Rochale game postponed

By Charlie Oliver
January 07, 2010

A LUNCHTIME inspection on Thursday at Aldershot Town's Recreation Ground confirmed the postponement of Saturday's Coca-Cola League Two match at home to leaders Rochdale.

Given the depth of snow that fell in north-east Hampshire yesterday and on Tuesday evening, the decision was always going to be a formality, especially considering the long-term forecast, which predicts that freezing temperatures will continue at least into next week.

The club contacted the Football League in order to arrange for as early a decision as possible and were granted permission to hold the inspection to ensure that as much prior notice as possible could be made with regard to the cancellation. Local Football League referee Danny McDermid carried out the inspection.

Groundsman Andy Nunn said: "We wanted to do things the right way. The referee who inspected the pitch looked like an Eskimo by the time he came off it because the snow is so deep."

With the postponement of this match the club have now had three of the last four Saturday fixtures called off due to the adverse weather or through FA Cup commitments. This is in addition to the postponement of the Hereford United match on Bank Holiday Monday (December 28). That match and the Rochdale one are yet to be re-arranged.

The game at home to Bradford City fell foul of snow before Christmas. That has been re-scheduled for this coming Tuesday, January 12, but it too must be in grave doubt. The club advises supporters to keep in touch with the official website and local media outlets as the situation will be closely monitored ahead of Tuesday.

If that game is lost to the weather too, Shots fans will begin to wonder when they will finally see their side play in 2010. A trip to County Durham to face bottom-of-the-table Darlington on January 16 hardly augurs well, either, given that parts of that county have had snow lying on the ground since before Christmas.

Aldershot, who are seventh in the table, still have 24 of their 46 League Two matches to play this season.

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