Farnborough FC

Farnborough boss Spencer Day in a pitch battle

By Jon Couch
January 10, 2013

ANGRY Spencer Day has called on Conference chiefs to assess the state of Billericay’s pitch after becoming embroiled in a flare-up with rival boss Craig Edwards following the late decision to postpone Saturday’s league clash at the New Lodge.

The Farnborough boss was left furious after his players and the Supporters’ Club coach made the trip to Essex, only to be told to turn around an hour-and-a-half before kick-off with the pitch heavily waterlogged.

Day insisted the match should have been called off early in the morning, such was the extent of the damage, describing the surface as “dangerous”, but Edwards argued his team had played on worse and wanted the game to go ahead as planned, only to be rebuffed by the match referee.

As a result, Farnborough have now made a request to Conference officials to assess the state of the New Lodge pitch, while also making an application for costs to cover their unnecessary travel expenses.

Day explained: “It was a complete waste of time. The game should have been called off first thing in the morning.

“The pitch was totally unplayable, there were 10 or 12 areas in which you sunk half a foot deep, it was dangerous and the Conference should take a serious look at it. It’s in an appalling state.

“Craig's comment that they have played in worse was ludicrous. We are not going to be bullied into playing a game on a pitch that is dangerous.”

As it is, Day’s men now go into this Saturday’s home clash with high-fliers Dover Athletic with precious little game time behind them – although the Boro chief insisted the consequence of that could go any one of two ways.

“On the plus side we are fresh and raring to go but the negative is we will not be up to match sharpness.

“It’s a massively difficult game on Saturday, Dover have incredibly talented players in their squad and an excellent away record so we know it’s going to be tough.”

It hass not been the ideal start to 2013 in the transfer market either for Day, who is being made to wait by Hampton & Richmond in his bid to lure defender Dean Inman back to the club on a new loan deal.

And Day has also missed out on another centre back, Curtley Williams, who has made a U-turn on his decision to move to Cherrywood Road, instead opting to stay at Lowestoft.

Another player who will not be in the squad for Saturday is Medi Abalimba, who has been released by the cash-strapped club in order to balance the books.

The 20-year-old Congolese midfielder arrived at Boro in the summer with Football League pedigree having turned out for Derby, Southend and Oldham, but has made just six starts for Boro this term.

Day said: “It's a shame because he's a lad with an awful lot of talent, he's just not been able to adapt to this level of football. I’ve had to cut the budget and it was unavoidable in the end.”

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