What happens if we can't get through the next few difficult months? How many games are we allowed to postpone before the FA step in? What will happen if they do?
What if the world ends tomorrow?
Least of our worries will be the pitch.
I was actually asking a genuine question was curious about the rules. Let me put it this way, what is the world doesn't end tomorrow or any other day but the pitch does not improve or even get worse?
1) I don't think you can relay a pitch in January. Grass needs sunlight for the roots to knit together. We could end up playing football on a pitch like the French rugby team.
2) If it's a problem with drains and drainage, how will relaying the pitch help?
As I said earlier. I think there are strong sections for not being able to host your games. Not sure on the exact penalty. But if it means playing elsewhere then we will have to. I cant see a freshly laid pitch being ready for sat. Does anyone know what the sanctions are?
Very much doubt they're relaying the whole pitch. Would imagine that some of barest sections of the pitch will have some new turf put down, think they've done that before mid-season with the 6 yard box. It won't bed in properly due to the lack of sunlight, but will make the pitch more playable on a short-term basis. They'll probably have to keep redoing it until the weather improves.
The main aim will be just to get through the season. Yes, the pitch will be poor, not ideal for a decent passing game and we won't get any pretty games of football, but it will be safe for the players.
The hard work will then begin during the summer to get the drainage sorted and the whole thing relaid.
Oxford cup date rearranged Posted: Mon 06 Jan 2014 Author: Olly Groome
The FA Cup
Charlton's previously postponed FA Cup third round tie against Oxford United has been rearranged for Tuesday, January 14th (7:45pm)
The Valley cup clash, originally scheduled for January 4th, was called off following a pitch inspection due to a waterlogged pitch.
The winners of the tie will advance into the fourth round where they will face a visit to Huddersfield Town on the weekend commencing Friday, January 24th.
Tickets remain on general sale priced just £10 adults and £5 concessions and U21s.
Only the lower tiers of the West Stand and North Stand will be open for home supporters, while away fans will be sat in The Jimmy Seed Stand as usual.
All previously purchased tickets will remain valid for the rearranged game.
Wednesday's FA Cup third-round tie between Charlton Athletic and Oxford United has been postponed because of a waterlogged pitch at The Valley.
The match has been rearranged for Tuesday, 14 January.
The two sides were due to meet on Saturday but the game was called off on Friday after the pitch failed an inspection by a local referee.
The winners of the tie will travel to Championship side Huddersfield Town in the fourth round.
That game will take place on the weekend of 25-26 January.
Charlton have installed a dome over the surface at The Valley in an attempt to dry out the pitch.
The south-east London club have problems with the drainage system at the ground, which cannot be resolved until the summer.
"We're in this predicament because the pitch hasn't had any sufficient drainage work done on it for the past 16 or 17 years," deputy head groundsman Nathan Chapman told the club website. (external)
"The drainage system is collapsed at one end which prevents any water from going through and as a result it just holds on the surface.
"The only way to permanently solve the problem is to wait until the summer when we will put into action plans of a new drainage system which will then be sufficient enough.
"The reason we can't do it now is because we need to dig the whole pitch up and pretty much start again."
What happens if we can't get through the next few difficult months? How many games are we allowed to postpone before the FA step in? What will happen if they do?
The relevant bits of the FA rules - as they relate to FA Cup ties are here - Broadly, it seems that a committee of the FA - The Professional Game Board - get the final say. I've put some emphasis on the bits I thought might be particularly relevant.
9. VENUE FOR MATCHES (a) Venue (i) The venue of each match (save for the Semi-Finals or Final which will be played at venues selected by the Professional Game Board) will be that of the first named Club. Subject to Competition Rules 9(a)(ii) and 9(a)(iii) such match shall be played on that ground unless the consent of the Professional Game Board has been obtained to any change of venue. In the case of a replay, subject to Competition Rules 9(a)(ii) and 9(a)(iii), the match shall be played on the ground of the second drawn Club, unless the consent of the Professional Game Board has been obtained to any change of venue. (ii) For a tie to be played on the ground of a Club outside The FA Premier League or Football League playing a Club from The FA Premier League or The Football League a meeting must be arranged by the Home Club with the local safety authority and/or Police and representatives of The Association to assess the suitability from a safety or security point of view of staging a tie at the ground. Any such meeting must be held within three days of the date of the Draw (or the date of the drawn tie in the case of a replay).
Following such meeting, the Professional Game Board will decide whether to allow and require the match to be played at such ground or not, taking into account the views expressed at such meeting.
In the event that following such meeting, the Professional Game Board allow and require the match to be played at that ground, the Away Club may still lodge a protest under the provision of Competition Rule 9(b) if applicable.
In the event that following such meeting, the Professional Game Board decide not to allow and require the match to be played at that ground then the first alternative ground shall be the nearest suitable ground subject to the agreement of the Professional Game Board. (iii) In any event, the Professional Game Board shall have the power to order that any match be played on an alternative ground or date, including a Sunday, if it is considered appropriate and necessary. For ties switched from the ground of the Club first drawn, then the Professional Game Board shall determine the financial conditions in which the tie shall be played and this may include, any excess receipts to be paid into the Pool. (iv) No monetary or other consideration shall be asked for, offered or paid in connection with negotiations for a change of venue. (v) Any Club with a tie switched after declaring that the ground has been authorised to a capacity agreed with the local authority or Police may be refused entry into the Competition for the following season and be subject to such other action as the Professional Game Board shall deem necessary. (b) Protests Regarding the Suitability of Ground (i) A Club may protest to the Professional Game Board that the ground of the Home Club is unsuitable for the match. Such protest must be made to the Professional Game Board and must be accompanied by a fee of £250, which may be forfeited if the protest is not sustained. (ii) The Professional Game Board shall have the power to consider the protest in such manner and following such procedures as it considers appropriate. The Professional Game Board may amongst other things order the match to be played on the ground of the protesting Club, or on a neutral ground. The payment of the costs incurred by either Club or The Association incidental to the protest shall be at the discretion of the Professional Game Board.
and
11. REPLAYS, POSTPONED AND ABANDONED MATCHES (MATCHES PLAYED PRIOR TO THE SEMI FINALS) (a) Replays (i) When a first match has resulted in a draw, it shall be replayed on the ground of the Club drawn second: in the Qualifying Competition – on or before the following Thursday; in the Competition Proper – on the second Wednesday following the original match, or earlier if mutually agreed by the two Clubs and the consent of the Professional Game Board obtained. (ii) When a replayed match is drawn after 90 minutes, an extra 30 minutes shall be played, and 15 minutes shall be played in each half. (iii) If the score is still level at the end of extra time, the winner shall be determined by the taking of kicks from the penalty mark in accordance with the procedure adopted by the International Football Association Board. (b) First Matches which are Postponed or Abandoned (i) When a first match has been postponed, or is abandoned before the completion of 90 minutes and neither Club being at fault, it shall be played on the same ground: in the Qualifying Competition – on or before the following Thursday; in the Competition Proper – on the second Wednesday following the original match or earlier if mutually agreed by the two Clubs and the consent of The Professional Game Board obtained. (ii) If the match be drawn or again postponed or abandoned it shall be played as directed by the Professional Game Board. (iii) Matches abandoned through the fault of the Clubs shall be dealt with by the Professional Game Board. (c) Replays which are Postponed or Abandoned (i) When a replayed match has been postponed, or is abandoned before the completion of 90 minutes and neither Club being at fault, it shall be played on the same ground as directed by the Professional Game Board. (ii) When a replayed match has been abandoned at any stage after the completion of 90 minutes and neither Club being at fault, the match shall be further replayed. A coin shall be tossed, and the Club winning the toss of the coin shall have the choice of venue. The coin will be tossed by a Club Official in the presence of an Official of the other Club at the first suitable moment after the abandonment. The match shall be played as directed by the Professional Game Board. (iii) Matches abandoned through the fault of the Clubs shall be dealt with by the Professional Game Board. (d) The Professional Game Board shall have the power to vary these arrangements if it is deemed necessary. (e) Any Club failing to fulfil a fixture shall be dealt with by the Professional Game Board. (f) Clubs must ensure that the police are fully aware of possible replay dates and the dates of any re-arranged dates for postponed ties. If problems are envisaged with arrangements for a tie the Professional Game Board should be informed as soon as the draw is known.
The last highlighted bit is probably the most interesting. It sounds, as if postponed games may be dealt with in the same way as abandoned games and that there might be some sanction applied if a club can be seen as being at fault. It is not clear whether inadequate expenditure on maintenance would be considered to be a "fault". With the extremem and unusual weather conditions I rather doubt it.
I haven't looked but suspect that very similar rules are applied for The Football League matches.
1) I don't think you can relay a pitch in January. Grass needs sunlight for the roots to knit together. We could end up playing football on a pitch like the French rugby team.
2) If it's a problem with drains and drainage, how will relaying the pitch help?
You can lay and grow grass anytime of year. All thats required is plenty of money, lights, a bit of warm air and some covers. I think grass grows at anything above 5C.
The main aim will be just to get through the season. Yes, the pitch will be poor, not ideal for a decent passing game and we won't get any pretty games of football, but it will be safe for the players.
The hard work will then begin during the summer to get the drainage sorted and the whole thing relaid.
I don't know how different the drains at the Valley are from domestic drains or how serious the problem is - but there are ways of remotely re-lining collapsed pipes if an access point is available or can be made, which might offer a better short (even medium) term solution:
If we are going to relay some turf - can't we get at the drains via that. At least get something down there to suck out the water - then use the dome to regulate how much water falls on the pitch. I know there are other issues like the high water table, but you would have thought there are things we can do.
Oxford United’s FA Cup fourth-round tie away to Charlton Athletic has been postponed for a second time in quick succession. The original clash was scheduled for Saturday, but a waterlogged pitch meant officials switched the date to this Wednesday 8 January.
However, the pitch at The Valley suffered a collapse in one of their draining systems, meaning officials have now rearranged the game once again to Tuesday 14 January.
The Division Two outfit plan to set up a dome this week to help protect the playing surface in the hope that it will dry out, putting doubt to their clash with bottom-side Barnsley on Saturday.
The news means the Yellows have now not played since losing 2-0 to Scunthorpe United on December 29, but will be hoping to bounce back when the Us entertain lowly Portsmouth to the Kassam Stadium this weekend.
In turn, once United’s tie with Charlton is complete, the victors will be rewarded with an away trip to fellow Division Two side Huddersfield Town in the fourth-round of the domestic cup.
The FA Cup’s fourth-round draw took place yesterday afternoon and revealed the victors at The Valley would go onto face Mark Robins’ Terriers in the last-32.
And lastly, Oxford’s Aidan Hawtin has secured a work experience loan deal at Skrill South outlet Hayes & Yeading United. The 18-year-old winger was expected to make his debut for the club on Saturday but for their visit to Dorchester Town being postponed, although he could make an appearance when United travel to Gosport Borough on Tuesday.
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Not sure where he's getting that from the OS says the work will have an effect on Saturdays game.
In turn, once United’s tie with Charlton is complete, the victors will be rewarded with an away trip to fellow Division Two side Huddersfield Town in the fourth-round of the domestic cup.
Looks like he's already admitted defeat, perhaps we can just have a bye into the 4th Rnd to save a lot of trouble?
In turn, once United’s tie with Charlton is complete, the victors will be rewarded with an away trip to fellow Division Two side Huddersfield Town in the fourth-round of the domestic cup.
Looks like he's already admitted defeat, perhaps we can just have a bye into the 4th Rnd to save a lot of trouble?
Comments
2) If it's a problem with drains and drainage, how will relaying the pitch help?
Does anyone know what the sanctions are?
The hard work will then begin during the summer to get the drainage sorted and the whole thing relaid.
FA CUP: Full details on rearranged cup clash versus @OUFClive --> http://bit.ly/1aAm07h #cafc pic.twitter.com/jDPg7QVKUO
Oxford cup date rearranged
Posted: Mon 06 Jan 2014
Author: Olly Groome
The FA Cup
Charlton's previously postponed FA Cup third round tie against Oxford United has been rearranged for Tuesday, January 14th (7:45pm)
The Valley cup clash, originally scheduled for January 4th, was called off following a pitch inspection due to a waterlogged pitch.
The winners of the tie will advance into the fourth round where they will face a visit to Huddersfield Town on the weekend commencing Friday, January 24th.
Tickets remain on general sale priced just £10 adults and £5 concessions and U21s.
Only the lower tiers of the West Stand and North Stand will be open for home supporters, while away fans will be sat in The Jimmy Seed Stand as usual.
All previously purchased tickets will remain valid for the rearranged game.
Read more at http://www.cafc.co.uk/news/article/20140106-oxford-cup-date-rearranged-1277623.aspx#mpEEq2HwVR8jeFMO.99
http://www.cafc.co.uk/index.aspx
The match has been rearranged for Tuesday, 14 January.
The two sides were due to meet on Saturday but the game was called off on Friday after the pitch failed an inspection by a local referee.
The winners of the tie will travel to Championship side Huddersfield Town in the fourth round.
That game will take place on the weekend of 25-26 January.
Charlton have installed a dome over the surface at The Valley in an attempt to dry out the pitch.
The south-east London club have problems with the drainage system at the ground, which cannot be resolved until the summer.
"We're in this predicament because the pitch hasn't had any sufficient drainage work done on it for the past 16 or 17 years," deputy head groundsman Nathan Chapman told the club website. (external)
"The drainage system is collapsed at one end which prevents any water from going through and as a result it just holds on the surface.
"The only way to permanently solve the problem is to wait until the summer when we will put into action plans of a new drainage system which will then be sufficient enough.
"The reason we can't do it now is because we need to dig the whole pitch up and pretty much start again."
I've put some emphasis on the bits I thought might be particularly relevant.
9. VENUE FOR MATCHES
(a) Venue
(i) The venue of each match (save for the Semi-Finals or Final which will be played at
venues selected by the Professional Game Board) will be that of the first named Club.
Subject to Competition Rules 9(a)(ii) and 9(a)(iii) such match shall be played on that
ground unless the consent of the Professional Game Board has been obtained to any
change of venue. In the case of a replay, subject to Competition Rules 9(a)(ii) and
9(a)(iii), the match shall be played on the ground of the second drawn Club, unless
the consent of the Professional Game Board has been obtained to any change of
venue.
(ii) For a tie to be played on the ground of a Club outside The FA Premier League or Football
League playing a Club from The FA Premier League or The Football League a meeting must be arranged by the Home Club with the local safety authority and/or Police and
representatives of The Association to assess the suitability from a safety or security point
of view of staging a tie at the ground. Any such meeting must be held within three days
of the date of the Draw (or the date of the drawn tie in the case of a replay).
Following such meeting, the Professional Game Board will decide whether to allow and
require the match to be played at such ground or not, taking into account the views
expressed at such meeting.
In the event that following such meeting, the Professional Game Board allow and require
the match to be played at that ground, the Away Club may still lodge a protest under the
provision of Competition Rule 9(b) if applicable.
In the event that following such meeting, the Professional Game Board decide not to
allow and require the match to be played at that ground then the first alternative
ground shall be the nearest suitable ground subject to the agreement of the
Professional Game Board.
(iii) In any event, the Professional Game Board shall have the power to order that any
match be played on an alternative ground or date, including a Sunday, if it is
considered appropriate and necessary. For ties switched from the ground of the Club
first drawn, then the Professional Game Board shall determine the financial conditions
in which the tie shall be played and this may include, any excess receipts to be paid
into the Pool.
(iv) No monetary or other consideration shall be asked for, offered or paid in connection
with negotiations for a change of venue.
(v) Any Club with a tie switched after declaring that the ground has been authorised to a
capacity agreed with the local authority or Police may be refused entry into the
Competition for the following season and be subject to such other action as the
Professional Game Board shall deem necessary.
(b) Protests Regarding the Suitability of Ground
(i) A Club may protest to the Professional Game Board that the ground of the Home
Club is unsuitable for the match. Such protest must be made to the Professional
Game Board and must be accompanied by a fee of £250, which may be forfeited if
the protest is not sustained.
(ii) The Professional Game Board shall have the power to consider the protest in such
manner and following such procedures as it considers appropriate. The Professional
Game Board may amongst other things order the match to be played on the ground of
the protesting Club, or on a neutral ground. The payment of the costs incurred by
either Club or The Association incidental to the protest shall be at the discretion of the
Professional Game Board.
and
11. REPLAYS, POSTPONED AND ABANDONED MATCHES (MATCHES PLAYED PRIOR TO THE
SEMI FINALS)
(a) Replays
(i) When a first match has resulted in a draw, it shall be replayed on the ground of the
Club drawn second:
in the Qualifying Competition – on or before the following Thursday;
in the Competition Proper – on the second Wednesday following the original match,
or earlier if mutually agreed by the two Clubs and the consent of the Professional
Game Board obtained.
(ii) When a replayed match is drawn after 90 minutes, an extra 30 minutes shall be
played, and 15 minutes shall be played in each half.
(iii) If the score is still level at the end of extra time, the winner shall be determined by the
taking of kicks from the penalty mark in accordance with the procedure adopted by
the International Football Association Board.
(b) First Matches which are Postponed or Abandoned
(i) When a first match has been postponed, or is abandoned before the completion of 90
minutes and neither Club being at fault, it shall be played on the same ground:
in the Qualifying Competition – on or before the following Thursday;
in the Competition Proper – on the second Wednesday following the original match or
earlier if mutually agreed by the two Clubs and the consent of The Professional Game
Board obtained.
(ii) If the match be drawn or again postponed or abandoned it shall be played as directed
by the Professional Game Board.
(iii) Matches abandoned through the fault of the Clubs shall be dealt with by the
Professional Game Board.
(c) Replays which are Postponed or Abandoned
(i) When a replayed match has been postponed, or is abandoned before the completion
of 90 minutes and neither Club being at fault, it shall be played on the same ground
as directed by the Professional Game Board.
(ii) When a replayed match has been abandoned at any stage after the completion of 90
minutes and neither Club being at fault, the match shall be further replayed. A coin
shall be tossed, and the Club winning the toss of the coin shall have the choice of
venue. The coin will be tossed by a Club Official in the presence of an Official of the
other Club at the first suitable moment after the abandonment. The match shall be
played as directed by the Professional Game Board.
(iii) Matches abandoned through the fault of the Clubs shall be dealt with by the
Professional Game Board.
(d) The Professional Game Board shall have the power to vary these arrangements if it is
deemed necessary.
(e) Any Club failing to fulfil a fixture shall be dealt with by the Professional Game Board.
(f) Clubs must ensure that the police are fully aware of possible replay dates and the dates of
any re-arranged dates for postponed ties. If problems are envisaged with arrangements for
a tie the Professional Game Board should be informed as soon as the draw is known.
The last highlighted bit is probably the most interesting. It sounds, as if postponed games may be dealt with in the same way as abandoned games and that there might be some sanction applied if a club can be seen as being at fault. It is not clear whether inadequate expenditure on maintenance would be considered to be a "fault". With the extremem and unusual weather conditions I rather doubt it.
I haven't looked but suspect that very similar rules are applied for The Football League matches.
I think grass grows at anything above 5C.
http://www.drain247.co.uk/drain-sewer-re-lining/
http://www.patchliner.com/index.html
Just a thought....
http://www.rageonline.co.uk/charlton-postponed-again/
Article by Dan Church
Oxford United’s FA Cup fourth-round tie away to Charlton Athletic has been postponed for a second time in quick succession. The original clash was scheduled for Saturday, but a waterlogged pitch meant officials switched the date to this Wednesday 8 January.
However, the pitch at The Valley suffered a collapse in one of their draining systems, meaning officials have now rearranged the game once again to Tuesday 14 January.
The Division Two outfit plan to set up a dome this week to help protect the playing surface in the hope that it will dry out, putting doubt to their clash with bottom-side Barnsley on Saturday.
The news means the Yellows have now not played since losing 2-0 to Scunthorpe United on December 29, but will be hoping to bounce back when the Us entertain lowly Portsmouth to the Kassam Stadium this weekend.
In turn, once United’s tie with Charlton is complete, the victors will be rewarded with an away trip to fellow Division Two side Huddersfield Town in the fourth-round of the domestic cup.
The FA Cup’s fourth-round draw took place yesterday afternoon and revealed the victors at The Valley would go onto face Mark Robins’ Terriers in the last-32.
And lastly, Oxford’s Aidan Hawtin has secured a work experience loan deal at Skrill South outlet Hayes & Yeading United. The 18-year-old winger was expected to make his debut for the club on Saturday but for their visit to Dorchester Town being postponed, although he could make an appearance when United travel to Gosport Borough on Tuesday.
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Not sure where he's getting that from the OS says the work will have an effect on Saturdays game.