Squaddie pitches in over call-off

Jan 27 2009 by Les Stewart, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

A FRONTLINE soldier and long-time Saints fan yesterday blasted the club over the late call-off of their table-topping match against Dunfermline at McDiarmid Park.

Andrew Gannon, whose mother lives in Stanley, travelled thousands of miles from his base in Afghanistan and had been eagerly anticipating the big match.

The 27-year-old L/Cpl in the Royal Engineers, currently on a six-month tour of duty in strife-torn South Helmand, admitted he was “absolutely gutted” when he heard McDiarmid had failed a pitch inspection.

“What’s the point of having undersoil heating if you don’t switch it on,” he queried.

“There may not have been frost forecast for Saturday but at this time of the year there is always a risk. The weather forecasters don’t always get it right.

“I’d been telling my mates in Afghanistan all about the Saints and I was really geed up for the match.

“It was a total let down when we heard it had been cancelled.

“I’m sure I wasn’t the only one who felt short-changed. There would have been a huge crowd there – thousands of Saints’ fans as well as a big travelling support from Dunfermline.

“I’ll be back with my unit, the 26 Armoured Engineers, when the rearranged match is played. It has totally ruined my leave.”

Andrew has been a Saints follower since his days at primary school.

He was a mascot at the old Muirton Park and also a ballboy twice at McDiarmid Park.

Saints managing director Stewart Duff said: “We apologise to Andrew and to any other supporters who were inconvenienced. It was very unfortunate.”

Part of the pitch was frostbound and deemed dangerous by match official John McKendrick when he made a planned 12.30pm inspection.

But Saints rejected accusations that they had not put on the undersoil heating simply to save cash.

Chairman Geoff Brown noted that the club was facing a £6000 bill for hospitality, stewarding and policing – more than twice the cost of a heating bill.

The club, as is the custom, trusted to the weather forecast and temperatures had not been expected to dip below zero overnight in the Perth area.