Winter shut down debate resurfaces

Feb 17 2009 by Our Correspondent, Perthshire Advertiser Tuesday

THE fixtures suffered another blow when for a second successive week, all were cancelled due to unplayable pitches.

This was not unexpected as the pitches were still very hard and Thursday’s snowfall was the final nail in the coffin.

This season’s fixtures, especially since the turn of the year, have been hit hard by cancellations and once again the age old argument that it would be better to have a shut down, possibly for a month or even six weeks, the favoured option would be January and February.

The benefits of such a move would be that it would alleviate the Saturday morning pitch inspections and the last minute rush around to inform all concerned and possibly having to cancel the travelling arrangements which sometimes involves a bus.

A move such as this could see more night matches being played which some clubs are for and others against. It could also mean there would be more Saturday games free from having to play against senior opposition which in turn would see attendances improved which would certainly be beneficial as far as gate money is concerned.

The arguments against such a move are quite strong. Number one being that the fixtures can be hit by cancellations and not necessarily just after the turn of the year and if they were to occur earlier this could cause a congestion problem.

Another very valid point against a shut down is that it would have to be universal. If it wasn’t then the Scottish Cup would still be being played and teams who were still involved would have no games to keep them in trim and that would be a real disadvantaged.

There are certainly very valid arguments for and against a shut down.

The Scottish Junior FA are presently reviewing the possibilities of a blanket shutdown which would be the best option.

They are also looking at the feasibility of summer football as there appears to be quite a strong lobby for such a move. It will be interesting to see what conclusions are arrived at by the Scottish.

Here are one or two personal views on those subjects:

Scott Farquharson, Scone Thistle: “Such are the vagaries of our weather that it could make it difficult to decide when to shut down and for that reason I feel it’s really not an option”.

Charlie Grieve, Kinnoull: Charlie is singing from much the same hymn book as he too feels that the weather is to variable to pin down the weeks a shut down should take place. Charlie also makes the point that he is a traditionalist as far as the football season is concerned and he wouldn’t want it to change.

Eric Allan, Jeanfield Swifts: Eric wouldn’t be adverse to a change if it were to relieve the hassle of Saturday morning inspections and the other problems that arise with cancellations. He feels too that if such a move were to improve attendances then it could only be good for the game.

Ian Wood, Bankfoot: “I would be happy to see a change if it were to help, but I feel that this has to be fully discussed by the clubs before any conclusion or decision is arrived at.”

Those comments it is stressed are purely personal and are not necessarily the views of their clubs.

Weather permitting, Kinnoull are to play Downfield in a friendly tomorrow night under the Tulloch Park lights, kick off at 7.15pm.

This week’s fixtures are to remain the same as the ones scheduled for last week.