F.A TROPHY SPECIAL
Kevin Nicholson and his fellow Harrier's players sat in the KHFC team bus (see page 10, November 17th for a reminder of what it looks like) with the engine running ready for an 8.30am get away. They were due to travel up to Yorkshire to face Bradford Park Avenue in an F.A Trophy tie. Avenue had enlisted the services of a local referee to assess their pitch so as to help avoid the possibility of a wasted journey for Kev and his teammates. The pitch inspection, scheduled for 8am was no inconvenience for the old Yorkshire Ref who always took his whippets for an early walk anyway. He tied them up outside, and went in to carry out his inspection of the playing surface. ''Nowt wrong wit pitch' was the message he sent through to Kev and the boys, and so first gear was selected and the Harriers coach made haste for Bradford.
However, at 1.45pm, and yes Kev and his fellow Harriers had arrived by then, the actual match referee (possibly a Southern Softie) takes a look at the pitch and, probably applying the F.A's unpublicised politically correct method of pitch assessment: 'Would you let a womens match take place on that surface' announced 'no game today'.
An embarrassing climb down for Bradford, who emphasised on their official site that the pitch had been deemed perfectly playable at 8.am: (link) - Avenue Say All Was Well At 8am
Director Kevin Hainsworth said: “It was a pity but, as we all know, the final decision is always the match referee’s to make.
“We had a local ref in at eight o'clock in the morning because Kidderminster were setting off at half past. If at that time there had been any chance of the match being called off then it would have saved them travelling.
(link) - Bloody Whippets
No actual snow storm, but at least this caused a Twitter storm to brew. Kidderminster fans arriving didn't seem to appreciate the blunt Yorkshire message of: 'Games off!, tha can bugger off back t'Midlands'
The Kidderminster Shuttle was soon reporting: ANGRY Harriers’ fans vented their frustration after their FA Trophy First Round clash was controversially postponed at 1.45pm on Saturday.
The knockout clash was called off just over an hour before kick-off, disappointing dozens of supporters who had made the 150 mile trip to West Yorkshire.
A local official had inspected the pitch at 8am and decided that the game was on, despite the fact that a section of the surface was frozen.
@mrharryurz: “Lack of empathy from their staff. Icy patch on entrance to ground not gritted. Not very impressed!”
(link) - Harriers Fans Left Unimpressed
This was all happening with Harriers unaware that further fun and games were taking place back home at Aggborough....and this time the finger of blame was being pointed at them.
Halifax and their fans had travelled South to play their Trophy match with Worcester City. Worcester ground share with Harriers, and so the game was due to take place at Kidderminster's home ground of Aggborough. However when Referee Mark Pottage turned up he noticed a bit of hard ground near one of the corner flags and announced 'Match Off'. Now was this a mess of Pottage's making, or did the blame lie elsewhere ?
'No inspection was carried out in the morning but City officials insist that, under the terms of their ground-share, all pitch issues are the responsibility of landlords Kidderminster Harriers.
The Halifax team were already at the ground, while around 200 fans had travelled from West Yorkshire.
“The match referee arrived and looked at the pitch, it was the first time any of us from Worcester had seen it and it was quite clear it was going to be a doubt.
“It’s frustrating because we were ready to go and Halifax had travelled. In all honesty it’s a tough call because the pitch was perfect apart from the one area
(link) - Pottage's Mess
Now let's take a quick look at the fortunes of Bristol Rovers. As we know, Cap'n Manse's magnificent leadership skills (with or without an armband) have propelled Rovers up the table to third position. If, for the Pirates, there was ever an afternoon that emphasised the importance of Cap'n Manse's charismatic presence on the field, or the disastrous consequences that follow when you attempt to do without it, it was surely this Saturday when they played a home F.A Trophy tie with Bath City.
In the week leading up to the game, Manager Darrell Clarke had explained that Manse had played every minute so far for Rovers, with the exception of the last 10 at Dorchester when he'd already helped them to mighty lead in the 7-1 trouncing of the minnows, and so had earned a rest. Rovers midfielder Ollie Clarke had also been quick to apportion credit to the great Cap'n:
Clarke, meanwhile, was starting a game for the first time in a month after a recent hamstring injury and the form of Lee Mansell and Stuart Sinclair combined to keep him out of the side.
"It has been hard for me to get back in the team because (Lee) Mansell and (Stuart) Sinclair have been playing really well. I felt a bit short of match sharpness, but that will come back pretty quickly with all the games coming up over the Christmas period".
(link) - Clarke Pays Tribute To Superstar Manse
Sadly for Rover's, what befalls them if they rest Manse for just one match, even against pub league opposition, is now a major cause for concern. To be so reliant on great Cap'n Manse surely puts an unfair burden on his shoulders. Players who can't perform unless motivated by the sight of a Mighty Manse double fist pump. Rovers must address this issue and get others to pull their weight, rather than using Manse in the starting eleven as their solution to every problem.
