Most of us won't make a mid week trip J - I only hope that they have some protection - either heating or covering - although with temperatures not looking like getting much above freezing all week, not even sure what good that will do.
Just spoke to Hednesford and as you would expect the pitch is covered in snow, with temperatures expected to get as low as -8 tonight. They are going to give the game every chance of going ahead and what ever can be done will be but they still rate it as 50-50. They said that by Thursday they would be alot clearer on the chances
I'm part of the Ground staff at Hednesford. As you can imagine there is currently a good layer of snow on the pitch, although this will probably have all melted away by Wednesday at the very latest. The trouble we have at Hednesford is that when we have a heavy frost one end of the pitch always takes longer to de-frost as it is covered in shade from one of the stands. To try and protect this area we put covers down and it does work, unfortunately for us we had a very extreme frost over New Year meaning our game couldnt go ahead. I really want this game to go ahead on Saturday as you will bring a few up and I would expect a few more locals to turn up as it's a Conference South side. Fingers crossed it starts to warm up before the weekend!!!
Thanks for taking the time to keep us up to date, I think everyone connected with both clubs wants it to go ahead Sat for all manner of reasons. Let's keep our fingers cross and if it does go ahead us Wings fans with rail tickets will buy you a pint!!
Do I buy a ticket now for £24 and risk losing it or being stuck in Hednesford or do I pay £43.50 on Saturday but have the freedom to do what I want, assuming the game isn't called off in advance.
Internet deal last Sunday, £11 return (thanks Bugger) although.......i doubt it'll go ahead.
Big shame if it doesn't as i reckon there'll be at least 80, if not more, Welling fans there on Saturday (£800(ish) on the gate receipts) and.............probably less than 10 for a midweek restaging.
Sorry Replica, i don't know as i didn't book them although i don't think it was through a specialized site just that 'the star' who booked ours was in the right place at the right time .
One small problem is that we're booked on specific trains, ie 09.03 out of Euston and i think 19 something back. Not a problem if the game goes ahead but, if the pitch inspection doesn't go ahead until 9am....we're already on our way. Hopefully common sense will prevail and they'll make the decision on the Friday but............how much do i want this game to go ahead!!!!
dont reckon the decision will be made until saturday - im just concerned we'll get all the way up there and then they'll say the match can't be played!
Sounds like we will be really well supported IF the game goes ahead on Saturday. I'm getting slightly more optimistic. Forecast for Cannock on Saturday isn't bad and a positively tropical 4 degrees Saturday night.
Just a thought, if the game was called off and played midweek there maybe enough people for one of them 12-16 seater type small coaches. Usually it's impossible to get back from these places by train at that time of night!
I would also be in for a coach on the rearranged game if it were to go that far! Have my train tickets for saturday and i am well up for this game as last weekend was off!
Weather looking a bit warmer at the week-end so may be a chance. I guess it is how deep the ground is frozen and how long it will take to thaw. Fingers crossed.
Yep, ok, the forecast is definitely better and there is a glimmer of optimism but (probably) more importantly is the fact that Hednesford should do EVERYTHING in their power to get this game on as the crowd for a midweek restaging will be.................small!
Oi I said be a bit more effing positive. Euston will be ok by tomorrow and I've been assured that the trains will be fine on Saturday as they know there's a huge Welling contingent travelling. So the trains will be ok and the weather is getting better. A bit of postive thought can go a long way in situations such as these.
The Hednesford Groundsman here again. 90% of the snow has now gone off the pitch, with the rest being gone by tomorrow (we are only talking a light covering now on a small patch of the pitch, nothing like earlier on in the week). The only problem that I can foresee is the pitch freezing overnight on Friday. We have got the covers down on the bad end (which is always trouble when the frost comes in) and it seems to be doing the trick that end of the ground. The trouble is is that the rest of the pitch is pretty much open to becoming frozen, something we can't do much about as we haven't got enough covers. With a bit of luck and hopefully not to bad a frost then we are hoping that the game will get the go ahead, we are pretty much in the lap of the gods now though