Clubs financially hit by waterlogged pitches

Football clubs across Surrey say postponements due to waterlogged pitches have cost them financially.

Director of football at Leatherhead FC, Mick Sullivan, says the club loses about £3,000 for each home match rescheduled from a Saturday to mid-week.

Sullivan has called on clubs further up the football pyramid, as well as the Football Association (FA), to help fund stadium improvements including better drainage systems.

Bob Dick, from Surrey FA, says the weather this year has been the worst for the last 10 years which has led to a number of postponements at a grassroots levels, including children's matches.

Three Leatherhead FC matches have been called off due to adverse weather in the past three months.

Sullivan says the club, which plays in the Isthmian League South Central Division, is largely reliant on volunteers to tend to the pitch and therefore cannot afford approximately £70,000 for a suitable drainage system.

"The ultimate solution would be a 4G pitch but that is serious money," he says.

Woking FC, in the National League, have also had games postponed recently - including a home tie against Altrincham, which was called off 60 minutes before kick off.

The club's managing director, Robin Byrne, says: "All clubs in the area are struggling with the unpredictability.

"Both teams wanted to play the [Altrincham] game, but one individual deemed it unfit - we took a massive financial loss."

Dick, speaking to BBC Radio Surrey, says: "From the FA perspective, to get back on track I'll work backwards from the dates and give myself contingency.

"I have 22 cup finals coming up, starting soon.

"The problem we have is when I speak to clubs the day before a match and they tell me they have ducks in the goalmouth, that match isn't likely to go ahead."

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