Harrogate stay fifth in the league despite the Southport postponement

Harrogate Town's Blue Square North game at home to promotion rivals Southport was called off by the match referee because of an unsafe pitch.

General manager Alan Williams told BBC Radio York: "We had an inspection at nine o'clock and the pitch was OK and it was only going to get better.

"We think it's playable but the referee's come, said it's unsafe and called the match off.

"Everybody is stunned, but it's his decision which matters."

The match was called off 90 minutes before kick-off, just as Southport's team were arriving at the ground.

"There are places where it's hard but it's not frozen, you get harder pitches in the summer," Williams added.

The clash between fifth and second at the CNG Stadium looked likely to attract a big crowd, 1,133 having seen Southport's boxing day win at Burscough.

"It's cost the club a lot of money, Southport were bringing three or four buses, we were expecting seven or eight hundred ," Williams added.

One positive aspect of the postponement is that some of Town's injured players may be fit for whenever the game is rearranged.

Town's next game is at home to Burscough on Saturday.

E-mail this to a friend

Printable version