Rain, hail and snow has fallen on Suffolk throughout February

Ridgeons League clubs are meeting with league officials to discuss a solution to the congested fixture list.

The rain has caused a fixture backlog, and a ban on midweek games has been suggested, as well as concerns issued over the manner of pitch inspections.

League secretary and treasurer Nigel Spurling told BBC Suffolk: "We are just about starting to get to the level where we are concerned."

Some teams have played 28 games, while Norfolk's Wroxham have played just 19.

In the Ridgeons Premier Division, Leiston and Woodbridge have managed 28 games this season, with Felixstowe and Walton five behind them.

Spurling said: "If you extend the season, you can't fit them into one week, so you have to ask them to play three matches a week. That takes its toll.

You don't want a club to got too long without a home match - it's not just the ticket income, it's what the crowds spend while they are there Ridegons League official Nigel Spurling

"I've seen this before when a club do well then suffer from the large number of fixtures they are trying to cope with at the end of the season.

"Playing Saturday, Tuesday and then Thursday, it's very hard.

The league are hosting three regional club meetings in March, with issues around postponed games high on the agenda.

Spurling continued: "There are lots of difficulties to take into account, but while the league can organise the fixtures, the clubs are under pressure financially.

"You don't want a club to got too long without a home match - it's not just the ticket income. It's what the crowds spend while they are there.

"The frustration when it's postponed, the programmes are printed, the food is bought for the hospitality, it's all taken place then it rains and the game is off."

The league's regional club meetings are at Diss on 3 March, Hadleigh on 15 March and Ely on 22 March.

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