The current spate of bad weather is playing havoc with your SDFL League fixtures. We have gone from the warmest September on record to one of the wettest October and November for many years.

This combined with postponed Cup matches has resulted in a backlog of league games.

In the last 4 weeks, the Premier Division has seen 5 games cancelled due to Cups, and 5 league fixtures cancelled by weather.

The Division 1, has seen 4 games cancelled due to Cups, and 3 league fixtures cancelled by weather

The weather is still disrupting fixtures into tomorrow 18th November, with 4 league fixtures already postponed due to the Wilts Cup backlog.

We appreciate your patience, and flexibility at this time. We have been here before, and we will eventually get through this.

At Wednesday evenings Management Committee, we thought it would be appropriate to issue a timely reminder of how we work around these very testing times.

CUP MATCHES

County Cups, League Cups and Plate matches, will always take precedence over league fixtures, and your fixture secretary will do his best to fill in any gaps, as soon as he can.

This does mean some back to back fixtures with same opponents, it will happen, but will be avoided where possible. Some gaps have been left in the fixtures deliberately, that he will use to take up the backlog.

Always best to check with Pete if there is a gap in your schedule to see what he has planned before your players arrange a day around the shops?  

IN BAD WEATHER WHO CALLS THE GAME OFF?

The pitch providers, will be your first port of call. They will either contact the Home Team, before the weekend, or if you haven’t heard from them and uncertain, please contact them for confirmation.

If the game is still on Friday night, but the weather gets worse, or after a heavy frost REFEREES will go out (on request), on the Saturday morning to check the conditions.

Please remember SCOR states, if the referee arrives 30 minutes before kick-off, and then has to call the game off due to the playing conditions, they are entitled to request 50% of their fee so it is well worth keeping in contact with them and/or Referee Appointment Officer before the scheduled match.

The Parish Council will issue a credit against any booking cancelled due to the weather. Please check with your own provider, and make sure you are not left out of pocket!

CONTACT NUMBERS  – LEAGUE FIXTURES AND CUPS

League committee contacts can be found on the website and a list of club contacts is also available, however, the following are some additional contact details you may find useful:

WILTS COUNTY CUPS – 01793 486047 Julie.Doyle@WiltshireFA.com

GLOUCESTER CUPS – 01454 615888

I hope this helps, let us hope for some improvements in the weather?