Vice Chairman Peter Varney praised the Head Groundsman Craig Freeman and all the Clubs’s ground staff for their hard work in ensuring last Saturday’s match against Bishop’s Stortford went ahead.

Varney said, “Last Friday the pitch resembled a lake. Craig and the ground staff worked until 8pm on Friday to clear all the surface water and with our new drainage system the ground was playable by 10pm on Friday and the staff were back in at 7.30am on Saturday to prepare the pitch for the match. Supporters who attended the match on Saturday will, I am sure, have been surprised by the excellent condition of the pitch.”

Varney added, “We have played on some very poor pitches this season and had a number of cancellations. Clubs need to make the condition of their pitches much more of a priority than is currently the case. I do not accept the cost argument put forward. If a match is postponed it is not just about the disappointment for players and supporters but the commercial losses can be high through loss of gate revenue, hospitality and sponsorship income, redundant matchday programmes and stewarding and other operational costs that still have to be met particularly if the postponement is on the day of the match and staff have already arrived. The loss in just one match can often equal the cost of the necessary drainage work required at some grounds.”