Town face fixture headache
LONGRIDGE Town are facing an end-of-season fixture pile-up in their battle for the league title.
Town still have to play nearly half of their 30 league fixtures, with only five weeks of the season remaining, leaving them with the prospect of playing up to three matches a week.
The hectic schedule of games is unlikely to help Town's push for the Preston and District Premier Division title, with all of their title rivals having fewer fixtures to fulfil.
Club Chairman Brian Parkinson said: ''It's not ideal. It looks like we are going to have to play two, or in some cases, three games a week. Hopefully we are going to offset a couple of matches onto the new ground to give the Recreation Ground a break."
The congestion comes after numerous postponements on the council-owned Kestor Lane Recreation Ground where Town currently play their games.
The council decide whether the pitch is suitable to be played on, and Preston and District League Secretary Alan Robinson believes the situation needs to be addressed for future seasons.
He said: ''As a league we don't agree with the council making that decision and we're trying to get Longridge to change that arrangement. The local council are making decisions far too late.
''It's not Longridge's fault but they are having to cancel games at the last minute. Other councils make decisions on Friday but for Longridge they come on a Saturday morning and make a decision. They should be able to get a local referee to look at it and decide whether it's playable. It needs to change.''
The problem could be solved if Town were to make their long awaited move to their new ground on Inglewhite Road. Decisions involving postponements of matches would then rest with the club and match official.
The move would also aid Longridge in their bid to join the West Lancashire Football League, which would put them at seven in the National League System. Officials from the league have already visited the new ground as the club investigate the possibility of the move.
Mr Parkinson said: ''We have applied to enter the league for next season, but we have to meet certain criteria and even then we have to be voted in by other clubs in the league. I think geographically we are in a good position as we're in and around many of the other teams in the league.''
But Town face a race against time if they hope to enter next season, after the league officials told the club the facilities aren't currently up to standard.
West Lancashire Football League General Secretary John Brown said: ''We made a visit and we have told them they have a lot of work to do. The playing area looks superb but the facilities need more work. But looking at the facilities that are going to be there they would be a credit to this league and the town.''
The deadline for league applications was on March 30, although there may be some allowance for late entries.
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Last Updated:
11 April 2008 12:18 PM
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Source:
n/a
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Location:
Longridge