Pre-Match Thread Bradford City vs Southend United

[Barry.C]

Enormous respect for all our great travelling fans, such an effort and huge disappointment. Lets hope they get some form of decent compensation , starting with a win when re-arranged. I luckily couldnt go because of evening commitments, but was given a free spare ticket to watch Gillingham play Burton ( 0 - 3 ) Burton were exceptional with Duffy outstanding and Bedford a right handful upfront, reminding me just what we are missing in a striker, they were helped by Gills being reduced to 10 men in the first half. Thought we played better football than both sides from watching our fine performance at Priestfield

 

[delr]

Who was "they"? the good SZ Coach lads / SUFC or Bradford officials?

no - the Tz coach lads stuffed him full of cakes and crisps:winking:

 

[chalkie]

The clubs and the league have little, or no regard to fans and in my opinion they would be happy if away fans never turned up.
Sad that such a well supported ex premier league club has such a poor pitch.
Bradford could surely have paid for an inspection yesterday, and why the decision was delayed this morning is a farce.:sad:

Bradford fan here. I absolutely get that it's frustrating but on the points you make - The pitch is actually in the best nick it's been in for years. Last season it got bad over the winter (we have had issues with drainage, not helped by the location of the ground/pitch i.e. built into the side of a valley) but we had a full relay over this summer with a focus on better quality drainage.

According to the club, in advance of today's game, once the normal repair work on the pitch had happened from last Sunday's cup match, the rain covers went on early Friday morning at which point the pitch was in perfect condition.

The ref for today (Ross Joyce) was kept informed of that and was aware of the weather forecast, which apparently was for the rain to subside later. This morning Brian Horton as a rep for your club came to view the pitch first thing and was fine with it. The ref turned up at 11.30, inspected and said the pitch was perfectly playable. He said he'd inspect later and then 1.45.

Apparently there was talk of putting the kick off back given the forecast they had of the rain being due to stop, but in the end there was just too much water so the postponement came.

So actually the pitch was still very much playable up past lunchtime having had your club rep and the match referee inspect it. Not ideal circumstances, but both clubs obviously wanted to get the match on and so it was given as much chance as possible.

It's not as if we already had a quagmire before the rain started.

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

There was non stop rain for hours before and during the Cov City and Sheff Utd games AND those pitches showed NO indication of water problems. I know we haven't spent that amount of money on the Roots Hall grass BUT we have been improving it season upon season. Carlisle situation IS exceptional BUT I am thinking Bradford's is partly poor management and investment.

 

[RHB]

There was non stop rain for hours before and during the Cov City and Sheff Utd games AND those pitches showed NO indication of water problems. I know we haven't spent that amount of money on the Roots Hall grass BUT we have been improving it season upon season. Carlisle situation IS exceptional BUT I am thinking Bradford's is partly poor management and investment.

It's an omen Massimo. A bit like Bury away last season, to be rearranged and now part of our late play-off run in. And you can call me Shirley if I'm wrong.

 

[yogi bear up the cagire]

Well Shirl, I really think it's a bit early to tell.:winking:

 

[chalkie]

There was non stop rain for hours before and during the Cov City and Sheff Utd games AND those pitches showed NO indication of water problems. I know we haven't spent that amount of money on the Roots Hall grass BUT we have been improving it season upon season. Carlisle situation IS exceptional BUT I am thinking Bradford's is partly poor management and investment.

This summer was the third time (I think) the pitch has had a full relay in recent years - although I believe it was the first time additional funds had been spent on digging deeper to further improve drainage.

I would hope Coventry's pitch stands up to everything weather-wise, it's essentially a brand new ground! I'm sure any club can ensure perfect drainage if they have a blank canvas to work from. Sheff Utd is completely on the flat.

The foundations of our ground (it was built on a disused quarry in the late 1800's) and it's position on the side of a valley present 'natural' drainage challenges. We have all the drainage machinery (including a 'slitter', whatever that is) to work on the pitch in these circumstances and apparently that was all in use earlier in the week up until Thursday night/early Friday.

As I said in my last post, the club said the pitch was in excellent condition all the way through to Saturday morning, but the amount of rain (at least 24 hours straight) won in the end.

I know it's natural to look to apportion blame in the circumstances, but I'm not sure it's fair to say we haven't spent enough on the surface (when we've spent hundreds of thousands) or it must be poor management of the pitch. It's not as simple as comparing us to yourselves, or other clubs, and suggesting we essentially 'should do better'.

 

[spoons]

Bradford fan here. I absolutely get that it's frustrating but on the points you make - The pitch is actually in the best nick it's been in for years. Last season it got bad over the winter (we have had issues with drainage, not helped by the location of the ground/pitch i.e. built into the side of a valley) but we had a full relay over this summer with a focus on better quality drainage.

According to the club, in advance of today's game, once the normal repair work on the pitch had happened from last Sunday's cup match, the rain covers went on early Friday morning at which point the pitch was in perfect condition.

The ref for today (Ross Joyce) was kept informed of that and was aware of the weather forecast, which apparently was for the rain to subside later. This morning Brian Horton as a rep for your club came to view the pitch first thing and was fine with it. The ref turned up at 11.30, inspected and said the pitch was perfectly playable. He said he'd inspect later and then 1.45.

Apparently there was talk of putting the kick off back given the forecast they had of the rain being due to stop, but in the end there was just too much water so the postponement came.

So actually the pitch was still very much playable up past lunchtime having had your club rep and the match referee inspect it. Not ideal circumstances, but both clubs obviously wanted to get the match on and so it was given as much chance as possible.

It's not as if we already had a quagmire before the rain started.

Welcome newbie Chalky, my comments remain, except for feeling sorry for your fans too.
When you say rain covers, do you mean those few sheets in corners and goal mouths?
I now liken your pitch to that at Accrington Stanley and that is poor to say the least!

 

[spoons]

This summer was the third time (I think) the pitch has had a full relay in recent years - although I believe it was the first time additional funds had been spent on digging deeper to further improve drainage.

I would hope Coventry's pitch stands up to everything weather-wise, it's essentially a brand new ground! I'm sure any club can ensure perfect drainage if they have a blank canvas to work from. Sheff Utd is completely on the flat.

The foundations of our ground (it was built on a disused quarry in the late 1800's) and it's position on the side of a valley present 'natural' drainage challenges. We have all the drainage machinery (including a 'slitter', whatever that is) to work on the pitch in these circumstances and apparently that was all in use earlier in the week up until Thursday night/early Friday.

As I said in my last post, the club said the pitch was in excellent condition all the way through to Saturday morning, but the amount of rain (at least 24 hours straight) won in the end.

I know it's natural to look to apportion blame in the circumstances, but I'm not sure it's fair to say we haven't spent enough on the surface (when we've spent hundreds of thousands) or it must be poor management of the pitch. It's not as simple as comparing us to yourselves, or other clubs, and suggesting we essentially 'should do better'.

I bet the pitch was better when you were in the Prem and getting Sky money, your fan base is superb but clearly the pitch is not up to standard. You say it was in excellent condition, but why then all the talk of rain covers? Not sure why you choose to defend it. Whether our fans or yours travelled miles and spent money, it matters little to the clubs, it is disappointing at the least to see games being lost to rain. Good luck anyway Chalkie, looking forward to a wet midweek visit to Bradford and a win to see us into the playoffs:happy:

 

[chalkie]

I bet the pitch was better when you were in the Prem and getting Sky money, your fan base is superb but clearly the pitch is not up to standard. You say it was in excellent condition, but why then all the talk of rain covers? Not sure why you choose to defend it. Whether our fans or yours travelled miles and spent money, it matters little to the clubs, it is disappointing at the least to see games being lost to rain. Good luck anyway Chalkie, looking forward to a wet midweek visit to Bradford and a win to see us into the playoffs:happy:

It wasn't better in the Premier League. Whilst we didn't have a game called off in our time there for this reason (can't recall if we had any frozen off), the season we went up we had a game abandoned at half time v Crystal Palace following persistent torrential rain - if we'd had that sort of weather in the PL we'd have had the same problem because the main relaying work we've had done came subsequently. Since the relay this summer, the pitch has held up into winter far far better than probably ever before.

The pitch was in excellent condition given the amount of rain to that point. The ref was perfectly happy with it on Saturday morning, as was Horton from your club. However, hours more persistent rain then saturated the pitch. Regardless of what we do with the pitch from a drainage perspective, ultimately there's only so much water it can take (acknowledging that is probably less than some other clubs). Like I said before, the ground/pitch is located in the worst possible place for that issue.

I choose to defend it because whilst the club has its faults, which they're rightly criticised for, I genuinely don't know what else they could have done on this point.

Yes it's frustrating for the fans when it happens and obviously your supporters had a long wasted journey (bar the one who lives in Baildon), but when the pitch was being deemed fine into early afternoon by the ref who was apparently in possession of a forecast suggesting the rain would soon stop, what else could we do as a club? Ultimately the clubs want to get the game played, which isn't unreasonable.

I do agree though that the fans ultimately don't seem to matter much in the grand scheme of things. Look forward to the rematch!

 

[greyerfox]

Having been one of the many who got to Bradford yesterday only to be frustrated by the weather, I don't think anyone can underestimate the amount of rain which must have fallen all day in Bradford. We got to Bradford station about noon and the deluge was intense. The rain remained relentless. We began to get worried about 1pm and once we heard that ref was to inspecting with the two managers and would have another look at 1.45pm, we could see there was only one outcome. Thanks to Chalkie for his input. I must say that all the City fans we spoke to in the pub beforehand were very friendly and well-informed. Spoke very highly of the young CB they have on loan from the Hammers. And on train home we met some exiled Shrews fans who got on at Peterboro. A late Barnett goal salvaged a point for them. They were missing Woods, the midfielder sold to Brentford and who had so impressed those on here who saw him against us last season. The footballing fans fraternity is a great institution. Swopping stories of past matches with the Shrews fans helped to make it a great day out despite not seeing a ball kicked. And I spare a thought for the man from Ipswich who was with us travelling back from a wasted trip to Gateshead where the game was similarly called off late in the day. And he was going to the game as part of the challenge to tick off grounds visited. And because the game was called off, in his book it didn't count towards his tally. His wasted train fare was £80. At least ours was only £18.50, having booked months ago.

 

[Rattus Norvegicus]

Well Chalkie, thank you for coming on and providing the information about the pitch. I was one of those that made the journey and turned back so you will forgive me for being a little less welcoming about the situation.

a) The pitch was not playable - your explanation sounds entirely reasonable based on the inspections at the time. :thumbsup:

b) Bradford City is not responsible because money has been spent on the pitch - your explanation does not sound reasonable. :thumbdown:

I saw people playing on local grounds only a few miles away from Valley Parade. This would suggest that the local council are better at maintaining their grounds than a professional club - and a professional club that has not been short of a bob or two in the last few years due to the success of their cup runs. That is poor.

But no - there are local problems that need to be taken into consideration you say ........ well, just look at Harrogate Town - only a few miles away where water continually comes up from the ground every day of the year and where The Stray resembles a lake for much of the year ........ a club 3 leagues below Bradford with attendances of around 400 for home games ......... they have had problems resulting in a new pitch being laid and they seemed to have managed to sort out the problem.


Sorry but "something is rotten in the state of Denmark" .................. :unsure:

 

[Massimo Giovanni]

I believe Huddersfield (also Yorkshire?) played at home and had no problems and don't they "egg chase" on their pitch as well?
I commend Chalkie for coming on her and giving reasoned debate; but the bottom line is that the situation & cancellation ought not have happened - unless Bradford are bracketing themselves with the likes of Acc Stanley and Morecombe on grass/pitch care & playing surface.

 

[chalkie]

Huddersfield did indeed play at home - same as my point re Coventry really, you'd expect a pitch laid for a new stadium (another one on completely flat land) to be top notch when it comes to drainage. Hudders' pitch was apparently designed/laid specifically to handle football and rugby - it's certainly resilient but apparently as a result it's not great to actually play football on.

I'm sure local games did go ahead - not quite the same though really, standard of pitch generally won't matter at that level (i.e. they'd play on a quagmire to be fair).

I'm aware Harrogate Town had issues (is their pitch still on a slope?) - but again, not the same as ours and again, they are completely on the flat in terms of surrounding environment.

For me, easy to say we should just 'sort it' whilst disregarding the problems our specific ground location gives us. I honestly don't know if we could do anything else without spending the sort of money we don't have (or indeed if we can actually do anything else). Yes we've had some money from the cup runs but the profit has hardly run into the millions.

Suspect we'll have to agree to disagree on this one!

 

[Rattus Norvegicus]

Suspect we'll have to agree to disagree on this one!

Yes. We will have to agree to disagree - but still good to discuss the matter so thanks for your posts. :thumbsup: