Skip to main content Skip to site footer
Club News

BUCKLE ON EBBSFLEET WASHOUT

29 December 2012

Club News

BUCKLE ON EBBSFLEET WASHOUT

29 December 2012

Sponsored by

Boss unhappy with referee's decision

Boss Paul Buckle could not hide his disappointment after the Town’s game with Ebbsfleet was postponed by the referee 20 minutes before kick-off due to waterlogged pitch.


Referee Richard Martin deemed the Kenilworth Road playing surface unplayable but Buckle believed the game should have gone ahead.


“There’s a lot of angry fans and disappointed staff and players,” said the boss. “Looking out now the rain is clearing up and there’s blue skies.


“We asked the referee to give it more time but he wasn’t willing to do that.


“We were in at 12 noon training on the pitch and it was perfect. The referee spoke to myself and Liam Daish [the Ebbsfleet manager] at 2pm and said he’d make an inspection at 2.30pm. For me the conditions did not deteriorate in that time.


“He’s dropped the ball bang inside the penalty area and said the ball didn’t bounce but that is normal for this time of year, you are not going to get perfect pitches. The forecast said it would clear up – I just can’t understand it.


“I was speaking with our groundsman and he said the pitch drains quickly. It looks playable now and it’s hugely frustrating for everyone."


Advertisement block

Hatters Player Next Match Tickets Account