All-weather pitch is sunk by weather
Alloa Athletic were last night facing up to a loss of several thousand pounds after flood conditions proved too much even for their all-weather pitch.
The Wasps’ home game against Arbroath was one of seven call-offs on a weekend when strong winds and heavy rain wrecked the lower-league card.
Also in the Championship, Dundee’s fixture against Ayr United was put off due to waterlogging. Queen of the South’s trip to Inverness had been postponed on Friday.
The visit of Championship leaders Dundee United to Firhill to face Partick Thistle had to pass two separate pitch inspections before going ahead.
However, it was the loss of Alloa’s game against Arbroath at normally weather- proof Recreation Park that raised eyebrows.
“I think this is only the second game that’s been called off at Alloa in 13 years,” said chairman Mike Mulraney.
“The only thing that can call a game off normally is an ongoing blizzard or fog. Nothing else.
“So typically the game would have been on, but unfortunately we’ve reached the point where our water level on the pitch is now higher than the town drains.
“We were pumping the water off since 6.50am and managed to clear most of the pitch. But unfortunately we reached a point where you can see the water coming up in one corner.
“It is the same in the town, and you can see water shooting up through the drains.
“To compound that, the old town drain which covers that part of the ground is affected by the tide, and high tide was at 4.21pm.
“So it’s not one thing on its own, but a package of misadventure with the rain continuing to fall, the town drains being full and the tiding coming in.
“I was joking with manager Peter Grant that if we had kept the pitch at the old markings, the game would have gone ahead.
“It’s hugely disappointing for our fans, the Arbroath fans and the players and it’s cost the club a little bit of money.
“It’s not hundreds, it’s thousands. It will cost the club several thousand pounds, to re- employ stewards for the re- arranged game and cater for corporate guests.”