Heat’s too hot to handle
Tonbridge Angels
Jay Saunders has revealed it was Tonbridge chairman Dave Netherstreet who first raised concerns about their friendly at Maidstone going ahead.
Tuesday night’s game at the Gallagher Stadium was cancelled on safety grounds with the UK in the grip of a heatwave which saw temperatures in the county town hit just shy of 40 degrees.
It was a first for Saunders but he was in full agreement with Netherstreet, after they discussed the situation on Sunday morning while on their club trip in Yorkshire.
Saunders, whose side won 3-0 at Farsley Celtic, spoke to Stones chief executive Bill Williams and manager Hakan Hayrettin and the game was called off on Tuesday morning.
“To be honest, it was the chairman who first mentioned it over breakfast on Sunday, after he’d seen the weather forecast, and we spoke about it on the way back,” said Saunders.
“It was a first for me, I’ve not been involved in calling off a game because of the heat, so it was kind of different but I understood his reasons.
“There was talk of moving it to Thursday but I had a few unavailable, so I couldn’t do that.
“If we’d played in that heat, the quality of the game would have been poor, because there’d have been no intensity and you’re damaging players in the longrun.
“I’m sure they’d have been feeling it and then it affects your next game as well.
“You do feel the heat on the 3G when it’s hot, but it’s not just the players, it’s the supporters as well.
“I wouldn’t have fancied sitting there in that and I’m sure a lot of people felt the same.”
While the heatwave prevented Saunders going back to one former club, he’s off to another this Saturday as Tonbridge travel to Margate for their next friendly.
The game was arranged as part of the deal that saw Saunders leave Hartsdown Park for Longmead this summer.
“I’m looking forward to going back,” said Saunders.
“When Tonbridge approached Margate, Ricky (Owen, Gate chairman) asked if they could book a game in.
“It wasn’t something I arranged but I’m glad it was.
“Me leaving all happened so quickly. As far as I was concerned I was staying, and then Tonbridge came in for me.
“I enjoyed my time there and it’ll be good to see the supporters and the staff and the players.
“I left the club in a much better position than when I went in there, we had the nucleus of a good squad and reached a cup final for the first time in years.
“It’s just a shame we lost those two seasons to Covid because I felt I could have pushed the club on a bit more.”
Tonbridge’s National South opener against Weymouth on August 6 will now be played away due to a potential delay in completing the new 3G pitch at Longmead.