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Hull Match Off
Friday, 2nd Mar 2018 10:58

Town have confirmed that Saturday's home game against Hull City has been postponed for safety reasons.

The pitch is expected to be playable but areas inside and around the ground are dangerous with further bad weather forecast for later today and freezing temperatures continuing at the weekend. The game will now be played on Tuesday 13th March (KO 7.45pm).

Speaking yesterday before the final decision to postpone was made at a meeting this morning, the club's stadium manager Greg Pillinger outlined the concerns.

""“The safety of the supporters is priority and if we can’t guarantee that with the conditions, then the game can’t go ahead," he told the club site

“All the concourses and seating need to be safe for the public to view the match along with the perimeter of the stadium and routes to and from bus stops, car parks and the railway station. This has involved consultation with the local authorities.

“Likewise the police and the Highways Authority have been consulted for their views on the major road networks leading to and from Portman Road.

“Importantly, our own matchday staff, both stewards, catering and corporate, all need to be able to get to the stadium safely and in the correct numbers, in particular the stewards to ensure we meet the minimum numbers to adhere to the Safety Certificate."" So, there is much more to it than getting the pitch playable.”

Manager Mick McCarthy's scheduled pre-match press conference will now not be taking place at 1pm.

Saturday's U18s and U16s matches at Bristol City have also been postponed, while all academy PDP trials and training sessions were also victims of the weather and have been rescheduled for next week.

Tonight's Ex-Players' Association Hall of Fame Dinner has also been postponed and rearranged for Friday 4th May, while Tuesday's Legends of Darts event was called off and will now take place on Wednesday 18th April.

Portman Road's last postponed first team fixture was the game against Watford on Boxing Day 2010 which was surprisingly called off 90 minutes before kick-off due to a frozen area of the pitch.

The Middlesbrough match in February 2012 was abandoned after 37 minutes with the score 0-0 as sections of the pitch had become frozen.


Photos: ITFC



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philwhelansdegree added 11:01 - Mar 2
Sensible decision
20

judespiveyg added 11:01 - Mar 2
I was looking forwards to this one so that's a shame.
1

Umros added 11:05 - Mar 2
I prefer an evening game, pre match Carvery at Mermaid and kids for a quid so happy!
1

12th_Man added 11:06 - Mar 2
Disappointed a weekend with no football 😧
1

jas0999 added 11:07 - Mar 2
Well done a Town. Made the right decision the day before meaning no wasted journeys this time. Good.
27

cornishnick added 11:08 - Mar 2
That is the final straw. Mick out NOW!
-1

black_shuck added 11:09 - Mar 2
Defer no time, delays have dangerous ends.
-3

essextractorboy93 added 11:09 - Mar 2
Correct decision and made in plenty of time. Surrounding areas for fans the main problem but also staff getting to the ground etc. Possible snow forecast for this afternoon/evening too.
11

Carrotblue added 11:09 - Mar 2
Perfect decision
10

DebsyAngel added 11:10 - Mar 2
Totally correct decision. It was unbearable yesterday just venturing into town, with no paths or roads gritted adequately.

Needed to think of the fans - not just ours but Hull and their supporters, players and staff travelling down.

Looking forward to the rescheduled match - and hopefully warmer weather.
15

BlueandTruesince82 added 11:20 - Mar 2
I can't believe our manager has not been out shovelling snow from pathways around the ground.

Frankly if our owner had INVESTED in some snow blowers and ice melters we wouldnt be in this mess.



-2

martin587 added 11:21 - Mar 2
Good early decision.!
5

Sheaver26 added 11:21 - Mar 2
Cornishnick....I'm not sure Mick can be blamed for this one!
7

TimmyH added 11:26 - Mar 2
I think the term 'snowflake' comes to mind...freezing temperatures at the weekend?..no a slight thaw what I last saw and 'bad weather later today' - well not effecting Suffolk what I gather and largely light.

Peterborough played the other night and Southend are asking their supporters for help on clearing the pitch and surrounding areas...just saying.
-10

Big_Foot_Blue added 11:27 - Mar 2
To be honest if the issue is the surrounding area and not the pitch then I reckon they may as well play it behind closed doors. Wont be a disadvantage as there is never an atmosphere at home any more and the team would probably play better without the booing!

Plus we all get one less game to endure! 😂
-2

Skip73 added 11:33 - Mar 2
CornishNick, that has to be the most moronic post I have read on here this season, and there's been alot!
3

coolcat added 11:41 - Mar 2
Good decision and in good time. Come up from London to home games. Shame but beaten by the weather this week. So many travel a long way and itfc staff have to be able to get there. There is engineering work on greater anglia tomorrow so would have been a nightmare journey anyway.
4

blueheartXT added 11:42 - Mar 2
Poldark where are you? you must have something negative to say or someone to blame
3

dirtydingusmagee added 11:55 - Mar 2
no brainer really , anyone who challenges the decision need get real. Well done for making early call.
4

dugoutdave added 12:03 - Mar 2
Timmy H - light in Suffolk? where are u living?
1

TimmyH added 12:09 - Mar 2
Dugoutdave - for the forecast today - light/patchy
0

britbiker added 12:15 - Mar 2
Whilst I have continued on a normal you have to factor in that there are a lot of elderly. Infirm and disabled fans at all games. So we'll done on making an early decision.
7

britbiker added 12:18 - Mar 2
well, not we'll . Sorry autotex and fat fingers.
1

grumpyoldman added 12:23 - Mar 2
Cornish Nick some on here should get a sense of humour transplant, life is too short to be serious all the time. No football at PR, that goes without saying! Awaiting mark downs from the humourless posters
9

sotd78 added 12:28 - Mar 2
I think this is a good early decision but I do think if there had been money or points worth having or both riding on this we would have been able to sweep the paths and stands. Remember Sven and Leicester and Sky and the efforts we made then to get a game on and keep it on.
But as I say coming from 20 miles away I am quite glad it is not on. Just ever so slightly cynical here.
4


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