Ashton: We've Made a Representation to the EFL Regarding a Minimum Standard For Pitches
Wednesday, 17th Dec 2025 17:29

Town have made a representation to the EFL and other football authorities regarding a minimum criteria for pitches in the wake of the abandonment at Blackburn Rovers earlier in the season and other surfaces in the Championship.

The Blues’ game at Ewood Park in September was halted after 79 minutes due to the ball no longer bouncing or rolling following heavy rain before and during the match, which stood at 1-0 to the home side at the time with Town down to 10 men.

Rovers lobbied the EFL to either award them the result as it stood or play the final 11 minutes on a later occasion, but eventually the decision was made, as per similar examples in the past, to restage the match in full. That game ended 1-1 with Town grabbing an equaliser deep into injury time through Sindre Walle Egeli.

Since then, Blackburn have had another match abandoned, Sheffield Wednesday’s trip earlier in the month a few days after the Blues’ second visit.

Speaking at last night’s PLC AGM, chairman and CEO Mark Ashton was asked about the situation with the game at Ewood Park and revealed the club has approached the EFL among others calling for a minimum standard for surfaces to be introduced.

“We’ve made legal representation to the league and to the relevant football authorities about investment in pitches,” he said.

“I think we’ve seen a number of times this season where we’re all spending multi-millions of pounds on football players when actually I think there should be a minimum criteria on pitches.

“At the start of each season, we have to have electrical tests and certificates to make sure that the floodlights are up to standard because if the floodlights just go in a game, what’s going to happen? Same with the pitch. So we have made a representation.”

Town spent £2.7 million renovating the Portman Road pitch in the summer of 2023.

Recalling the match at Ewood Park, Ashton added: “I was there, I was in the tunnel when that first game was called off. You all saw the state of the pitch.

“My opinion is that it should have been called off at half-time. I don’t think it was safe and somebody was going to get hurt.

“And the rules are set, and I made that representation to the league very clearly. There was precedent set that when this had happened in the past, the game has to be replayed in its totality.

“And I think the fact that we scored in the 91st minute [of the restaged game] proves why it had to be replayed.

“We think there needs to be a minimum investment and criteria set at the start of each season to prevent that.”

Regarding the cost of playing an away game twice, which Town can certainly absorb more than the Owls, who are currently in administration, Ashton added: “Us just travelling to a Blackburn or whoever, you’re talking tens and tens of thousands of pounds transporting equipment, players, staff, media, everything. It’s very expensive, so we have made representation to the relevant authorities.”

Photo: TWTD

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SheptonMalletBlue added 17:47 - Dec 17 Excellent point about the 91st minute equaliser in the second match!
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Bazza8564 added 17:54 - Dec 17

It is a very good point, and it is very expensive. Perhaps one rule should be that the hosting club's failure to have a game completed should result in the costs being paid by the hosts?

I was at Blackburn in september, my understanding is that the game only narrowly survived an 11 AM pitch inspection and that it actually rained (as per forecast), for a further 10 hours straight after the inspection passed the pitch fit for play. Maybe the Ref should have a case to answer as well?

MickMillsTash added 17:57 - Dec 17 What about the cost to the fans? the number who made that second trek up to Ewood was incredible.
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trevski_s added 18:28 - Dec 17

I second this. Look at what we had to do when we went up to the Premier League. Look at what Luton had to do as well who even decided their stadium weren't good enough anymore and decided to build a new one which they are still going to use regardless of which league they in

Each of the top 4 leagues should have different standards regarding the pitch. I do get that some of the lower league teams might not have that sort of money (could always give teams getting promoted to League 2, 1 or the Championship a one season leeway and then they MUST invest in the pitch) but for someone like Blackburn who have always basically been in the top 2 leagues a playable pitch shouldn't be an issue

Westy added 18:40 - Dec 17 Blackburn have had another abandonment at Eawood Park since our game and again Blackburn were winning one nil!. I'm not aware that Blackburn gets any more rain than Preston, Accrington or Burnley so they do seem to have a particular problem of pitch drainage which is their responsibility to resolve.
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armchaircritic59 added 19:02 - Dec 17

At professional league level the quality of pitches should and must be a given. I understand the point made above about some clubs not being as flush with cash as others, which is true of course. Pitches are the most important thing outside the players themselves. There needs to be a minimum acceptable level, whether it's applied as a blanket rule or accounts for a clubs status financially.

ArnieM added 21:42 - Dec 17 The pitches in football are generally like bowling greens now. OMG look at some of the pitches ( including ours ) in the 1970's lol players dont know they're born these days !
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ArnieM added 21:45 - Dec 17 Ps I also agree with MA re Blackburn game needing to have been called off at half time. It was unplayable THEN, and the score was 0-0. The ref copped out
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Michael101 added 21:58 - Dec 17 Arnie m. The pitches where like ploughed fields and the centre Half's made mafia hit men tremble.
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ronnyd added 22:32 - Dec 17 You couldn't beat a day out at the Baseball Ground.
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armchaircritic59 added 00:16 - Dec 18

ArnieM, even the pitch at Ewood Park for the first match looked like a bowling green compared to some in 70's! It would have been," It's just damp get on with on it, you want it abandoned? You're having a laugh " ! As for the Baseball Ground, I don't think todays supporters or players would believe what they were seeing and it certainly wasn't grass! Now believe me, I don't want a return to pitches like that, but players just got on with it.

Dissboyitfc added 08:29 - Dec 18 I think if a game is abandoned and the home team could have should have and didnt meet the minimum requirement/standard, the result should be awarded to the away team, that would sort out the problem!
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Brogan55 added 09:57 - Dec 18 In our chase at Blackburn,they should of been told to cover our cost for the second match.
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blues1 added 15:21 - Dec 18 MickMillsTash. To be fair, the club didxwell bu those fans who travelled up the 2nd time. With cheaper tickets and a refund into their town account, towards buying something in the shop. Dont think they could have been,expected to do any more than they did.
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Paulc added 17:04 - Dec 18 Why do people continually harp on about the 70's - we move on, it's called progress, maybe we should return to getting orphans cleaning chimneys too!
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armchaircritic59 added 17:58 - Dec 18

paulc, great idea, do you know any orphans? Mind you, they might be extremely short of work for obvious reasons! It's just people like me talking about the past, doesn't do anyone any harm as far as I know, unless you know otherwise. Believe me I'd love to see those days back for the younger supporters who only have one season of Premier League football to look back on, and hardly a rip roaring success. So getting right back up to date, lets see if KM and the players have it in them, shall we?

Linkboy13 added 20:02 - Dec 18 Blackburn should be fined for not producing a pitch of championship standard. Work should be carried out in preseason to improve the drainage if not points should be docked. Blackburn have repeatedly said that they have known about the drainage problem but have done nothing about it.
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