Opening Day Farce - Hemsworth Miners Welfare vs. Louth Town

The stand at the Fitzwilliam Stadium.

As with the opening day of last season, I was in the north and so my first league game of the season was going to be in the Northern Counties East League. I had intended to take in Handsworth's game with Hallam but this was moved to the Sunday and so I elected to travel to Fitzwilliam for Hemsworth Miners Welfare home game agaisnt Louth. The visitors had finished in the top six last season while the hosts had finished in the bottom half.

One end of the ground.

Unfortunately the game never kicked off. Apparently the top soil on the pitch had been replaced in the close season and the new top soil contained tiny pieces of glass. Despite six pre season games already been completed on the pitch and both sides wanting to play the referee called the game off to everyone in the ground's annoyance. On an opening day when the club and the league want to attract new supporters it was a shame common sense didn't prevail. At a Rayners Lane game last season, the away side showed up late and there were no floodlights at the ground. The referee could have also called that game off but sensibly shortened the game to thirty minutes each way with a short half time. Louth now have to complete a 160 mile round trip on a Tuesday night.

The other end of the ground.

I was staying in Sheffield and the train from there to Fitzwilliam departs on the hour and takes around fifty minutes. The ground is a quick five walk from the station. I didn't see any pubs on my walk to the ground but the clubhouse is quite modern and was very friendly as you'd expect in this part of the world. And so I wait another week for my first league game of the season! I hope there is a easy solution for all involved at Hemsworth.