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Lights out on youth cup final
THE lights went out on a group of youngsters' big County Ground moment after Swindon Town failed to turn on the floodlights.
Wroughton and New College were left seething as their Wiltshire Youth Cup final was abandoned at 1-1 after the last half an hour had been played in darkness.
The red-faced Coca-Cola League One club insist the abandonment came about due to a communication error between the Wiltshire FA and themselves, with the holder of the keys to switch on the floodlights not turning up until 15 minutes after the final whistle.
By the time light was brought to the proceedings, match officials had already called off the game with both sides facing up to a trip to Melksham for next week's rearranged fixture.
Wroughton chief Bobby Moore revealed the "farce" started when the kick-off was brought forward 15 minutes upon arrival due to Town's apparent unwillingness to use their floodlights.
He said: "I said to the lads that they are the people who give their money to Swindon by watching the games and yet they get treated like that. Surely it does not cost too much to put the lights on?
"It seems they were so desperate not to pay to put the lights on that they were prepared for us to play in darkness. This was the pinnacle for many of my players and it was just a shambles."
Initial pleas for light from both the Wiltshire FA and the two clubs, as it became evident they were needed, met with stony silence from the club as the last half an hour of regular time was played in almost total darkness.
Town insist the lights did come on soon after normal time but for the youngsters it was too late with the game already abandoned.
New College co-boss Gary Else revealed his side were prepared to go back on after the switch-on, some quarter of an hour after the final whistle, but Moore insists by then it was not an option.
He said: "We had been forced to play most of the second half in darkness and that was when New College equalised. The ref said with five minutes to go he would have to abandon it because it was becoming ridiculous.
"I played my final sub to waste some time and at the final whistle my lads went in and started getting changed. There was no way we were going back out later.
Else added: "It was a real let-down. I don't understand why the lights could not be on and why the kick off was brought forward."
A spokesman for Swindon said: "It was a breakdown in communication between the FA and the club. The lights were on soon after the game had finished though and it was ready to play.
"The pitch was booked for 6pm and no one said they wanted the lights. Someone came out though to put the lights on and the club did all it could to keep the game on."
The Wiltshire FA revealed the game would be replayed at Melksham either next Wednesday or Thursday, blaming the abandonment on an "innocent error" from the club.
3:00pm Thursday 8th May 2008
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CommentPosted by: stroudred, Stroud on 4:58pm Thu 8 May 08
Stirring by the Adver.?
These people should realise how lucky they are to be to be able to play on the pitch at all as I guess they don't have to cough up £150 + vat per player for the privilege,like the play on the pitch games for us fans !!!
Surely a 6.15pm or 6.30pm KO would have meant
no need for lights saving quite a few pounds. Floodlighting isn't cheap !! Ungrateful springs to mind !
Stirring by the Adver.?
These people should realise how lucky they are to be to be able to play on the pitch at all as I guess they don't have to cough up £150 + vat per player for the privilege,like the play on the pitch games for us fans !!!
Surely a 6.15pm or 6.30pm KO would have meant
no need for lights saving quite a few pounds. Floodlighting isn't cheap !! Ungrateful springs to mind !
Posted by: Emperor Claudius, Swindon on 5:29pm Thu 8 May 08
It sounds like this Bobby Moore bloke passed up the opportunity to continue the game after the lights were on, why? The other team were prepared to go back on after 15 minutes. Perhaps Mr Moore's team were on the back foot and he actually wanted a replay and his moaning is just a ploy. I would also like to know who he supports, I have a feeling he may be one of those saddo armchair Premier League fans who just wants to have a go at the club.
It sounds like this Bobby Moore bloke passed up the opportunity to continue the game after the lights were on, why? The other team were prepared to go back on after 15 minutes. Perhaps Mr Moore's team were on the back foot and he actually wanted a replay and his moaning is just a ploy. I would also like to know who he supports, I have a feeling he may be one of those saddo armchair Premier League fans who just wants to have a go at the club.
Posted by: Shambolic, Swindon on 7:58pm Thu 8 May 08
I was there and the whole thing should have been a great night for the lads but were badly let down by the towns club! The game had always been a 7.30 ko and the teams were told to start early, so they knew at that point there would be a problem with lights. From watching the game the light had nothng to do with the College equalising and lot of the wroughton players were suffering from cramp. Seems to me that there would only be one winner if the game had continued and no doubt why their palyers were so keen to get changed. The town should honour thier agreement to play the final and restore some local relations!!
I was there and the whole thing should have been a great night for the lads but were badly let down by the towns club! The game had always been a 7.30 ko and the teams were told to start early, so they knew at that point there would be a problem with lights. From watching the game the light had nothng to do with the College equalising and lot of the wroughton players were suffering from cramp. Seems to me that there would only be one winner if the game had continued and no doubt why their palyers were so keen to get changed. The town should honour thier agreement to play the final and restore some local relations!!
Posted by: Shambolic, Swindon on 8:43pm Thu 8 May 08
[quote][bold]stroudred[/bold] wrote:
Stirring by the Adver.? These people should realise how lucky they are to be to be able to play on the pitch at all as I guess they don't have to cough up £150 + vat per player for the privilege,like the play on the pitch games for us fans !!! Surely a 6.15pm or 6.30pm KO would have meant no need for lights saving quite a few pounds. Floodlighting isn't cheap !! Ungrateful springs to mind ![/quote] No sirring by the adver, just reporting the facts. As for being grateful for playing on the pitch, then both teams and wilts fa are grateful but that does not mean that they should accept poor standards for things like having no corner flags available, no floodlights, anything but a professional club and its attitude to the local clubs. If the game had been arranged for an 6.15 ko then both sides would have had no problems with it but the fact remains it was another own goal by STFC.
stroudred wrote:
Stirring by the Adver.? These people should realise how lucky they are to be to be able to play on the pitch at all as I guess they don't have to cough up £150 + vat per player for the privilege,like the play on the pitch games for us fans !!! Surely a 6.15pm or 6.30pm KO would have meant no need for lights saving quite a few pounds. Floodlighting isn't cheap !! Ungrateful springs to mind !
No sirring by the adver, just reporting the facts. As for being grateful for playing on the pitch, then both teams and wilts fa are grateful but that does not mean that they should accept poor standards for things like having no corner flags available, no floodlights, anything but a professional club and its attitude to the local clubs. If the game had been arranged for an 6.15 ko then both sides would have had no problems with it but the fact remains it was another own goal by STFC.
Posted by: stroudred, Stroud on 9:24pm Thu 8 May 08
Why is it an own goal by STFC ? STFC are under no obligation to allow anyone to use the County Ground .The article says that the PITCH was booked from 6pm ,not the changing rooms ,the pitch ,it says no-one told the club lights were needed, it also says it was a breakdown in communications between STFC & the Wilts FA so perhaps the Wilts FA didn't tell the club it was a 7.30 pm KO in which case its their fault,. I'm only guessing obviously and don't want to get into a slanging match. I realise ,as you speak for all
the players involved and the whole of the Wilts FA, you probably know more than me. STFC
are striving towards building bridges with everyone and should be allowed lapses without being slated by all. And I also realise how important corner flags are in the grand scheme of things ! I'm sure the Town would be happy to
honour the agreement but I think the pitch is being dug up and relaid from Monday.
Why is it an own goal by STFC ? STFC are under no obligation to allow anyone to use the County Ground .The article says that the PITCH was booked from 6pm ,not the changing rooms ,the pitch ,it says no-one told the club lights were needed, it also says it was a breakdown in communications between STFC & the Wilts FA so perhaps the Wilts FA didn't tell the club it was a 7.30 pm KO in which case its their fault,. I'm only guessing obviously and don't want to get into a slanging match. I realise ,as you speak for all
the players involved and the whole of the Wilts FA, you probably know more than me. STFC
are striving towards building bridges with everyone and should be allowed lapses without being slated by all. And I also realise how important corner flags are in the grand scheme of things ! I'm sure the Town would be happy to
honour the agreement but I think the pitch is being dug up and relaid from Monday.
Posted by: steve, brentford on 9:59pm Thu 8 May 08
Don`t give a **** STFC are all that matters to me!!!!
Don`t give a **** STFC are all that matters to me!!!!
Posted by: LD86, Swindon on 9:51am Fri 9 May 08
Looks like the adver stirring again. Perhaps if they actually published the article that was sent to them in the first place by one of the colleges in question then there wouldn't be such an issue.
Looks like the adver stirring again. Perhaps if they actually published the article that was sent to them in the first place by one of the colleges in question then there wouldn't be such an issue.
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