There can’t be many grass pitches in Kent that have managed to stage a football match in the current climate for the last three weekends in a row, writes Steve Barton. Bell Meadow, St. Nicholas-at-Wade is that ground as Herne Bay Ladies Kent Women’s Plate semi-final was moved from Winch’s Field. The Ladies who won the competition in their inaugural season last term met West Kent Ladies and won by the odd 13 goals in fifteen. Harriet Chapman, Vicky Holness and Carly Farrow each scored three goals or more and Vicky Holness’ first was her 100th for the club in just 44 matches. Bay will now meet Bromley Ladies in the final on Wednesday 2nd April 2014 at a venue yet to be confirmed. (Ed – now confirmed at Sevenoaks Town FC)

Fingers crossed! At the time of writing there is no pitch inspection planned ahead of Tuesday’s first team home match with Worthing.

Whitstable Town (home), Folkestone Invicta (away), Faversham Town (away), Worthing (home), Three Bridges (home), Corinthian-Casuals (home), Folkestone Invicta (away), Burgess Hill Town (away), Peacehaven & Telscombe (home), Hythe Town (home) and Eastbourne Town (away) – that’s 11 weather-related postponements so far this season for Herne Bay.

Ryman League president Alan Turvey insisted there can be no extension to the campaign despite the fixture backlog facing some teams. Witham Town in Ryman League Division One North and South counterparts Whitstable Town both still have half of their fixtures to play, having managed to complete just 23 fixtures so far this season. And although that means they are going to be playing at least two games on Thursday nights before the season ends – with more to come if pitches don’t soon dry out – the league season has to be completed on April 26 to allow the play-offs to take place.

Turvey said: “The season has to finish on the due date, which is the last play-off date. The play-offs are scheduled for the 28th, 29th and 30th of April and then the 3rd, 4th, 5th of May and that affects promotion and all the things that go with it. The league season has to finish on April 26, and then we go into the play-offs. It is a very difficult situation at the moment, matches are being rescheduled on a daily basis, the clubs have been very co-operative in rearranging matches. But there’s no doubt that people are going to be playing Tuesday, Thursday and Saturday.”

Sam Denly described the decision as ‘ludicrous’.

Leatherhead boss Richard Brady says you don't have to be Albert Einstein to see what should have been done to prevent the current fixture backlog. "I am not a rocket scientist and I am not making myself out to be Albert Einstein, but surely we should have played more games in midweek in September and October. For some reason, they decided not to play games on Tuesday back then, when the weather was better. To me it seems obvious that you try and get as many games as you can in when you can, but they didn't and we can only do what we can do now." "It is ludicrous," he said. "We have forty-six games in the season already, without cup competitions, and at the end of it all, only one team goes up automatically. I have never heard anything like it, but I am not surprised one little bit that they won't extend the season. I don't see a major issue with extending it by one week, but what can you do? We just have to get on with it and it seems most teams will end up playing three or four games a week."

Gary Johnson, chairman of Whitstable Town, has admitted their plea to extend the league season is unlikely to be granted. Johnson, who is also a Ryman League director, put Whitstable’s case to the league and the FA but he doesn’t expect them to budge. The Oystermen have to squeeze at least twenty-four games into ten weeks. Johnson said: “I understand, that despite our situation and a handful of others within the Ryman League competitions, it is unlikely at this stage for an extension to be granted for Steps 1-4 given contractual issues of players and clubs, together with pre-planned play-off dates and, of course, promotion, relegation and league ratification matters for season 2014/15 for which the FA have certain other deadlines. If the season were to be extended, all player contracts would require further payment. In short, clubs between our level and the Skrill Premier, who don’t have such a fixture backlog, could be seen to be paying players unnecessarily. I cannot see those clubs wanting an extension any more than I can see players waiving the right to more money.”

I tend to agree more with the views of Richard Brady than those of Gary Johnson as Mr. Johnson seems to be backing the views of the league rather than his own club. ‘I understand, that despite our situation and a handful of others within the Ryman League competitions’! A handful? A gross understatement. Next weekend there will be just over two months left of the season with six months played already. Herne Bay have managed 26 games in six months with 20 still to play in two months and there are 28 other teams in the three Ryman Division having played the same number – Mr. Johnson must have very big hands!

FA Chairman Greg Dyke believes an increase in 3G floodlit facilities in England would greatly improve grass roots football in the country. The 66-year-old believes 3G artificial football pitches could make a huge contribution in producing better footballers. He said: “There is, unfortunately, a real lack of great facilities in this country. We know the benefits 3G floodlit facilities bring to our game, enabling more young people in the country to become better players, coaches and referees.”

Richard Scudamore, the Premier League’s chief executive, has challenged the FA and the Government to do more to help English football. Scudamore wants more investment in grass-roots facilities. "Grass roots is always fragile. We mustn't kill the willing amateur. Are we sure that young people have access to the facilities, to play regular football, in this winter of all winters, when you hear of teams who haven't played since November? Put in a decent 3G facility and you could play a whole league over the weekend.'' Scudamore believes Dyke needs to push the Government for better funding of the game at grass roots level. "The money we are putting into grass roots is never enough but it wouldn't be beyond the wit of the FA to find some more of their resources and then Government funding again,'' said Scudamore

Herne Bay have nailed their colours firmly to the mast in support of 3G pitches at this level and are investigating funding and feasibility.

Indications suggest that it will remain very unsettled with showers or longer spells of rain, particularly in the south and west where the heavier and more persistent rain is likely. Gales are expected at times, again especially in the south and west where locally severe gales are possible around exposed coasts. Some brighter weather is possible between weather systems though. Whilst temperatures will be mainly near normal, it will be rather mild at times in the south and possibly rather cold in the north. Showers will be wintry on higher hills, particularly in the north of the UK. Although it is likely to remain unsettled through the weekend, it may be slightly less windy and rain may become slightly less prolonged. Temperatures could recover a little too, with a decreasing risk of frost.

Tuesday 18/02/2014. Worthing home. League
Wednesday 19/02/2014. Under 21s. Tankerton home. League (Ed – possibility that this match will be switched to Canterbury High on Friday evening 21/02/2014)
Saturday 22/02/2014. Walton & Hersham away. League
Sunday 23/02/2014. Under 18s. Bearstead away. Kent Youth Cup
Sunday 23/02/2014. Ladies away. Prince of Wales. League

At this time of the year fixtures change quickly with the weather and cup commitments, make sure you visit the club’s website. www.pitchero.com/clubs/hernebay for up-to-date details and all the latest news.