Time to accept the 'inevitable'?

Like most of us I guess I have tried to be understanding about the state of the pitch, I think we all appreciate the difficulties, but its rapidly becoming farcical. We have had remedial work' done, an expensive cover hired yet games are STILL being called off when every other game in the BSN went ahead. I was quite hopeful Boxind Day morning (silly me!), but have almost got beyond being disappointed now. We still have Jan/feb/March to come and the weather aint going to get any better.

The real 'tragedy' is we are not able to build on the momentum generated by the cup run and the freebie...a lot of those potential new fans will have simply lost interest if, and when, we do start playing home games again. Like to guess the attendance for Bishops Stortford on a Tuesday evening in January? 200 if we are lucky.

So the reason for the title of this thread...is it not time to accept the inevitable about the pitch this season and give it up. Start to seriously negotiate with the BSN officials and neighbouring clubs about a ground share. I assume the BSN rules won't allow us to groundshare with Railway, Albion or Knaresboro', and I can't imagine our three Yorkshire BSN rivals would be too keen, so that leaves York (too expensive?), or Farsley as possible sites.

We have had a great half season with the cup run, maybe (reluctantly) write the rest of this season off, get a ground share, mid-table finish, get the pitch PROPERLY sorted for next August and start again.

What do people think? Am I out on a limb here?

Are we being hamstrung by match officials who don't like getting muddy? Just how bad was the pitch on Boxing Day?

Good point, it would be nice to have some feedback on WHY the game was called off...did the covers not work, was it touch and go etc. etc. Anyone in the know want to help us out (we're only fans after all!)?

Incidentally I have had a look at the Evo-Stik and NE Counties sites/results. There were a few games off, but none I think in Yorkshire, so if 'micky mouse' clubs in the NE Counties (sorry guys!), can get their games on, tells us something about how bad our pitch really is.

Tiny point but if someone could just post a photo of the pitch on match day then we could at least get a feel for the situation

Club communication has improved in many ways in recent times, regular photo updates on the pitch would be appreciated by the fans

Does the cover manage to protect the entire pitch? I understand a couple of games have been called off because of very wet sidelines

A bulk order of sand to tide us through the winter? (Apologies for the pun!)

Another update from the Chairman (previous ones much appreciated) would be welcome, perhaps giving us some idea how the Club itself views the situation.

Trust Harrogate Town nothing ever goes right for us


lets get a win on Saterday

There is NO ONE MORE DISAPPOINTED about the state of the pitch than Irving Weaver. If only..... But there we are. We have what we have. I know that the powers that be at the Football Club do not want this to happen again next season so getting it right is the priority. We don't want to put off players coming to Harrogate Town because they believe our pitch is awful. Decent footballers want to play on a good surface and not worry about getting injured.

Never mind a win, I'd just take a game Raining again here in Leeds..hope the cover is on and several tons of sand have been applied to the touchlines!

any indication if its going to be on....... i missed the Sunderland vs Man City game because i expected a harrogate game and not only did i have no football i also misse the best result all year for my team sunderland... we are playing Spurs this weekend and i can still book tickets and dont want to miss it if harrogate arnt playing...

Weather forecast for tomorrow morning is poor
Would really appreciate news on state of pitch as I am planning to get to this game

There is an update from Irving on the website

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Yep and looking at it, tomorrow will no doubt be cancelled...........In all my years of loving football I have never known a Christmas period without any....Will donate my gate fee to Guisley.

How good would it have been to say we went up and got to the 2nd round of the FA cup in the same season?!

P.S after a match, I go and watch the final few minutes of some of the football on the Stray. Makes me alot more positive as I finish my walk home thinking were 70's Brazil!

Good on you Jack. I did'nt know there were floodlights on the Stray. After a game its very dark walking home on the Stray. Happy New Year.

Irving's response was welcome, still didn't understand most of it however! Bottom line seems to be that our pitch as it currently is is effectively unplayable, and its a case of either do more remedial work or groundshare, and Mr. Weaver suggests that remedial work will be cheaper. Problem is, as he says, we need 5 clear days to begin any work. Its raining again as I type this, are we going to get[u] 5 clear days? Odds can't be very good.

I guess everyone (officials, players, fans) are getting completely p....d off with this, but, as has been said, we are were we are, doesn't make it easier to live with! We now have 7 (!) games in hand of Chester and 5 in hand of most others. I think if we were to win just 3 of our games in hand we would be in a play off place.

Wonder if Baker will play tomorrow? I hope to get to Alty on Saturday, at least see Town again before I forget what the players look like!

forget what the players look like? i forgot where the ground is

Town 1 - 0 up at Half Time.

S.