Carshalton Athletic chief executive Barry Gartell has blasted the decision to postpone Boxing Day's clash with Walton & Hersham because of a frozen pitch.

The club were ordered not to play the game after a pitch inspection by the referee deemed the game too dangerous to go-ahead.

The loss of revenue for the Robins is estimated to be between £6,000 and £10,000.

Gartell believes the home match could have been played had the kick-off time been altered.

He said: "I'm very disappointed the game didn't take place. We wanted to play the game Walton didn't.

"There was work going on three hours before the start of the game and there was a rising temperature.

"We wanted to play the game and requested the match simply be put back for a later kick-off."

He added: "The pitch was soft. It could take a stud. In my opinion the match official made the wrong call.

Money

"We can't recoup lost revenue. The cancellation of the fixture cost us a lot of money through the gate and in the bar.

"For a Boxing Day game I expected between 600 and 1,000 people.

"If the game was to be played this weekend the pitch would have been ready."

Carshalton are without a game on Saturday (tomorrow). The Robins next Ryman Division One match is a tricky away trip to Bromley on New Year's Day.

Sutton United, the Robins' local rivals, also suffered the same problem as their Ryman Premier Division game at struggling Kingstonian was called off due to an unplayable pitch.

According to K's secretary Graham Richards, the club had no choice but to postpone the game off after the playing surface failed to thaw out from a heavy frost.

He said: "We left the decision to the last minute and even prevented supporters from coming into the ground at 11.20am.

"It was only fair to the players' health and safety."

He added: It's a great disappointment because Boxing Day is a traditional time when football is played in this country.

"There was no way it could have been played. I can't say if the club lost money on the day. It's something we will know after the game has been played."

Travel

John Rains and his players travel to Boreham Wood tomorrow, before facing Billericay at Gander Green Lane on New Year's Day.

Meanwhile, Ryman Division Two outfit Banstead Athletic face a difficult festive double header.

Bob Langford's men take on Romford the division's bottom club at Merland Rise before travelling to Marlow on New Year's Day.

Banstead's boss said: "We face two tricky games over the New Year. Romford is a game we need to win.

"Marlow will be a tough game. They always are over there. If we can get seven points from nine I will be happy."

Epsom & Ewell travel to Egham Town tomorrow (Saturday). Epsom will be looking to get back into action and burn off some excess calories after their Boxing Day encounter at Dorking was also postponed because of a frozen pitch.

Adrian Hill's Epsom complete their festive programme on New Year's Day by entertaining Leighton Town at Merland Rise.

December 28, 2001 11:00