Bradford Park Avenue and Guiseley lose pitch battles (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)

Bradford Park Avenue and Guiseley lose pitch battles

9:18pm Monday 13th February 2012 in Guiseley By Ian Whiting

The temperature may have risen but the weather is still playing havoc with Bradford Park Avenue and Guiseley’s fixture lists.

Avenue were denied a home game in the Evo-Stik Premier Division tonight and the Lions’ FA Trophy third-round tie at Cambridge United, scheduled for tomorrow evening, has been called off for a third time.

Lingering frost under the surface at Horsfall Stadium meant Avenue had to postpone their match against Whitby Town.

Avenue director Kevin Hainsworth, who spends a lot of hours working on the playing surface, said: “The pitch looked waterlogged because there was a lot of surface water but the real problem was the frost.

“We couldn’t get our forks into the ground to allow the water to drain because just under the surface was rock hard.

“It should be okay for Albion Sports’ game on Wednesday.”

Guiseley must make a fourth attempt to play their tie at Cambridge next Tuesday (February 21).

Lions club secretary Adrian Towers said: “We rang them early this morning and it seemed really promising. They told us it was a lovely, sunny day down there and the signs looked good.

“However, the groundsman hadn’t got on to the pitch at that time and, once he had, the full extent of the extended freeze became apparent.

“The reality was that the ground under the surface was still solid with frost trapped in it.

“The FA had offered both clubs an alternative of Wednesday, and Cambridge asked about the possibility of playing it, but we couldn’t get all our players off work at such short notice, so we couldn’t rearrange for then.

“Cambridge are seventh in the Conference Premier and a full-time outfit, not to mention being at home, so they could have played on Wednesday.”

Farsley are hoping to beat the weather for the first time this month tomorrow night as they are due to make the short trip to Ossett Town in Evo-Stik Division One North.

* Guiseley manager Steve Kittrick has become a director of Wakefield Trinity Wildcats rugby league club.

The 53-year-old local businessman joins chairman and owner Andrew Glover and chief executive James Elston on a three-man board.

“I’ve enjoyed my rugby and I’m a Wakefield lad so I want to give something back to Wakefield,” he said.