THE Bradford Park Avenue board under new chief executive Gareth Roberts ploughed tens of thousands of pounds into pitch improvements at Horsfall Stadium before the season began and they have done more work since but the harsh winter has still frustrated the club.

Roberts and his fellow directors sanctioned the work and their judgement was rewarded as the playing surface has been in the best condition ever. In the early season, and even before the turn of the year, the games were played on a carpet of a surface that present manager Martin Drury would have loved to have played on.

However, the wet winter weather, which has also caused problems for the full-time professional clubs in the Football League, has taken its toll. Avenue’s current position in the Vanarama National North, just three points above the drop zone, is a false one because of the weather.

The first game called off at Horsfall this season was the visit of Curzon Ashton on November 7 and ironically tomorrow’s rearrangement of that fixture is also in jeopardy after more extreme conditions hit the area this week.

The dozen postponements and one abandonment Avenue have suffered so far have prevented Drury’s side building any momentum. Not all of the games off have been at Horsfall as the disruption has been countrywide but they have all hampered the side’s progress.