Bradford City call-off adds to Flynn incentive (From Bradford Telegraph and Argus)
Get involved: send your pictures, video, news and views by texting TANEWS to 80360, or email
More time for Bradford City captain Michael Flynn to get ready for big Crawley match
7:20am Monday 6th February 2012 in Bantams By Simon Parker
City were surprised by the referee’s decision to call off their match against Crawley four hours before the scheduled kick-off time
Michael Flynn admitted he was delighted that City’s home clash with Crawley fell victim to the icy weather.
Saturday’s postponement left players and fans frustrated after referee Iain Williamson ruled the pitch to be unplayable in one area.
Skipper Flynn was due to step up his recovery with a training session on the pitch before the game.
But the late cancellation meant he will be back in the mix when League Two’s biggest spenders make their rearranged trip north.
Flynn said: “You’re preparing all week for Saturday so it is annoying when the game gets called off. Everyone’s geared up to play and it leaves you with an empty feeling.
“That’s the most frustrating thing because we still need to get some points on the board.
We’d trained on the pitch on Thursday without a problem and it didn’t look any worse the following day. I don’t know what changed overnight on Saturday
Phil Parkinson
“But being selfish, it was good news for me. It’s another game now that I could be selected for.
“I think I’m in with a good chance of being available for Wimbledon next Saturday. I’ve had another good week’s training under my belt and had a really hard session on Friday.
“If I can have another decent week, then let’s see how it goes. After that it’s the gaffer’s decision to make.”
Flynn has not played since before Christmas after being floored by a serious bout of gastritis. He arrived at Valley Parade on Saturday just as the referee was giving his verdict.
The midfielder said: “I was just walking in with my gear and spoke to one of the groundsmen. He said he was fine until ten seconds ago when the ref called it off.
“They had been working their socks off all night and all morning to make sure it was on.
“I can’t understand why it wasn’t. I had a look and that pitch was 100 per cent playable.
“I don’t think Crawley were too bothered but let’s get them back up here on a Tuesday night and give it a real go.”
City were unhappy with Williamson’s decision to call it quits four hours before kick-off over concerns about the hard surface near the Bradford End of the ground.
The club had been using hot-air blowers through the morning to soften that specific area and felt that it would be playable in time for 3pm.
Phil Parkinson was just setting off from home when he got the news from the Reading official.
The City boss said: “I was a bit baffled. As far as we were concerned, it wasn’t even in doubt.
“We’d trained on the pitch on Thursday without a problem and it didn’t look any worse the following day. I don’t know what changed overnight on Saturday.”
Crawley’s players had spent a couple of days in Portugal as a reward for beating Hull in the FA Cup the previous week.
So there were some suggestions that the visitors were not too upset to see the game postponed.
Parkinson said: “I knew the ref was coming in for a routine look at the pitch but nothing more. Then all of a sudden I took a call to say that there were a few areas that he was worried about.
“I spoke to him and just said that we wanted to play and didn’t want him to be influenced in any way.
“We were prepared and ready for the game. That was the biggest frustration from my point of view.”
The City chief will use the postponement as motivation when Crawley do return to Valley Parade. A midweek date is yet to be confirmed but Parkinson hopes to have stronger resources at his disposal.
“You always quickly transfer to the positive and by the next time we play them, we’ll have several players back,” he said.
“Luke Oliver would have played Saturday and Reidy (Kyel Reid) and they’ll have another week’s work now before our next game.
“Flynny’s close and hopefully Rammers (Simon Ramsden) will be back soon.”
City have arranged a private reserve game at Barnsley tomorrow, if the weather relents, when Flynn is expected to play some part.
Comments(13)
Thee Voice of Reason
says...
9:30am Mon 6 Feb 12
.
After all Crawley outplayed Hull on their own ground the week before.
.
I remember when Birmingham City came to Valley Parade, Probably in 1994/95 in a season where they were league champions. They played us in the middle of winter and the pitch was frozen solid. We nearly beat them that day but for Wayne Jacobs slipping in the 93rd minute and they equalised. Thing is on a normal pitch we probably wouldn't have got close.
.
It seems games are too easily called off these days, Birmingham City v Southampton was played in much worse conditions than seen at Valley Parade this weekend, but due to TV money the game when ahead. I think that tell you all you need to know about who runs the game.
shaun from richmond
says...
10:09am Mon 6 Feb 12
Bet "Parky" was too!!
Freddy
says...
10:33am Mon 6 Feb 12
*
Undersoil Heating was NOT installed.
*
During the Stadium Managership of VP by Alan Gilliver. Large Tarpaulin sheeting was used to cover the whole Pitch area, during freezing conditions. Hot air blowers were deployed around the ground. The heat from the blowers was funnelled underneath the large tarpaulin sheets. The ground stayed soft and matches were played.
*
I accept the costs today, would be very high, and not practical for undersoil heating to be installed. Plus maintenance and running costs would be extortionate.
*
We get around a month (in total) of frozen pitch problems per. Winter. Another reason to accept the costs of undersoil heating, would not be cost effective. Despite the fact that since 1985, the VP Pitch has been rebuilt-( I think twice now); and no heating has been installed, nor considered I suspect, because of the high costs etc.
*
I wonder if the current BOARD and joint Chairmen, would consider a better cost effective method of protecting the Pitch?.
A rearranged 'Tuesday Match' will be problematical, for those Supporters, that have to be at work. There will be a loss of revenue to the Club, on a Tuesday Night Match.
*
Although it is helpful for our Players recovering from illness and injury. Crawley will have recovered from their HANGOVER celebrations, in Portugal too.!
*
Freddy
says...
10:39am Mon 6 Feb 12
I also wonder if THE DRAINAGE PROBLEMS of the VP PITCH have been resolved properly. Or is it that water is still lying in the ground and freezing -especially at the Bradford End.
*
Thee Voice of Reason
says...
10:51am Mon 6 Feb 12
340stopper
says...
1:51pm Mon 6 Feb 12
shaun from richmond wrote:Steve Evans on his clubs site appears to be not concerned apart from he claims our pitch was rock hard in places and felt it should have been called off on Friday to save travelling for the team, ref, officials,Crawley fans and some of our fans.
Chuffed to bits it didnt go ahead! Bet "Parky" was too!!
He did however praise the efforts of our hard working groundstaff.
Credit where credit due.
340stopper
says...
1:51pm Mon 6 Feb 12
shaun from richmond wrote:Steve Evans on his clubs site appears to be not concerned apart from he claims our pitch was rock hard in places and felt it should have been called off on Friday to save travelling for the team, ref, officials,Crawley fans and some of our fans.
Chuffed to bits it didnt go ahead! Bet "Parky" was too!!
He did however praise the efforts of our hard working groundstaff.
Credit where credit due.
Nakedchefboy
says...
2:13pm Mon 6 Feb 12
Pak-Bantam
says...
3:46pm Mon 6 Feb 12
You only need to remember one cliche;
Let the football do the talking!
Danstarr69
says...
1:56am Tue 7 Feb 12
Nakedchefboy wrote:Just what I thought when I read it.Why were they training on the pitch? What happened to training at apperley bridge
No wonder our pitch is all churned up if the players train on it! I thought all the training was done away from valley parade. Only games should be played there in my eyes. Last home game I went to the pitch was horrid! They could not pass the ball on the ground because it was all heavy and dug up!
tyker2
says...
2:04am Tue 7 Feb 12
Danstarr69 wrote:or even at Woodhouse Grove:
Nakedchefboy wrote:Just what I thought when I read it.Why were they training on the pitch? What happened to training at apperley bridge
No wonder our pitch is all churned up if the players train on it! I thought all the training was done away from valley parade. Only games should be played there in my eyes. Last home game I went to the pitch was horrid! They could not pass the ball on the ground because it was all heavy and dug up!
crazy training on the pitch when the weather forecasts were so poor; feel sorry for the groundsman who does not get a decent crack of the whip if he cannot get the pitch up to standard because it is used for training.
tyker2
says...
2:04am Tue 7 Feb 12
Danstarr69 wrote:or even at Woodhouse Grove:
Nakedchefboy wrote:Just what I thought when I read it.Why were they training on the pitch? What happened to training at apperley bridge
No wonder our pitch is all churned up if the players train on it! I thought all the training was done away from valley parade. Only games should be played there in my eyes. Last home game I went to the pitch was horrid! They could not pass the ball on the ground because it was all heavy and dug up!
crazy training on the pitch when the weather forecasts were so poor; feel sorry for the groundsman who does not get a decent crack of the whip if he cannot get the pitch up to standard because it is used for training.
click2find
tyker2 says...
7:36am Mon 6 Feb 12