Bantams' current problems with pitch stem from last summer

The chronic state of the playing surface when the Notts County game was called off at the weekend was highlighted up and down the country.

The pitch, despite what some have suggested, has not always been like this.

We all remember the infamous field of rutted mud that so unnerved Sunderland and their boss Gus Poyet during City’s run to the FA Cup quarter-finals in 2015.

But just two years ago, head groundsman Mick Doyle and his staff were finishing runner-up to Newport for best pitch in League Two as voted for by referees and visiting managers.

So how has it got to the horrible condition we saw at the weekend?

There were two key factors last summer.

The first was City reaching the play-offs and the delay in a contractor being able to come in and start work.

The club wanted to keep the pitch available to be able to train at Valley Parade if they made it to Wembley.

That meant losing three to four weeks of potential growing time.

And then, more significantly, the sprinkler system beneath the pitch was damaged while the work was being carried out.

The middle of the pitch was unable to grow so well and required hand watering when the temperature was at its highest.

That left so many areas of the pitch without enough depth in the grass.

The number of home games has increased the strain on it.

There have been seven cup ties at Valley Parade – six of them from October 31 onwards.

City did reverse their FA Youth Cup first-round clash with Tranmere to Prenton Park to prevent the pitch worsening.

But the sheer weight of number of midweek games in the worst of the weather proved too much.

The pitch started to struggle on the night of the Liverpool under-21s Trophy game on December 5 when it froze up while they played.

Four days later, heavy rain forced the first postponement against Salford.

The Stockport home game on December 29 proved the turning point (Image: Thomas Gadd)

City did not play again at Valley Parade until Boxing Day when the surface held up fairly well for Morecambe’s visit.

But three days on, the Stockport game only went ahead following a pitch inspection 90 minutes before kick-off after more constant wet weather.

It probably shouldn’t have done but the club were keen to play in front of a large holiday crowd watching them take on the League Two leaders at the time.

From that point on, it has been an increasingly difficult battle for the ground staff.

The Doncaster game scheduled for January 20 was postponed the day before because the pitch was frozen after temperatures plummeted.

The rain returned ahead of the rearranged Salford game the following Tuesday – which went ahead in challenging conditions once again.

City played at home for three midweeks out of four and the pitch inevitably continued to suffer.

Saturday brought its low point but thankfully the predominantly drier weather since should mean there are no issues with the Doncaster game. Nobody can afford yet another call-off.

The good news is that dates have already been fixed for work to begin at the end of the season – two separate ones depending on whether City can force their way into the play-offs.

But in the meantime, it is a case of having to make the best of a bad job until the Spring kicks in and the grass starts to grow again.