National League investigate claims King’s Lynn ‘manipulated’ postponement of their game against South Shields last Saturday.
The Non League Paper received leaked images, with timestamps, which show the pitch at King’s Lynn’s stadium being watered while it was already raining.
CCTV show the sprinkler system watering the grass in the pouring rain between 9.55am and 10.38am, two hours before the inspection took place.
King’s Lynn said in their announcement of the postponement: “Unfortunately, due to a high amount of rainfall and insufficient drainage our pitch has too much sitting water and has become waterlogged.”
Eastern Daily Press state that freelancenorfolk95@proton.me sent them and the national media an email including the images off the CCTV system, and ‘would have needed security details to do so’.
EXCLUSIVE: The National League are investigating bizarre claims that King’s Lynn Town manipulated the postponement of their game against South Shields last Saturday by soaking their pitch ahead of a planned pitch inspection.https://t.co/7rtvU0fOMo
— The Non-League Paper (@NonLeaguePaper) February 22, 2026
The email sender said that there was “a story running very soon”.
“In case you’re not aware, numerous pictures have been leaked that show KLTFC purposefully watering the pitch during rainfall approx 2 hours before the scheduled pitch inspection in order to not fulfill the fixture due to a flu bug and injury to an important defender, Festus Arthur.”
Chris Lakey of the EDP said: “A very serious allegation. The email also went into detail about the punishment Lynn could face if charged and even who could be contacted at the FA for comment.”
The email continues: “We are also aware these findings have been reported by South Shields FC to the FA and National League.”
Chris continues to say in his column about this: “The pictures appear to be from CCTV. They could also have been created by clever Mr AI. Therefore, with legal complications in mind, caution was required, and the email reply was – who are you and who took the images? We needed to talk – and since when has a freelance journalist not wanted to talk?
“A week later and no one has answered. Someone, somewhere, is very keen to hide their identity.
So who sent it? And who wants King’s Lynn Town to be landed in hot water, as it were?
“Is it an insider? First supplementary question is why? Why put your job at risk?
“The pitch was apparently sodden anyway and a sprinkler wouldn’t have changed much – the game was always going to be off. Many social media posts have commented that they have never seen a sprinkler in the corner of the pitch. Also, the match now has to be played on a midweek date, losing the club revenue. Why do that?
“It is understood Lynn have spoken to the National League who are happy with the explanation that there was a malfunction and that no charges will be made.
“However, consider for a moment what might have happened – a points deduction and a fine.
“Lynn are struggling to avoid relegation with an ownership model that is much more frugal than that of the previous owner, Stephen Cleeve. Every pound is a prisoner.
“The worst scenario would see Lynn relegated. Some fans believe the current owners wouldn’t cry too much at the thought – it would be cheaper to dispense with the full-time model and return to part-time at a lower level.
“There is no evidence that that is correct.
“But what if the owners wanted to remain full-time no matter what the level of football? Whoever made these images public would endanger the full-time employment of, what, 20-plus people. You’d need a pretty impressive explanation for putting people’s livelihood at risk.
“That is the really nasty part of this whole story. The threat to people’s livelihoods.
“Inside job or outside, they must have a real gripe against the club. Or a real belief that they are right in their claims and that justice must be done.
“With the instigator staying silent, the club has been asked to comment. They have yet to reply.
“So whodunnit?”
Insiders, per The Sun, claim the Linnets would have struggled to name a strong team for the game, scheduled for the following day, the 14th of February, due to injuries and illness.
A source said: “King’s Lynn had an injured defender wearing a protective boot and a flu bug running around the club.
“They faced the prospect of fielding a weakened team but will now be at full strength when the game is rescheduled to a later date.
“CCTV suggests the club must have known the sprinklers were turned on as a groundsman can be seen in the footage.
“If deemed deliberate, this would be seen as a huge breach of sporting integrity and treated similarly to fixing a match.”
A National League spokesperson said: “The National League are aware of the allegations and are conducting an investigation into it.”
Geoff Thompson, South Shields chairman, said: “We cannot comment further until the League have conducted any investigation they see fit.”
South Shields FC said in a statement: “We are aware of reports that have surfaced over the course of the weekend regarding our postponed fixture versus King’s Lynn Town FC.
“The club has been approached by numerous external media outlets; however, the Club will not be commenting further at this time.”
Here’s how social media reacted after National League investigate claims King’s Lynn ‘manipulated’ postponement of the South Shields game…
Kevin Wilson: I posted the image as appears in today’s Non-League Paper. However it does raise the following questions. 1/ No one has ever witnessed a sprinkler in the corner as the image displays. 2/ I have it on good authority that the area in front of the main stand was so saturated there was no chance of the match being played. anyway 3/ This text accompanying the image claims a mounting injury list and Flu Bug in the camp , is the first time this has been mentioned. 4/ Text states the clubs irrigation system being in full flow, only one sprinkler working at the time of the image .5/ The person responsible it seems is not willing to put a name to the alleged misdemeanor, can a nameless informative be trusted by the relevant authorities ?
@HelsbyLegend: Get them thrown out of the league now! Utter disgrace
@AJYates: Not that bizarre. Fairly common tactic. it’s just one that you normally don’t get caught doing via your own cameras 😂
@Ashsmit89471738: Studley in Midland prem were caught lieing and cheating the same but the league have done nothing and the game was made to be rescheduled. Take it mind this was on 4g with evidence the pitch was sound as people was on it just hours before the game was meant to kick off
@jimmtweet: If this is proven the league need to take strong action against this club for starters should forfeit the points never seen anything like this at this level should be investigated urgently and let’s see what action the league takes the club need to also make a statement NOW 😳
Matt Hannay: We’re an absolute shambles of a club and at the moment probably deserve to go down. Of course, for a select few at the club, a relegation will be welcomed and maybe another one after that. We are a joke at the moment
Howard Gould: Who ‘grassed’ them up? 🤦😆
John Dee: This, if correct, is totally shocking and sadly the club deserves all it gets, in my opinion.
Jamie Heaphey: Heard about this a few days ago. Didn’t want to believe it but if true we’re in serious trouble
Nigel Mitchell: Jamie Heaphey It didn’t surprise me one bit the game was off. The players were finding it hard to keep their feet on the Tuesday against Worksop, it rained pretty hard in the following days and i have never seen a sprinkler right in the corner – AI at work i think
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