Walthamstow’s extraordinary statement on match postponement goes viral

Walthamstow’s extraordinary statement, published on Wednesday morning on a match postponement, goes viral across various social media sites.

The Essex Senior Football League club were set to play Clapton on Tuesday night, however the pitch passed a 3pm inspection by the match referee, but then the pitch markings were too faint to be played on.

Fair to say this statement and the reasoning for why the game was called off has to be up there with one of the most bizarre postponements in English football.

WALTHAMSTOW STATEMENT:

A message to Walthamstow FC supporters. We would like to briefly explain what happened last night for the “game against Clapton at Newham Leisure Centre. However, we would like to begin by apologising to the players of both clubs, the match officials, our committee and in particular, our supporters who made a difficult midweek journey only to be left disappointed. We would like to offer all those who made the trip to Newham a beer (or soft drink) at our next home game free of charge.

Firstly there was a pitch inspection by the match referee at 3.20pm where he attended and deemed the pitch playable.

At 6:15pm, the first member of our management team arrived, and he immediately checked the pitch. It was still firm (no puddles or soggy patches), but to his surprise, there were no lines/markings on the pitch.

At 6:20pm the match officials arrived and raised the issue with the Clapton officials. Unfortunately. the Clapton officials began to blame everyone but themselves – the referee, Newham Leisure Centre – for the problems with the pitch. According to the Clapton officials, there were lines on the pitch on Saturday.

When one of our club officials questioned why an official from Clapton did not arrive earlier to check the facility like every other club official in the league would have done. the response was aggressive, hostile and was intended to intimidate.

At approximately 6:45pm the match officials and the referee, assessor rightly said that the game would be called off unless Clapton could paint some lines on the pitch on Saturday.

At 7pm a man and a bag of white spray cans arrived and began to mark the lines. The referee agreed to delay kick-off until 8pm to give him the opportunity to mark the pitch. After a discussion with a Clapton official, he sprayed one line and disappeared along with the bag of spray cans.

When the match official asked where the man was who started spraying the lines had gone he was informed by a Clapton official that he had gone to buy some paint from B&Q. At this point circa 50 people from the local running club started their warm-up on the track around the pitch. As soon as the match officials spotted them, the referee called the match off again.

We would like to believe that the home side did everything in their power to get the game played. but the shambles last night leaves a sour taste in the mouth.

Again, we apologise to all those left disappointed, having had their time wasted and left out of pocket following the disgraceful events of last night, which bring embarrassment to the league‘s reputation.

The club added: “This statement is in no way a reflection of the management of the Essex Senior League, who do everything they can to support their member clubs, where necessary.”

As mentioned, Walthamstow’s extraordinary statement on the match postponement goes viral, check out the reaction!

Postponed ? Given COVID and FA Cup games having to be completed etc etc. Surely you should have been awarded the 3pts and a 3-0 win! Ridiculous @EssexSenior

— Richard Marshall (@3RCM1964) October 28, 2020

Wow. That’s unreal. Never seen that at that level.

— Lochlann Brown (@lochybrown) October 28, 2020

Starting to fully understand why. Did a little reading into it last night, time to get to a CFC game instead!

— Aaron Hocking (@FeedTheSpud) October 28, 2020

Matt or silk I’m dying!! Better be Dulux or else ??

— L M (@TheFootballMrs) October 28, 2020

Well that escalated quickly. Like Chinese whispers ? see you all soon lads. Best of luck

— Micky Wetherall (@mickywevz) October 28, 2020

?????

— Divin De Buffalo (@Divinalves) October 28, 2020

In Clapton’s defence, it sounds like a problem with whoever owns the ground. I’m sure I read the grass on the pitch there was way too long when the season got underway.

— Peter Hewett (@WestSussexSAFC) October 28, 2020

I suppose you have to draw the line somewhere.

— @GraysAthleticFCU23’s (@graysathleticf2) October 28, 2020

Should have been awarded the 3 points and the ESL have got to act, though they won’t.

— glyn harries ???????? (@hackneyglyn) October 28, 2020

“you can do it when you B&Q it” – tremendous 🙂

— Chris (@durhamchris1983) October 28, 2020

Surely it’s down to the Council to mark the pitch, clubs pay the council to use there facilities, so they should be the ones to mark the pitch, not really down to the club. The same happens at Cricklefields, pay to rent the pitch, but have to do all the lines and maintenance joke

— Hainault Ath Fc (@HainaultFc) October 28, 2020

Pffft an hour? We’d have that mowed and lined out with time for a half hour warmup ?

— Jow??????? (@LookItsJow) October 28, 2020