Spennymoor Town: Tonight’s FA Trophy Quarter-Final Replay against Bromley has been postponed due to the heavy snow we are experiencing

BROMLEY’S bid to reach The Buidlbase FA Trophy Semi-Finals for the first time were stopped in their tracks by the current wintry blast.

Neil Smith’s men were held to a disappointing goal-less draw by Spennymoor Town at Hayes Lane at the weekend and were making the trip up to County Durham this morning for tonight’s scheduled replay.


Spennymoor Town covered their pitch with frost covers
loaned from Darlington and Hartlepool United but they
were beaten by the weather and will look to play Bromley
next Tuesday for a place in The Buildbase FA Trophy
Semi-Finals
Photo: Spennymoor Town FC

However, the seventh-placed Vanarama National League North hosts, made the effort to get the game played by loaning frost covers from nearby clubs Darlington and Hartlepool United and 31 volunteers worked tirelessly yesterday to attempt to get the game on.

The Bromley team were expected to depart London Euston at 10:30 to catch a train to Penrith before boarding a coach to Spennymoor and staying overnight after the game.

FA rules state the home club must call in a local qualified referee to inspect their pitch before the away club start travelling.

Therefore, a pitch inspection was called for 08:30 this morning and around an hour later, the sensible decision to call the game off was announced.

A Spennymoor Town statement, which was posted on their website, said: “Tonight’s FA Trophy Quarter-Final Replay has been postponed due to the heavy snow we are experiencing.

“The club would like to put on record its sincere appreciation to the local volunteers who gave up their time last night to apply the pitch covers and also Darlington and Hartlepool United who allowed us to use them.

“Due to the excellent work above, the pitch is completely playable today, however the heavy weather forecast later would still mean considerable uncertainty once the covers were removed this afternoon and we cannot say for sure that the terracing and surrounding areas in the ground will be able to be made safe.”

The game has been re-arranged for next Tuesday, 6 March 2018, which will mean Bromley’s Vanarama National League trip to Solihull Moors will have to be re-arranged.

Victory for Smith’s men will hand them a two-legged Semi-Final clash against one of their League rivals.

Leyton Orient threw away a 3-0 lead at home to Gateshead at Brisbane Road at the weekend and tonight’s replay at the Gateshead International Stadium was called off yesterday and they will try again next Tuesday night.

The other Semi-Final tie is between Stockport County or Brackley Town (both Vanarama National League North clubs) against Vanarama National League South side Wealdstone, who stunned Bostik Premier Division leaders Billericay Town 5-2 on Saturday.

The Stones victory resulted in Billericay’s cash-rich owner Glenn Tamplin stepping down as manager to become Harry Wheeler’s assistant manager.

That was until Billericay Town issued this statement today:

“After two days of meetings with the players, coaching and internal staff after Saturday’s game we as a club have made a unanimous decision that Glenn Tamplin will see the club through as manager until the end of this current season," said the statement, posted on www.billericaytownfc.co.uk.

“The players have insisted Glenn stay on to see them through what has proved to be a low point for the club with 3 losses in 4 games.

“With two cup finals and the league ours to lose the players insisted it can and will be a successful season but with Glenn in charge.

“Glenn has high expectations and the demands he puts on himself are not always achievable and he knows the demands were elevating stress for himself and his players. Harry Wheeler will be appointed team manager at the end of this season.”