The referee was right to call it off, says Margate boss Iain O'Connell

Saturday 19th February 2011

MARGATE secretary Ken Tomlinson suffered the nightmare scenario today as the club’s Ryman Premier League game against Concord Rangers was called off just 90 minutes before kick-off, writes Stephen McCartney.

Match referee Mr Lee Venamore dashed from his Maidstone home to ensure it was a frustrating day all round, especially for their Canvey Island based opponents, as the Hartsdown Park pitch was deemed waterlogged.

“This morning I had a phone call roughly about 11 o’clock as much as the game was on,” explained Mr Tomlinson.

“Only a part of, the side of the pitch was affected but then quite a heavy downpour of rain between eleven and about ten, five to twelve that decision had been completely reversed!

“Obviously ten-to-twelve with people travelling, namely the referee and opposing side coming from Canvey, it was rather late and we had no real official referee that can call a game off locally.

“It was then decided the match referee, Lee Venamore, who I understand comes from the Chatham or Maidstone area, will be asked to give his views on the state of the pitch and indeed whether the game could be played.

“He did the necessary, waked out, he got soaked. The ball rolled a short distance, the ball didn’t bounce in parts of the ground therefore, really, he had no option but to call the game off at half-past-one.”

“In some perspective we haven’t had a bad season (weather wise),” added Mr Tomlinson.

“We haven’t had like last year where we did suffer and obviously we haven’t had that many (called off) but indeed it doesn’t help the cash flow. Indeed the next two games are away from home. Someone has got to find the money - the whole side is on contract - and they expect to be paid and rightly so.”

Margate manager, Iain O’Connell, who hails from Southend, Essex, admitted it was the right decision to call the game off.

“The referee got it right,” he said. “The groundsmen worked so hard trying to get it on but they were putting their forks in and it was just filling up (with water) again so it’s still raining now. There was no chance it was going to be on.

“The players have all travelled a long way to come up here. They had to get here because we couldn’t call it off until the referee was here but they’ll do their bit. We’ll train them hard on Tuesday and Thursday and make sure we’re fit for Saturday.”

O’Connell added: “Well, the boys have still to get paid. That’s where it’s very hard for a club like us. Obviously we all wanted the game to be on, to get the gate receipts so all I can say is how hard the chairman works because the boys are always paid and it’s hard, it’s very, very hard. Not only the chairman, the directors’, who work hard as well. It mainly falls on Keith Piper.”

Margate are on the road next Saturday, away to high-flyers Bury Town.

Visit Margate’s website: www.margate-fc.com