Town's trip to Tranmere scuppered by frozen pitch (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Town's trip to Tranmere scuppered by frozen pitch

6:00am Saturday 26th January 2013 in Sport

SWINDON Town have been hit by yet another postponement after today’s clash with Tranmere was called off due to a frozen pitch.

The decision was made just after 1pm yesterday afternoon after the pitch inspected by a Football League match official who deemed the surface unplayable.

Groundstaff removed several inches of snow earlier this week and despite frost covers being on the pitch all week, the heavy frost last night combined with moisture still in the ground caused it to freeze.

The decision was made the day before the game to prevent the Swindon squad and supporters from travelling to Wirral, much to the disappointment of Rovers boss Ronnie Moore.

"It's disappointing the game has been postponed but, through nobody's fault, the pitch is frozen solid. There's no way the game could have taken place,” he said.

"It's disappointing for Swindon Town and their supporters but most of all disappointing for ourselves and our supporters.

"It is a game we were looking forward to playing in."

A date for the rearranged game is set to be announced in due course, with tickets for the original staging valid when it is eventually replayed.

The game was the third Town have lost to the weather in recent weeks, with the games away at both Leyton Orient and Colchester called off over the Christmas period.

None of Town’s home games have fallen victim to the weather, and last weekend an army of supporters, club staff and manager Paolo Di Canio worked through the night to remove snow from the pitch to ensure the clash with Shrewsbury went ahead.

The weather in Wiltshire has also played havoc with the local sports scene, with Swindon Rugby Club’s clash with Salisbury in South West One East called off yesterday.

In the Hellenic League, Wootton Bassett’s visit to Lambourn, Highworth’s home clash with Binfield, New College’s game against Brimscombe & Thrupp and Purton’s match against Carterton have been postponed.

All matches on Swindon Borough Council pitches were called off on Thursday, while the entire North Berks league programme was declared off yesterday.