Electric atmosphere at Devizes (From The Wiltshire Gazette and Herald)

Electric atmosphere at Devizes

4:13pm Tuesday 6th March 2007 in Football By Stuart White

DEVIZES Town were forced to call off their derby with Corsham on Tuesday night in fear of electrocuting the crowd.

An electrician identified a major problem with the earthing of the floodlights while carrying out maintenance work on the morning of the kick off.

Manager Paul Thompson was looking forward to welcoming the Toolstation Premier Division title favourites, and was gutted' about having to postpone the derby.

"We are bitterly disappointed about it," said Thompson.

"But it is a health and safety issue and someone could have been killed.

"If we turned the lights on there would be a power surge under the ground, and potentially anyone touching any metal, just leaning on a barrier, could be electrocuted.

"It is a problem with the earthing, and we think it is because the water levels are higher because of the rain."

The club will not be able to switch on the Nursteed Road lights until a safety certificate is issued, and Saturday's home game against Dawlish is now in doubt.

Thomspon added: "The cost to the club is tremendous, it is major repairs."

Chairman Phil Rossiter expects APT Electrics to finish the work by the weekend once they have identified the problem area.

He said: "They need to find the fault. We have had problems with the lights all season and this could be why.

"It is a shame the game was called off but it was for safety, and not worth even thinking about. The poles and the area around it would become live."