Unlike last season the 2 junior teams will be allowed to play all home games, 2014/15, on the senior pitch rather than alternating at Chapel.  But only by using our resources wisely can we hope to preserve the condition of both existing pitches at Whaley and not revert mid-season to using Chapel again. So be warned - follow the guidence below!

Each manager &/or the relevant Secretary must post the following weekend’s game on the Club’s ‘Next Fixture’ Web page; failure to do so may be deemed as that team either not playing or playing away and the schedule fixed accordingly.

In accordance with the FA's recommendations re age group/pitch size (see Appendix A below) :-

The Junior managers will together coordinate the fixture list for the following month and switch certain games to ensure that there are no double bookings and also that the number of games played on the Junior pitch is spread evenly over each weekend to limit wear and tear.  The Junior Vice Chair will be the final arbiter when required.  If revised, the schedule should be posted on the Club’s web page by Thursday evening at the latest.

To eliminate any ambiguity about whether a pitch is fit to play managers will be contacted by Jon Brogden & or a responsible person re the Senior pitch and Dean Campbell/John Hind re the Junior pitch who will check the surface as required over the weekend in order to make a decision.  There is no room for individual descretion and going against the Club's recommendation may mean that the pitch will deteriorate faster and future games may then need to be cancelled. Almost without exception if Saturday's fixtures are cancelled then the Sunday fixtures will likewise be cancelled. This applies especially to the Senior pitch which is regularly vetted by the CFL; a poor surface can result in expulsion from the league! Those with knowledge of the pitches will tell you that the senior pitch is much more prone to saturation in various areas than is the more solid composition of the junior pitch so there may be exceptions to the rule for the junior pitch.

If you are not contacted and nothing is posted on the Web page then the schedule is presumed to go ahead. Confirmation can be gleaned from the above direct if there is any ambiguity.

The decision to cancel is based only on the potential to damage the pitch; with that in mind it will be left to the manager and if required the referee to decide on the safety aspect when frost is a factor.  This due to the fact that often a pitch not fit in the morning may well have thawed by the afternoon and we need to do what we can to reduce a fixture pile up. Accordingly each manager should inspect the pitch in good time to make the necessary arrangements.

The Club is fully aware that ultimately all games have to be played and has to do its best to preserve the pitches so that can happen. Accordingly managers of any mini-soccer playing across the junior pitch should also ensure that spectators do not stand on the playing surface and whenever possible all managers should dissuade anyone from straying onto either playing surface unless taking part in a game.

Both pitches are subject to essential maintenance throughout the summer break and accordingly training should not take place on the playing surfaces. Common sense must prevail and if the pitches do not receive the appropriate respect then the surface will be inadequate and won't promote good football skills and it may well be that games will have to be cancelled during the season. Furthermore those giving freely of their own time throughout the summer months may be inclined to call it a day if all their hard work to maintain the pitches in readiness for the next season is constantly undermined.

Appendix A: Pitch Dimensions

Recommended pitch sizes for all Age Groups