This weekend was the first proper winter league weekend where adverse weather was likely to affect the fixture list – and affect it it did.
It is quite clear now the grounds that passed the test and those that didn’t.
There were 10 games planned in the FA WSL 1 and 2 and many were cancelled on Sunday, including some due to be played on 3G.
Saturday’s game between London Bees and Oxford United, played at Barnet FC, went ahead as planned as the weather was just chilly with no snow.
On Sunday morning the bad news started to come quickly.
Yeovil, who had to move their game away from Huish Park, had no luck with a waterlogged pitch:
https://twitter.com/YeovilLadiesFC/status/939764907607842816
Birmingham were the first to call off their game against Bristol:
https://twitter.com/BCLFC/status/939768445956251648
Watford announced Arsenal’s Development Team game was off:
DEVELOPMENT TEAM GAME OFF. Due to snow and unsafe conditions around the ground, the Development Team game against Arsenal today is postponed ⛔️ pic.twitter.com/2izxe3EMIx
— Watford FC Ladies (@watfordladies) December 10, 2017
While Watford’s game at Brighton fell:
https://twitter.com/OfficialBHAFC/status/939792565821411328
https://twitter.com/AVLFCOfficial/status/939784514624282624
Millwall, like Brighton, play their League games on a 3G pitch but also cancelled due to safety concerns:
☃️
Due to today’s adverse weather conditions, the match today against @ThlfcOfficial has been postponed. This is due to safety concerns with players, match officials, and fans all travelling to the game. #Millwalll
— Millwall Lionesses (@millwalllioness) December 10, 2017
Arsenal announced theirs was postponed but some Liverpool fans had already started travelling South, or arrived early for a weekend in London.
One of the fans had also been hit by the Liverpool game that had been called off in Sunderland the previous week.
https://twitter.com/Hev__91/status/939825895895916544
Our match this afternoon against @LFCLadies has been postponed due to weather conditions and safety concerns.
More information: https://t.co/BOwIKfjlPS pic.twitter.com/fIyg2Dfau7
— Arsenal Women (@ArsenalWFC) December 10, 2017
These days, fans are thankful for social media because 10 to 15 years ago, when I started watching women’s football, you would travel to the game only to find out the ground was closed and the game off.
I still remember a Charlton away game when many Gooners turned up at Gravesend for nothing and, to add insult to injury, experienced problems on the line on the way back. We waited for hours for a train that never came and had to go home via local buses.
In the meantime, some games survived:
Game on! Today's game vs @SFCLadies will go ahead at the Keepmoat! 2pm kick off, we hope so see you all there!
— Donny Belles (@donnybelles) December 10, 2017
Yes, today's game is still going ahead. #COYBG https://t.co/2QgOIxYzqt
— Everton Ladies (@EvertonLadies) December 10, 2017
https://twitter.com/ChelseaLFC/status/939800933319528449
So that’s 60% of the FA WSL weekend games cancelled.
You do have to wonder when they will be rescheduled as the timing is already tight.
It would not be surprising if some games end up being replayed in midweek, which is an inconvenience for both the semi-pro players and fans.