In the Event of a Postponement ....

[Westyeltz]

If fans pay to get onto the ground to have a pre-match swifty or two in the new bar, and the game is then postponed upon the referees pitch inspection, would the Club issue refunds to those already on the ground?

[RobYeltz]

I would have thought a decision would be made before the bar opens at 6pm and/or before Coalville set off. I assume you'd get some kind of voucher/ticket.

[Washy002]

I believe, although dont quote me on it, a refund is given if the game is called off before half time... After half time no refund is issued...

[KenR]

Tricky one with the advent of the new bar where early access is gained. When a late pitch inspection was warranted the turnstiles were not opened until a decision had been reached to play the match or not. In the recent past a match was called off with a large crowd inside, I cannot remember the match or whether ,or not ,the match had actually started, when it was called off ( could it have been the play off SF against Chippenham) but vouchers were issued on exiting the ground . The Old Hawne Lane exit gates resembled a scrummage as fans fought to get their vouchers off Mickey Serge.( I'm certain he issued twice as many vouchers as spectators present). So I suppose early entrants would be issued with a re-match voucher. Clubs, be they cricket or football do not like parting with monies already collected.
This post must be worthy of at least 3 Georges Westy, friend or not.

[YeltzDoc]

'Twas Chips. I was there for the original match in the monsoon but I couldn't make the replay, so my voucher has pride of place, framed above the facilities in the smallest room.

Even worse, I came up on the train from London for a League Cup match at Bumsgrove, struggled to get a taxi from their somewhat rural train station and only made the Victoria Ground for half time.
The fog descended during the break and the ref called it off.
No football, no refund, no voucher.

[JohnC]

Yes was Chips first leg. Also we had home one called off for fog which i was in early to get some food. Think opps Bronsgrove. We had a voucher.

The 4 off us who went to Chesham couple years back away they tried to give us vouchers. As the only re match could be mid week and i may not have been able to make due to work. We asked repeated politely and had our cash back.

[Laurel Lane Lamper]

In the 60s we travelled on the team coach to Cinderford, the ref called it off 2pm with fog covering the ground. Come 2.50pm the fog cleared but he wouldn't alter his decision. Cinderford laid on sausage & chips in their clubhouse for all fans who'd travelled.

Doc, I think this is the abandoned game:
24-Nov-98 BROMSGROVE abnd A 467 0 0 MCDONNELL CRISP HOLLIS WOOD SMITH GARDINER BRADLEY FRANCIS PIEARCE BIRCH REED PETERS COOPER SKIDMORE
Colin Brookes was Caretaker manager after Stewart Hall had resigned earlier in the month. We returned the following month, under John Chambers, to win 2-1.

[YeltzDoc]

Yes was Chips first leg.

Not quite. Much like the old bloke who I used to sit next to in the Harry Rudge stand when I was a nipper, only one leg.

I think he lost the other one at Dunkirk - anyone else remember him?

[Noggin]

I believe, although dont quote me on it, a refund is given if the game is called off before half time... After half time no refund is issued...

This is what I thought too, although I understand that there is no firm rule for all clubs on this, it being a "condition of ground entry"

Apart from the Chips N Ham episode, the only other experience of match abandonment at The Grove that I can recall is when a match against Clevedon was abandoned during half time (I think we were leading 2-0 with both goals from Matt Lewis) Christmas Dec 2006??. On that occasion there was no refund which was probably fair enough

What is I find odd (and I know that it is an observation Johnny Bud has made too) is that for abandoned matches, goals scored do not count got stats purposes, but bookings do. Is anyone aware of the logic behind this?

[KenR]

Yes I recall the Cinderford match. Blanket fog enshrouded the ground but though all the locals declared that it would be gone before starting time, the referee postponed the match and cleared off. The sausage and chips were nice though.
The bromsgrove match that Doc referred to , wasn't that the match when the young rovers winger broke his leg Doc.? Like you we did n't see the incident , our reason was because of the fog ,but the heard the snapping of bones. Yuk, the worst sound in the world.