Helping to run a club, at Non-League level or its equivalents in Scotland or Wales, is hard enough at the best of times given the time, paperwork and effort involved.
But a seemingly never-ending winter will have pushed many clubs to breaking point as they contemplate how to fit in a huge amount of unplayed matches between now and the end of the season.
I’ve read about clubs at Non-League level in England with more than 20 games still to be scheduled and fitted in, a huge task on the administrative side not to mention for players who are not full-time and who will often have to fit their football commitments around their main employment, for groundstaff and, let’s not forget, for referees too.
And it’s the seemingly never-ending nature of the winter that is causing frustration upon frustration as frozen or snow-bound pitches give way to waterlogged marshes.
Financially the pressure will grow with each passing postponement, especially of those all-important derby matches that the likes of West Didsbury & Chorlton and Great Yarmouth Town had planned for Easter Monday.
The knock-on effect of that is that matches will then have to be squeezed in to a schedule that means supporters cannot make as many as they would like.
Community-wise it means that important, engagement-building afternoons such as free entry at Dronfield Town or a Family Fun Day at Bath City have had to be shelved either for a later date or the season as a whole.
So, if you can get down to watch your local team at least once between now and May (or June or July or whenever the final whistle is blown on the campaign) then I’m sure it will be hugely appreciated.
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