The Voice - Match preview #25: Bradford City vs Rotherham United Tuesday 24 February 2026 7.45pm

unless we win the game when we play them

 

Albion Sports played yesterday but their match was abandoned after 57 minutes because the pitch was stating to freeze. Maybe it was good that our match was postponed after all

 

you are correct looked at the table before they updated it.

 

It is not by any means. Disappointing perhaps but all clubs across the north and in lower leagues suffer from occasional postponement. We aren't premier league with undersoil heating on our pitch.

 

I think most people understand that. But, there was a pitch inspection the day before and we were told the conditions were fine and there would be no further inspections. Then, throughout the evening, the temperature dropped to minus 3. We have been told the covers work down to minus 3, and on Saturday, it was sunny. In the 24-hour period between inspections, aside from the expected minus 3, which should have been mitigated by the covers, there were no unexpected weather events, such as snow. Did the groundsman get complacent and leave the covers off overnight? Maybe, if not, then my argument would be that if we couldn't get the game on, considering the weather we have had, then it is time to look at alternative solutions. Just on here, we have had someone who had travelled from Poland, London and Stafford for the game. It is about more than just saving the club a few quid by not buying a better quality solution, it directly affects their paying customer, and in any other service it wouldn't be deemed acceptable.

 

I don't think it's purely about the pitch though, its the surrounding footpaths and carparks in the area - it was treacherous under foot on Saturday. Supporter safety and all that !

 

It was just stated that the ref had called it off due to the pitch, although I agree that could be a consideration sometimes. Though the counter is to use grit.

 

I think the covers had done a decent enough job on the majority of the pitch. It was a few patches at the Bradford End that were deemed unplayable.

 

But they know where the problem areas are,so why don't they take extra precautions on that area.

 

I think that's a very good post.A lot of supporters,far,far many more than post on here,spend a lot of time and money supporting City,but on this occasion,the club seem to have scant regard for them,not even a proper apology,unless I have missed it.

 

If it is only small areas, then couldn't the lights we have be used?

 

How do you know they weren't?
I've seen a conspiracy theory this morning that apparently the ref for the game lives in Plymouth and called the pitch as unplayable so he could get home sooner. I don't believe that anymore than I believe the ground staff didn't do everything they possibly could with the equipment available to them to get the game on.

 

Cheers Dennis, did not know that.

 

I don't, but isn't that my whole point? Whatever we are doing isn't enough to get a game on on a sunny day when the weather never fell below minus 3 the night before (and we were told that it was fine to play through the day).

I'm not interested in conspiracy theories; it's professional sport, and professional clubs should have the tools/skills to ensure a game goes ahead in the conditions we faced. If not, move it to a summer sport and have done with it, especially if money's an issue, as then clubs would save on lighting and could have Tuesday night games through the summer holidays to improve Tuesday attendances.

 

I'm sure we bought a newer set from Manchester City ?

 

Didn't Rod post at the weekend that it's the first game we've had to postpone for frost since the 22/23 season? I don't really think that merits moving it to be a summer sport.

 

Well we had Notts County after that without even researching, and if you read my initial post it wasn't just directed at our club but the sport in general. Any way I'm out.

 

That game was postponed due to a water logged pitch.