Last night (Monday) fans and management were left fuming after the premier division game at Mickleover was postponed at the last minute, further complicating a fixture list that is already congested in the extreme.
The Celtic players had arrived at Station Road when the referee deemed the pitch to be waterlogged. It was a decision that markedly failed to impress manager Steve Burr who tweeted:
I’ve seen it all now. @MickleoverSFC pitch is as good as you will get. A 5-yard area of the pitch was deemed unplayable!!! Thanks for taking everything into consideration. Absolutely UNBELIEVABLE
Counting tonight (Tuesday’s) Cheshire Senior Cup tie with Barnton, Bridge have ten games to fit in by April 28 — a total that would increase to 12 if they reached the county cup final.
Mr Gorski believes the Northern Premier League needs to reduce its micro-management and allow clubs some freedom to arrange their own affairs.
He said: “Although there’s nothing we can do about the weather, it’s massively frustrating to have had continual postponements at, specifically, two away venues. Had we had more notice and flexibility, we could have used those dates for other matches, thus reducing the backlog.
“Unfortunately, unlike the National League, it appears the NPL want to be more hands-on and dictate events.
“Our new secretary, Paul Carter, has had a baptism of fire with scheduling all of this. Even though he has done a tremendous job, we’ve not had that freedom to change fixtures. For example, we could have played Workington at home instead of continually heading over Woodhead on futile trips.
“Financially, it’s obviously hit us hard. I hate to think what the gate will be at some of our remaining matches and it’s putting unfair pressure on the depleted squad to play five times in a week.
“Should we beat Barnton and Nantwich in the Cheshire Senior Cup, the pile-up will become beyond absurd.”
Remaining Stalybridge Celtic fixtures
Tuesday, April 10, Barnton, H, Cheshire Senior Cup quarter-final; Thursday, April 12, Shaw Lane, A; Saturday, April 14, Stourbridge, A; Tuesday, April 17, Ashton United, A; Thursday, April 19, Matlock Town, A; Saturday, April 21, Coalville Town, H; Monday, April 23, Mickleover, A; Tuesday, April 24, Workington, H; Thursday, April 26, Witton Albion, H; Saturday, April 28, Halesowen Town, A.