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Archived News from February 2011

BARROW GAME AT FIELD MILL OFF AFTER PITCH INSPECT.
21st February 2011 1:00


New date for Barrow game
mansfieldtown.net, Tue 15 Feb 2011, 11am

This evening's scheduled home game against Barrow has now been rearranged.

http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10325~2293799,00.html

Following today's postponement, a new date has been set for this fixture on Tuesday 12th April, kick off 7.45pm

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Game off
mansfieldtown.net, Tue 15 Feb 2011, 10am

video interview with local referee Russell Booth --->

http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10325~2293685,00.html?


Tonight's BSBP fixture against Barrow has been postponed due to an unplayable pitch here at Field Mill.

With light rain overnight, and more forecast later on today, local referee Russell Booth had no choice but to deem the waterlogged surface unplayable earlier this morning for this evening's scheduled match.

Mansfieldtown.net will bring you further details as soon as this game has been rearranged

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Pitch inspection planned for Barrow
mansfieldtown.net, Mon 14 Feb 2011

An early pitch inspection will be carried out tomorrow morning by local referee Russell Booth.

http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/NewsDetail/0,,10325~2292961,00.html?

Mr Booth will assess the pitch as a precaution following continued rain throughout the past week.

A decision will be reached by 9.45am tomorrow morning.

Groundsman Michael Merriman told http://www.mansfieldtown.net: "Everyone could see that the pitch was 'upside down' after Saturday's home match against Newport.

"At the minute, the pitch is drenched from last night's rain and it is so wet that we cannot work on it today."

"The problems have been predicted as we've had adverse weather for the past two years with all the winter snow. It also didn't help when we were locked out of the ground in December, during an important time for the pitch.

"Coupled with that, and Glapwell previously playing on a Sunday, we have had limited funding for the end of season renovation for the past three seasons. Due to last year's summer commitments, there was limited time and money to properly prepare the pitch for the season.

"In fairness and credit to the current Chairman and C.E.O, they have both fully supported the work which needs to be carried out on the pitch since they came to the club in September. However, by that time, any investment would have been too late.

"I am grateful to them for promising money to be spent on the pitch in the close season, which will allow the playing surface to be fully prepared ahead of a new footballing year," he added

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video interview with Duncan Russell --->

http://www.mansfieldtown.net/page/FromTheBoss/0,,10325~2293389,00.html

Russ wary of fixture pile up
mansfieldtown.net, Mon 14 Feb 2011

With tomorrow night's fixture against Barrow in some doubt, manager Duncan Russell says that he is wary of adding another postponement to an already tight fixture list.

With a pitch inspection due here at Field Mill at 9.45am tomorrow morning, the match hangs in the balance due to the saturated condition of the playing surface.

Should the game not go ahead, it will be our fifth postponement of the season and will most probably have to be played in April.

With 16 league fixtures remaining, and a Fourth Round FA Trophy tie to be played against Chasetown, we must now play our fixtures at the rapid rate of one every 4.4 days between now and the end of the season.

Understandably, the gaffer is reluctant to have to add a game against Barrow to an already gruelling schedule and said: "I am a bit wary but if the pitch is going to cut up then it has to be of benefit to us.

"If we do not play then we have two or three weeks before we go on it again and it will allow the surface to dry.

"We like to play good, passing football and sometimes conditions are not conducive to playing that way."

On the effects that a punishing fixture schedule might have on his squad selection, 'Russ' added: "If we play tomorrow then that's four games in 10 days on heavy pitches and some of the lads are very tired. Saying that, they looked bright in training today and quite energetic.

"That's when squad rotation kicks in. I want to stick with the same XI but its one of those nice things about having a big squad.

"You just have to deal with it. We are not the only team who will have to cope with it and you can't do anything about it."

Should we get the go ahead from local referee Russell Booth tomorrow, 'Russ' agreed that the team would take much confidence into the game following a run of just one defeat in seven matches.

"That's the important thing - one defeat in seven isn't bad. We showed great character to come back from 3-0 down on Saturday and when other teams would have crumbled, we did not."

In terms of team news, long term absentee Alan Marriott has returned to light training today following a long standing groin problem but it not expected to be match fit for at least another two weeks.

Elsewhere, Rhys Day and Paul Stonehouse will undergo late fitness tests due to respective tendon and groin problems

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