Archived News from August 2004
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PERSTON GAME OFF AGAIN / NOW SEPT 21
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Stags game is OFF again
CHAD website MANSFIELD Town's home Carling Cup clash with Preston North End tonight (Wednesday) has been called OFF again. The match, postponed yesterday due to the major fire next door to the ground at Pyramid Plastics on Victoria Street, was moved forward 24 hours to tonight on Police and Fire Brigade advice. However, the fire has continued today and a Stags spokesman said; "The fire is still burning anbd could do so for another three days. "Safety officers have warned the building is in imminent danger of collapse which would send debris and hot ash for up to 150+ metres which would put us right in the firing line. The game will now be played at Field Mill on Tuesday, 21st September (7.45pm) - the date others sides will be playing their second round matches. ------------- Preston angered by cup decision 10:47am 25th August 2004 Preston have expressed their dismay at being forced by the Football League to play their Carling Cup first-round clash against Mansfield at Field Mill tonight. The tie, which was scheduled for Tuesday, was postponed following a toxic fire close to the ground and both clubs had agreed on an alternative date to play the game. With Preston facing a long trip to Brighton in the Championship on Saturday, they were hoping for leniency from the League, especially given their clash with Wolves earlier this month also had to be rescheduled to their disadvantage. General manager John Booth told the club's official website, http://www.pnefc.co.uk: "We discussed with Mansfield an alternative fixture a few weeks away and both clubs were happy with those arrangements. "However the Football League have said we must fulfil the fixture this week. We protested to the Football League that this is the second time in the space of a fortnight that they have moved a fixture to Preston North End's disadvantage. "They moved the Wolves game to a Wednesday despite the club having a long trip to Gillingham on the weekend and now they have done the same this week and we didn't think it was fair bearing in mind the long journey to Brighton. "We have been forced to play this fixture even though Mansfield have had problems arranging stewarding and policing at such a short notice. Mansfield have also expressed concerns about playing the fixture on Wednesday night. "We apologise for any inconvenience that this will cause to our fans." ----------- Nearby fire postpones Stags game until tomorrow CHAD MANSFIELD Town's prestigious Carling Cup tie with Championship club Preston North End will now be played tomorrow night (Wednesday, 7.45pm) after falling victim to a potentially toxic cloud of smoke caused by a neighbouring factory fire this afternoon. With the game scheduled to be played tonight, the fire at Pyramid Plastics on Victoria Avenue began at lunchtime. But the resulting toxic cloud left Police warning people to stay indoors and the decision to call off the tie was made at around 3.15pm. A spokesperson for the Fire Brigade said the game had been cancelled as a precautionary measure. "Three roads have been closed around the fire," she said shortly after the postponement. "We have 13 appliances there and we have had to evacuate three roads in the area of the blaze. "Also part of the building is in danger of collapse. It is quite a serious fire so the last thing we would need is thousands of people heading towards Field Mill. "It's one of those," said Stags boss Keith Curle. "Obviously we are disappointed but you have to take advice from the people in the know and we respect their decision. "All our preparations for the game were in place and we were ready to go. "But we have to be governed by the jobs people do and the decision was made in the best interests of public safety." Chairman Keith Haslam added: "Obviously we were very disappointed the game was called off but at least it came at the best possible time to do so. "It was done before Preston supporters had set off or any of our own fans were on their way to the game. "Someone had mentioned to me earlier that they were worried the game might be off due to all the rain. "I told them that wasn't a problem and then this happened. But you can't do anything about it. "You look forward to these big games and start building yourself up so it's a real shame." ------- Preston North End Official Site : Mansfield Game Now Wednesday This week's Carling Cup clash with Mansfield Town will now take place on Wednesday evening and not Tuesday following the fire near to Field Mill. The original date of Tuesday 24th August had to be postponed due to safety concerns from the Police and Fire services about the toxic nature of a blaze close to Mansfield's home ground. North End will now have to travel a day later than anticipated after the Football League ruled that the fixture must take place this week. -------- Stagsnet believes this to be the earliest ever postponement during a season of a league or cup game (the previous earliest was Aug 30, in 1937). This excludes the recent pre-season friendly against Derby. During this century, the Stags have been involved in more unusual abandonements. Firstly, a league game at Southend - April 16, 2001 - abandoned due to the fact that ref Mike North suffered a heart-attack and later died. Secondly, April 26, 2003, at Tranmere when a spectator climbed on the roof of the ground. Thirdly, March 20, 2004, when the home game against Oxford was abandoned at half-time due to freak winds. ---------- Stags game is OFF CHAD website Mansfield Town's scheduled Carling Cup first round home tie with Preston North End tonight has been called off due to a fire at a neighbouring factory. The Pyramid Plastics factory on Victoria Street had been ablaze since lunchtime and a toxic cloud of fumes had developed over the town. A decision to call off the game ewas made at 3.15 to ensure no one travelled unnecessarily from Preston. It is hoped a new date will be announced this afternoon. |
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