A Very Disappointing Weekend - Hopkins

Last updated : 27 January 2014 By Covsupport News Service

Coventry Sphinx manager Luke Hopkins is hoping that his side can get back to playing tomorrow night at Highgate United after Saturday’s Midland Alliance game at AFC Wulfrunians was postponed just fifteen minutes before kick-off due to a storm.

Hopkins told the Sphinx website: “It was a very disappointing weekend.

“With it looking like we were finally going to play a game in 2014, the team was keen and ready to go, we arrived at AFC Wulfrunians and seen they had done a lot of work to the pitch to get the game on. It’s a nice set up and a decent pitch so we were very hopefully all week that the game would go ahead.

“The lads went out to warm up and that’s when the first thunder storm came, around 2.20pm it was hail stones, lightning and thunder, we called all the team back in for their safety. Once it had passed, the referee then ventured out on to the pitch around 2.35pm and dropped the ball in a few puddles that had just appeared from the storm and decided it was too dangerous to play.

“Personally I have played in much worse and it opens up a can of worms as I think it’s more dangerous in the summer on a concrete hard pitch than it is on a wet pitch. I think the puddles would have had a chance to drain away as it was a flash flood storm.

“This rained off weather seems to be increasing each year and perhaps the grassroots grants might want a section for drainage!

“So a great day travelling around the Midlands at our expense for ourselves and our supporters.  

“We now look to Tuesday and hopefully Highgate and the Officials will want to play a game of football, our first in 2014 on the 28th of the first month, otherwise we have to hope and pray for the following Saturday, at home to Quorn, where I know our groundsman will be working to get the game on. It’s concerning as the games are mounting with seven in February, seven in March and seven in April, with the weather not really improving.”