The weather was closing in. The temperature was dipping through each day that turned into night, yet for reasons unknown to all who love football, the game against Scunthorpe was heading for being postponed because the pitch, that everyone thought had under-soil heating, was frozen. Yes, the pipes had been installed while the pitch was relayed, but what they failed to do was to include an abdicate boiler to complete the reconstruction.
It begs belief. Doing half the job is like advertising a new car in the showroom but failing to tell the buyer after he bought it he has to install an engine. There is an interesting quote from someone connected with Charlton at the time back in 2014. I quote: ‘`All the pipe work is definitely going in. The boiler can be put in at a later date. Temporary boiler could be bought in and be linked up in a day or two so the club might do that if the weather looks dodgy the week before the game“.
What went wrong? Either there were crossed wires or someone did not do their job properly. Whatever the reason for not going ahead with a temporary boiler, it has once again sent the wrong message and added more contempt towards the owner who has just received a good pay cheque from the sale of Ademola Lookman.
It was never common knowledge that when the lush green turf gave the Valley a Premiership look there was no permanent boiler in place. This was because there was a probability that the Addicks might find themselves back in the big times to fund the running of such an expensive luxury as a boiler to stop what has occurred this weekend past.
Not only is the whole scenario annoying, it could have been avoided. Before the pitch was installed the playing surface was appalling. But, to the ground staff`s credit, they try very hardtop dry the pitch when it was bogged down after some bad weather so games could go ahead. Not always successful, but it was at least an attempt. So knowing about the heating being non- functional, why was this process not implemented? They could see the frost was going to penetrate the playing surface.
A footnote. The excuse for not finishing to job and installing a boiler did not help all the Scunthorpe supporters who were already hot- footing towards the Valley, because this game was important to them as it was to us. To be told it has been called off because of a frozen pitch probably had most of them confused to the point of why, when the Valley has under-soil heating.
To conclude, it will be interesting to see what the next steps are going to be. Further bad weather is forecast well in advance so there should be no excuse for not preparing future games at the Valley. Perhaps to completion of the job might be a better option. We can live in hope.
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