Saturday's home game with Torquay was postponed in controversial circumstances shortly after 11am, the only game in England to fall victim to the weather. The club's information line was still telling callers at 11.30 that the game was on and that no pitch inspection was planned. A group of Torquay fans had already travelled for nearly five hours when they heard the news. Alan Steel, secretary of CCUIST, said: "There shouldn't have been a message saying the match was definitely on. People from all over the north of England would have set off when they found out it was cancelled. I was coming from Durham and I was half an hour from Carlisle when I heard. What about those poor devils from Torquay? They must have set off early on the strength of what they heard on the information line." Despite clear evidence to the contrary, United director Mark Knighton insisted the line had been updated early on. He said only a small corner of the pitch which didn't get any sun was causing the problem. The referee inspected it and decided the pitch was unplayable. Overnight temperatures had plunged to -3 after a series of weather forecasts predicting widespread frost. "It's a terrible tragedy," he said. "We don't want games to be off. It has financial implications for the club." With no more home games until January 12, when Carlisle are scheduled to meet Leyton Orient, it means United will not play a home game for six weeks. Average gates are already down over 20% compared to last season. The planned protest march by the Carlisle & Cumbria United Independent Supporters' Trust, which had been re-arranged for Saturday after being called off on Boxing Day, will now go ahead on Saturday January 12, starting at 2pm. Organisers are asking supporters to turn up outside the Turf Inn in good time for the start. A bumper turnout of over 500 was expected over the holiday period but trust committee members are still hoping for a large marching contingent in the new year. United's next game at Hull City on Friday night is likely to go ahead after better weather forecasts for the weekend. The match will be screened live by ITV Digital, the first time Carlisle will have appeared in a live game since the home clash with Preston North End in October 1997. |
