Health & Safety has gone mad - Burman

Monday 01st February 2010

DARTFORD boss Tony Burman was left seething after Saturday’s game at Harrow Borough fell victim to a frozen pitch within an hour before kick-off, writes Stephen McCartney.

Dartford started their trip to Earlsmead at 12 noon, after a pitch inspection was held half-an-hour earlier, but the Portsmouth based match official called the match off after the team sheets were exchanged, leaving the Darts boss upset.

“We knew there was a pitch inspection at half-past-even and the coach was leaving at 12,” Burman told www.kentishfootball.co.uk today.

“The referee was coming up from Portsmouth and he wanted to see the pitch as well. He felt there was a good chance it would be on once we got there, so yes, it was very, very disappointing as I felt and the Harrow manager felt that the game should be started because there was probably 90-95% of the pitch was perfect and it took a stud.

“But there was a little bit of an area along the line where the stand was in the shade and we felt it was worth starting the game and the referee had to make the final decision and his decision was that he didn’t want to play it.”

Burman continued: “We were on our way out to do our warm-up, we named the sides and the referee and the two linesmen were running up and down the line and they weren’t happy with it for themselves.

“To be fair, if a player had got injured it was their responsibility but I and the Harrow manager tried to take that responsibility away, saying that the game should start.”

It appears that match officials are too quick in calling games off due to frozen pitches, and this hits clubs financially.

“I think it’s just the way of the world is at the moment with Health & Safety,” bemoaned Burman.

“The pitch was hard in that area, there’s no two ways about it. It was hard but with 95% of the pitch being ok, sometimes you have to adjust to it. It wasn’t in the goalmouth it was on the by-line. We just felt that the game should have had an opportunity to start and that’s the way both managers felt.”

Harrow Borough, meanwhile, issued the following statement on Saturday's events.

"We can only apologise on behalf of Harrow Borough Football Club for late postponement of the match and the frustration (Dartford supporters) must feel.

"We did arrange for an 11.30am pitch inspection by a local referee and notification of this was put on the Ryman League website.

"The playing surface had improved considerably from the position it was in at 8.00am that morning and there was real belief that as the temperature rose then the pitch would be playable by 3.00pm.

"As is required on pitch inspections not undertaken by the Match Referee the inspecting official discussed the position by telephone at some length with the Match Referee and they agreed that Dartford Football Club should travel and that the latter would look again at the pitch on his arrival.

"We therefore left the Pitch Inspection Notice on the Ryman League website and this information was passed to numerous callers who telephoned me direct. Perhaps in hindsight we should have changed the notice to read that a final decision would be made by the Match Referee on his arrival – but hindsight is a wonderful thing as we all know.

"The Match Officials looked at the pitch shortly after their arrival and then discussed the matter with the two respective managers who advised him that they were both keen to play the fixture.

"The Referee advised that he would make a final decision at 2.10pm shortly before team sheets were exchanged. On re-inspecting the offending areas in front of the terracing on one side of the ground he advised that in his opinion the improvement had not been sufficient to enable the match to take place and he was postponing the fixture.

"This was not a decision that was welcomed by the two managers, but the Referee refused to change his mind despite their pleas to the contrary.

"We immediately advised the Ryman League and the appropriate press agencies, but by then of course many people had arrived for the game."

Burman is desperate for Tuesday night’s trip to struggling Billericay Town goes ahead.

Striker Carl Rook is expected to be included in the squad, having arrived from their league rivals Tonbridge Angels for an undisclosed fee last week.

Rook has banged in 18 goals for the Longmead Stadium outfit this season, but was offloaded to balance the books, despite being under contract until the end of next season.

Burman has splashed the cash to bring the prolific marksman to Princes Park due to injuries to his key front men.

“There was too many plusses for me not to make an approach,” explained Burman.

“He would have been on the hit list for me during the summer. Tonbridge approached us and knew we’d be interested in him and to be fair to them they’ve approached us and Tonbridge and Carl wanted to talk very quickly.

“He had a few other clubs that were interested. I’ve got him three months before I’d be even talking to him. It’s a good move for everyone concerned.

“We’ve got some serious injuries regarding our front guys and he will be back-up for the two or three games per week for the rest of the season.

“Jay May looks like he could be long-term and Allan Tait is getting back to fitness, but he’s been injured.

“With all due respect to Rob Haworth, he’s been brilliant for us, but can he do 2-3 games per week and that’s no!

“Lee Burns is suspended and Danny Harris but we need the players in there.”

Billericay are surprising many with their lowly position of being third-from-bottom in the Ryman Premier League table.

“Billericay have got some good players on their books and it’s really strange their position that they’re in,” added Burman.

“We’ll go there knowing it’s going to be a tough game. We’ve got a lot of guys that live in Essex and it’s a local derby for them.

“It’s going to be a tough game and I just hope it’s played.”

Kingstonian moved into second place in the table with a 2-0 home win over Margate yesterday, a result that puts Alan Dowson’s side ten points behind the Darts.

“We’re not looking over our shoulder, we know we need to get points like we have done all season,” said Burman.

“We got back on track with the two wins over Canvey and Cray, we had a draw against Carshalton but we want to get all three points and that’s what we’ll endeavour to do.

“We’re concerned about us, more than anyone else.”

Meanwhile, reserve team striker, Karl Dent, has gone out on loan to Ryman League Division One South side Sittingbourne, scoring once on his debut as Gary Abbott’s side came away from ten-man Ramsgate with a 6-1 win at the weekend.

Visit Dartford’s websites: www.dartfordfc.co.uk & www.dartfordfootballclub.co.uk

Billericay Town v Dartford

Ryman Premier League

Tuesday 2nd February 2010

Kick Off 7:45pm

At New Lodge, Blunts Wall Road, Billericay, Essex CM12 9SA