Kentish Football 
Hythe Town secretary Martin Giles voices his pitch concerns
Wednesday 05th January 2011
HYTHE TOWN secretary Martin Giles says the football authorities must clamp down on the abuse of football pitches before the first whistle, writes Stephen McCartney.
The Reachfields Stadium pitch cut up during the warm-up before Hythe’s shock 4-3 defeat in the fog to an impressive Lordswood side on 28 December and Mr Giles has voiced his concern to the Kent League.
He said: “Hythe Town Football Club have raised the matter of warm-ups with the league in order to get some advice and clarification.
“Our concern is that with warm-ups becoming ever more intensive and lengthy those clubs like ourselves with no spare ground will have our pitches put out of action for long periods.
“We realise that we all partly share the blame but that does not make it right.
“Obviously there has to be preparation and it is not for the likes of Directors and Secretaries to lay down the law but common sense has to be applied and to have actual practice games on soggy surfaces or 20-odd people kicking into a muddy goalmouth is not using common sense. Nor is placing a ladder down so that players concentrate their efforts onto one small narrow area.
“In the end we all need to play games regularly and this is very difficult during the present conditions.
“These warm-ups are making things up to 50% worse and this just cannot continue.
“Referees are often asked to inspect the pitch by noon but the situation can have changed drastically by kick-off.
“How long will it be before a game is called off due to an over-the-top warm-up and then eveyone has to go home? Now that would be pointless!
“We are asking our league to have a look at this subject and we know from our travels that we are not alone in our concerns that at times some coaches need reining in a bit.”
Hythe’s title push was dented earlier in the week when Scott Porter’s side were held to a 2-2 draw away to Holmesdale.
Striker Brendon Cass took his goalscoring tally to seventeen goals by giving Hythe a 2-0 lead, before Gary Davies’ side hit back through Ossie Byram and Nicky Meta during the second half.
Hythe travel to Sittingbourne to lock horns with Norton Sports on Saturday (1:30pm) in the Second Round of the Kent Senior Trophy.
Visit Hythe Town’s website: www.hythetownfc.co.uk
Norton Sports v Hythe Town
Kent Senior Trophy Second Round
Saturday 8th January 2011
Kick Off 1:30pm
At Woodstock Park, Sittingbourne, Kent ME9 8AG
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