The Bournemouth Poppies fixture against Blackfield and Langley was among many fixtures across Dorset that were postponed following adverse weather caused by Storm Ciaran.
Bournemouth, who are currently enjoying a decent run of form in the Wessex Premier Division, saw their match postponed to a waterlogged pitch.
Only one of a vast number of matches cancelled because of Storm Ciaran, as adverse weather conditions caused floods and other major disruption.
Poppies captain Tyrone Carkeet spoke about how postponements such as this can have a drastic effect on a player’s performance and morale.
“You do miss the match sharpness,” he said.
‘It affects how you prepare yourself into the next match as it is hard to set yourself, it’s demoralizing when you set yourself to play.”
It’s the second consecutive game which Poppies have had axed due to pitch conditions, after a previous visit to Hamble Club in Southampton was called off hours before kickoff.
Postponements such as this do not just influence the morale of the players, there can also be significant financial implications place don clubs because of a match not going ahead.
Poppies coach, John McKay, said: “If it’s a home match, which has been sponsored, then you’ve got £50 that doesn’t come in.
“To estimate an average attendance of 70 or 80 people, you then have to take away the incomings of gate receipts, and that has a drastic effect on us.”
Waterlogged pitches were not the only issue caused by Storm Ciaran, as fast gusts caused widespread damage and disruption to properties across Dorset.
Bournemouth resident Millie Scoble depicted how part of her garden fence was thrown by the wind, narrowly missing a downstairs window.
“We thought we were getting broken into, it was very loud, when the fence hit the window and we all stood up and ran outside.”
Scoble also described how she was told by Bournemouth University staff to stay at home for safety reasons rather than attend lectures.
Yellow alerts for strong wind and heavy rain were put in place prior storm’s arrival, as members of BCP council anticipated widespread disruption.
Rapid rise of women’s football