Merthyr in When Saturday Comes May issue

Letters page

Dear WSC,

Reading the article Congestion Charge (WSC314), concerning the problems faced by non-league clubs rearranging postponed fixtures, reminded me of one such incident way back in the 1981-82 season. Cambridge City of the Southern League Midland Division were faced with two long midweek journeys to South Wales for rearranged fixtures at Bridgend Town and Merthyr Tydfil.

Their solution was to arrange the games for consecutive nights in the first week of April. After playing at Bridgend on the Tuesday, the Cambridge players were said to have slept on the team coach before making the short journey to Merthyr the next day. However the plan was nearly scuppered when the Taff Valley was hit by torrential rain on the Wednesday, making the Penydarren Park pitch waterlogged.

The referee wanted to postpone the game but Cambridge insisted the match had to go ahead as there was no way they could afford to travel again. The game was played in farcical monsoon-like conditions with the touchlines obscured by pools of water. Although Cambridge lost 3-0, the fixture was fulfilled thus avoiding another long midweek trek to South Wales.

Leighton Moses, Carmarthen.



When Saturday Comes well worth a read once again this month.

Leighton is still a Merthyr fan and travels by train from Carmarthen when he is able to.