| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 14:56 - Sep 20 with 2854 views | dawlishdale |
Still raining. Looking like it might be off. Hope I'm wrong |  | |  |
| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 14:59 - Sep 20 with 2782 views | Sandyman |
| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 13:40 - Sep 20 by MoonyDale |
Doubt very much that this game goes ahead today...... |
"Word on the street" seems to be agreeing with you. |  | | |
| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 15:06 - Sep 20 with 2673 views | 442Dale |
Off as per Twitter.
They now need to explain how covering a pitch with waterproof covers has failed to prevent the following:
“ Following persistent heavy rain, the match referee has deemed areas of the Crown Oil Arena surface unplayable.”
And that’s before we get to the conversation about whether the pitch can take any rain during matches. |  |
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| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 15:11 - Sep 20 with 2577 views | Dalenet |
Just arrived after an horrendous 4 hour journey. Another £70 in petrol wasted. It can test your patience following us sometimes...no doubt won't be able to get to a rearranged Tuesday slot. Rant over | | | |
| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 15:12 - Sep 20 with 2564 views | dawlishdale |
Predictable.
Feel so embarrassed for the fans of both clubs who have travelled. | | | |
| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 15:24 - Sep 20 with 2398 views | rich_dale |
Might have missed some detail or explanation on this but why didn't the club do more work over the summer to sort the pitch problem out? Everything else is in place now yet something as basic and fundamental as this remains a huge issue and is halting momentum and causing a lot of inconvenience and embarrassment. We're only a few weeks into the season and there could be many more weekends like this. | | | |
| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 15:24 - Sep 20 with 2385 views | 442Dale |
| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 15:11 - Sep 20 by Dalenet |
Just arrived after an horrendous 4 hour journey. Another £70 in petrol wasted. It can test your patience following us sometimes...no doubt won't be able to get to a rearranged Tuesday slot. Rant over |
As Dale fans, we can half expect it these days.
Lot of Southend fans in town who were amazed there was any doubt as we had covers on. Got to feel for them, they won’t have considered this happening. | |
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| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 15:25 - Sep 20 with 2360 views | Daley_Lama |
| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 15:24 - Sep 20 by rich_dale |
Might have missed some detail or explanation on this but why didn't the club do more work over the summer to sort the pitch problem out? Everything else is in place now yet something as basic and fundamental as this remains a huge issue and is halting momentum and causing a lot of inconvenience and embarrassment. We're only a few weeks into the season and there could be many more weekends like this. |
Taken from Cameron Ogden’s summer update
Work has commenced on a seasonal renovation of the surface of the pitch. I need to be clear with everyone that this is a surface renovation and not a complete rebuild. A complete rebuild is the only way we will solve the fundamental underlying issues we face. However, a rebuild is likely to cost close to £1.5m, and with the Club’s budget for next season (excluding any pitch works) already requiring additional funds of £2m, this additional expense is not something we can justify at this stage.
We are aware, and I am afraid it is unavoidable, that not rebuilding the pitch carries the risk that we will face difficulties again in the winter. Our best chance of mitigating that risk is to avoid water entering the pitch in the first place. Last season, by the time we had purchased full-size rain covers, the pitch had already become waterlogged to the point where the covers made little difference. This season, we intend to have a strict regime in place to fully cover the pitch whenever there is material rainfall and to minimise the times before and after a game (and before and after rugby games) when it is uncovered in the wet. New lightweight rugby posts have been purchased, which will mean we can cover the pitch overnight between a Saturday and a Sunday when Rochdale Hornets are playing.
The regime for keeping the pitch covered will require a huge effort from our ground staff, as removing water from the covers is not an easy task. To assist the Club in this endeavour, we will be looking to establish a pool of volunteers from Dale and Hornets fans who are willing to come to the Club at key times, pre- and post-games, to help out. More information on how to volunteer will be published in due course. |  |
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| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 15:26 - Sep 20 with 2340 views | Daley_Lama |
Mani suspended v Solihull Tuesday now.
#silverlining
#conspiracytheorists | |
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| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 15:30 - Sep 20 with 2301 views | MoonyDale |
| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 15:26 - Sep 20 by Daley_Lama |
Mani suspended v Solihull Tuesday now.
#silverlining
#conspiracytheorists |
Hmmmm, rather him be suspended v Solihull than today.... |  |
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| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 15:33 - Sep 20 with 2268 views | 442Dale |
| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 15:25 - Sep 20 by Daley_Lama |
Taken from Cameron Ogden’s summer update
Work has commenced on a seasonal renovation of the surface of the pitch. I need to be clear with everyone that this is a surface renovation and not a complete rebuild. A complete rebuild is the only way we will solve the fundamental underlying issues we face. However, a rebuild is likely to cost close to £1.5m, and with the Club’s budget for next season (excluding any pitch works) already requiring additional funds of £2m, this additional expense is not something we can justify at this stage.
We are aware, and I am afraid it is unavoidable, that not rebuilding the pitch carries the risk that we will face difficulties again in the winter. Our best chance of mitigating that risk is to avoid water entering the pitch in the first place. Last season, by the time we had purchased full-size rain covers, the pitch had already become waterlogged to the point where the covers made little difference. This season, we intend to have a strict regime in place to fully cover the pitch whenever there is material rainfall and to minimise the times before and after a game (and before and after rugby games) when it is uncovered in the wet. New lightweight rugby posts have been purchased, which will mean we can cover the pitch overnight between a Saturday and a Sunday when Rochdale Hornets are playing.
The regime for keeping the pitch covered will require a huge effort from our ground staff, as removing water from the covers is not an easy task. To assist the Club in this endeavour, we will be looking to establish a pool of volunteers from Dale and Hornets fans who are willing to come to the Club at key times, pre- and post-games, to help out. More information on how to volunteer will be published in due course. |
“ Our best chance of mitigating that risk is to avoid water entering the pitch in the first place”
“ This season, we intend to have a strict regime in place to fully cover the pitch whenever there is material rainfall and to minimise the times before and after a game (and before and after rugby games) when it is uncovered in the wet.”
Ignore everything else for a moment, what went wrong that meant a game was called off after the pitch was covered? | |
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| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 15:36 - Sep 20 with 2203 views | Dalenet |
| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 15:24 - Sep 20 by 442Dale |
As Dale fans, we can half expect it these days.
Lot of Southend fans in town who were amazed there was any doubt as we had covers on. Got to feel for them, they won’t have considered this happening. |
Indeed, just didn't expect it to be an issue in September after 1 day of rain. I had hoped we would last until November or December. But we knew the club couldn't afford the full rebuild in summer. I.wont be taking any risk of travelling on Tuesday that's for sure. | | | |
| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 15:41 - Sep 20 with 2146 views | EllDale |
Loss of revenue and considerable loss of face.
The only game off in the top five divisions although I understand that Gateshead was close.
I don’t doubt Cameron’s figures quoted above for a minute but a brand new pitch was laid at the Shay over the summer costing 800k half of which was covered by a grant from somewhere or other. Would a similar grant have been available for Spotland? | | | |
| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 15:48 - Sep 20 with 2046 views | 442Dale |
| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 15:36 - Sep 20 by Dalenet |
Indeed, just didn't expect it to be an issue in September after 1 day of rain. I had hoped we would last until November or December. But we knew the club couldn't afford the full rebuild in summer. I.wont be taking any risk of travelling on Tuesday that's for sure. |
We were lulled into a false sense of security by the lack of rain from February onwards. | |
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| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 15:51 - Sep 20 with 2018 views | Clivert |
I'm out of the country at the moment so can't comment about the amount of rain that has fallen yesterday/today but my lad's game on Top O'th Lane (which is notoriously bad) went ahead this morning.
The pitch has to be the board's priority now as having a game called off in September is an absolute joke. [Post edited 20 Sep 15:57]
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| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 15:58 - Sep 20 with 1949 views | EllDale |
We’re probably stuck with it now till summer. | | | |
| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 16:17 - Sep 20 with 1806 views | nordenblue |
| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 15:33 - Sep 20 by 442Dale |
“ Our best chance of mitigating that risk is to avoid water entering the pitch in the first place”
“ This season, we intend to have a strict regime in place to fully cover the pitch whenever there is material rainfall and to minimise the times before and after a game (and before and after rugby games) when it is uncovered in the wet.”
Ignore everything else for a moment, what went wrong that meant a game was called off after the pitch was covered? |
I'd be inclined to ask about some sort of refund.....
"A set of 7 waterproof Air Roller Covers were purchased and delivered to Rochdale in February 2025. The Matchsaver Air Roller Covers arrived fully assembled and ready to be deployed sideline to sideline across the Spotland pitch." | | | |
| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 16:29 - Sep 20 with 1715 views | TVOS1907 |
| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 15:41 - Sep 20 by EllDale |
Loss of revenue and considerable loss of face.
The only game off in the top five divisions although I understand that Gateshead was close.
I don’t doubt Cameron’s figures quoted above for a minute but a brand new pitch was laid at the Shay over the summer costing 800k half of which was covered by a grant from somewhere or other. Would a similar grant have been available for Spotland? |
I thought they'd be playing Halifax...
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| A wise man would be able to self-analyse and perhaps understand. |
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| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 16:31 - Sep 20 with 1705 views | dannyuk |
Maybe the covers are full of holes from studs after being dumped at the side of the pitch. |  | | |
| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 16:51 - Sep 20 with 1597 views | 49thseason |
| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 16:17 - Sep 20 by nordenblue |
I'd be inclined to ask about some sort of refund.....
"A set of 7 waterproof Air Roller Covers were purchased and delivered to Rochdale in February 2025. The Matchsaver Air Roller Covers arrived fully assembled and ready to be deployed sideline to sideline across the Spotland pitch." |
Unfortunately everyone who doesn't live here underestimates the amount of rain that can falls in relatively short amounts of time here, right now with an hour to what would have been kick off its absolutely pelting down again and the covers would have been off to allow the warm- ups to start.... The forecast for next week is much better and the surface has not been ruined... Postponements are not without cost but better to miss out today than have to attempt to play decent football on a slutchy midden for the rest of the season...We might also have learned some lessons today about getting the covers on and off and whereabouts the worst of the problems are situated and hopefully how to overcome them or at least mitigate them.... |  | | |
| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 16:59 - Sep 20 with 1565 views | 442Dale |
| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 16:31 - Sep 20 by dannyuk |
Maybe the covers are full of holes from studs after being dumped at the side of the pitch. |
That was commented on plenty of times at the end of last season and again at the start of this campaign.
Were the club advised on how to store the covers and was this what was recommended? There would presumably have been certain instructions provided, considering the amount of money involved?
From February:
https://www.fansnetwork.co.uk/members/rochdale/forum/317973/pitch-covers/#12 | |
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| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 17:06 - Sep 20 with 1529 views | EllDale |
Game abandoned at Blackburn. Some consolation I suppose.
Bear in mind we weren’t due to kick off for another 25 minutes. | | | |
| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 17:11 - Sep 20 with 1481 views | 442Dale |
| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 16:51 - Sep 20 by 49thseason |
Unfortunately everyone who doesn't live here underestimates the amount of rain that can falls in relatively short amounts of time here, right now with an hour to what would have been kick off its absolutely pelting down again and the covers would have been off to allow the warm- ups to start.... The forecast for next week is much better and the surface has not been ruined... Postponements are not without cost but better to miss out today than have to attempt to play decent football on a slutchy midden for the rest of the season...We might also have learned some lessons today about getting the covers on and off and whereabouts the worst of the problems are situated and hopefully how to overcome them or at least mitigate them.... |
Missing the point completely.
Do the pitch covers work or not?
If not, why not?
We can all see why the game wouldn’t have been played, it’s been mentioned in this thread already. But do the covers keep water off the pitch before any pitch inspection? | |
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| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 17:34 - Sep 20 with 1384 views | dawlishdale |
| TVOS Preview - Rochdale v Southend United on 17:11 - Sep 20 by 442Dale |
Missing the point completely.
Do the pitch covers work or not?
If not, why not?
We can all see why the game wouldn’t have been played, it’s been mentioned in this thread already. But do the covers keep water off the pitch before any pitch inspection? |
I mentioned earlier that there was standing water towards the TDS end on Tuesday. I'm amazed that this wasn't commented on more.
Uts obvious that any significant rainfall ( of which we have had quite a bit this past week) can't drain through the surface to the drains.
The only solution will be a complete relaying of the whole playing surface at considerable cost, or a relocation to a new stadium
To have not addressed this is stupid.
We are now being ridiculed throughout the country
Sadly, we are situated in the wettest large town in England, and this problem will never go away. | | | |
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