More postponements in big freeze

Burton Albion and Stafford Rangers have been forced to postpone today’s Boxing Day fixtures due to frozen pitches.

In the Evo Stik First Division South all fixtures have been called off for Leek Town, Newcastle Town and Kidsgrove Athletic, scheduled to be played tomorrow (December 27).

Harrison Park Pic: Hampton Productions

Only Stoke City‘s trip to Ewood Park to take on Blackburn Rovers will go ahead.

Weather permitting, Vale travel to Gillingham and Burton take on Stevenage at the Pirelli on December 28, Stafford Rangers have a home tie against Worcester and Stoke entertain Fulham at the Britannia Stadium.

Leek, Newcastle and Kidsgrove will have to wait until New Years Day before they next attempt to play.

Leek and Kidsgrove clash at the Seddon Stadium whilst Newcastle make the short trip to Market Drayton Town.

North Staffs Football brings you the news about games that have been called off as soon as we get it. Let us know your score predictions.

Festive period kicks off

With all of our side’s itching to play after postponements, the festive period kicks off with a Boxing Day feast.

Stoke City travel to managerless Blackburn Rovers in search of a win to leapfrog the Lancashire outfit.

In League Two, Port Vale have a home tie against strugglers Lincoln City and Burton Albion travel to an in-form Northampton side.

In the Blue Square North, Stafford Rangers have a home match against Telford AFC.

The Evo Stik First Division South will play their matches on December 27 where Leek Town host their match with Belper (34 days since they last kicked a ball) and Newcastle host a derby clash with Kidsgrove Athletic.

North Staffs Football will keep you informed of any postponements, but let us know your score predictions from our games.

Stafford Rangers to face Cumbrian test

Stafford Rangers will be hoping the cold snap break turns their season around when they host Workington tomorrow (December 11) at Marston Road, writes Matthew Appleby

The original fixture, due to be played on December 3rd, was postponed due to a frozen pitch but the match looks set to go ahead this time this weekend.

Rangers are currently second from bottom in the table but manager Tim Flowers boasts three new signings in Sean Kinsella, who is on loan until January 10^th and Burton Albion duo Garyn Preen and James Ellison.

Marston Road

Burton manager Paul Peschisolido has allowed both players to join Rangers on a one-month loan deal, giving them an opportunity to gain some much needed experience at a lower level.

Striker Danny Campbell has also arrived from Tipton Town to add strength to Rangers’ attacking options, while Liam McDonald has left for Kettering Town and Rod McDonald has returned to Oldham after completing his loan spell.

Flowers will be without the suspended Martyn Naylor after the defender was sent off in their 1-0 defeat to Blyth Spartans in the FA Trophy.

Both sides have endured a disappointing run of results, with Rangers mustering just one point from their last seven league games, while Workington have lost their last five league matches.

Workington remain ninth in the league and sit thirteen points above Flowers’s men in the Blue Square North.

Rangers will be relying on top scorer Christopher Sterling to lead from the front if they are to end their winless run, whilst dangerman for the visitors will come in the form of joint top-strike partners Shaun Vipond and Jonny Wright.

Cold snap puts freeze on football fixtures

Cold snap puts a freeze on matches

Overnight snow coupled with temperatures as low as minus 6C have resulted in three of our matches to fall foul of the conditions.

Leek Town‘s charity match against Glapwell has been postponed as freezing weather in Mansfield left officials with no choice but to call the game off.

Stafford Rangers ‘s match at Harrogate Town was cancelled following a pitch inspection at 8.30am due to a frozen pitch.

Newcastle Town‘s trip to Belper Town was cancelled after a 9.00am pitch inspection due to a frozen pitch.Belper’s ground was under four inches of snow.

Kidsgrove Athletic‘s match at Shepshed Dynamo has also been ruled out after a 10.30am pitch inspection.

Grove boss Peter Ward spoke to StaffsLive on his way to the game and said: “We expected the game to be off.

“The lads will be training this afternoon, but I can see us missing all next week’s games as well because this weather is set for at least ten days.”

Newcastle Town assistant manager Dorian Garner said their players will not be getting an easy afternoon though.

He added: “We’ve booked the hall at Newcastle College just in case this would happen and the players will have a bit of a sweat on when they finish later on.”

Burton Albion‘s second-round FA Cup match at the Pirelli Stadium against Chesterfield will go ahead and Stoke City’s clash with Manchester City is also expected to avoid any problems – both are a 3pm kick-off.