Postponement of Sheffield United's Championship fixture at home to Oxford United just two hours before kick-off, has drawn widespread criticism. Especially from visiting fans, most of whom had either arrived in Sheffield for the noon kick-off on Sunday, or were almost there, having made a pre-dawn start to their journey. Sheffield United claimed that a 10am pitch inspection, after a failure of the undersoil heating system which left part of the pitch frozen, was the best they could arrange. The admission seems to ignore the plight of travelling supporters by making the call earlier. That would, of course, have meant postponement. So it seems the club ignored the consequences and gambled on the hope that a later inspection might be successful. How would Blades fans have felt if they had been the ones travelling a long distance early on a Sunday morning, only to meet the same fate?

SUMMARY:

1. Failure to notify fans about the match cancellation demonstrates a lack of respect for supporters.
2. Part of the pitch was frozen, apparently, due to inadequate maintenance of the undersoil heating system, which is unacceptable.
3. It is crucial for clubs to prioritise the interests of traveling supporters over financial gain from television.
4. The timing of the pitch inspection, conducted just two hours before kickoff, was wholly inappropriate and negligent.
5. Fans traveling long distances deserve timely updates regarding match statuses to avoid unnecessary inconvenience.
6. This incident reflects a troubling trend in football where clubs prioritise revenue over supporter welfare.

Links referenced in this episode:

1. youfromthejohnstreet.com