Parkway rebuffed in requesting assistance from League bosses

WHY is it that the authorities and governing bodies are such a stickler for rules and regulations? Before you think this is some madcap rant to advocate anarchy, it’s not. Just a plea for people to use common sense.

- STUART JAMES

Plymouth Parkway need help right now. They have been affected badly by the wettest winter on record and been forced to postpone no fewer than 21 games this season. Some may be critical of their decision to groundshare with Truro City and that has had an impact on the Bolitho Park playing surface, for sure. However, let’s not forget that the decision to share their home was made in good faith and with good intentions, to help the homeless White Tigers until they could return to Cornwall.

However, it is far more than sharing their ground that has led to an unprecedented number of games having to be called off. It has left Lee Hobbs’ side so far behind with their fixtures that they are now fully booked on Saturdays and Tuesdays between now and the end of the season. In fact, they are having to fit games in on Thursdays as well to complete their schedule.

Volunteers have been doing everything possible to get the pitch in a playable state, but when you’re having to contend with Mother Nature, there is only ever one winner. The club have even looked at playing some games elsewhere, just to ease the burden of a ridiculous fixture list on a small squad of players, but no club was willing to accommodate, while the Southern League rejected a request to play on the 4G surface at Coach Road in Newton Abbot because, for all its fantastic facilities, there aren’t enough seats to comply with Step Three ground regulations! This was for Parkway v Winchester in midweek. And with the greatest respect to both clubs, it’s not a fixture that will have fans flocking.