Hobbs growing concerned as the fixtures pile up

IT IS a situation they have become accustomed to, but for Plymouth Parkway manager Lee Hobbs, having to contend with a considerable fixture backlog doesn't get any easier.

- STUART JAMES

After their back-to-back home matches against Winchester City and Dicot Town this past week were again called off due to a combination of the weather and state of the Bolitho Park playing surface, it leaves Parkway having to play a whopping 24 games in the 105 days remaining between tomorrow's trip to high-flying Gosport Borough and the final day of the season at Beaconsfield Town on Saturday, April 24.

The same thing occurred last year as well and it is a considerable problem for semi-professional players, managers and coaches that fit their football around their work commitments. Things are not at the critical stage yet for Hobbs and co, but they could be if any more games fall by the wayside.

"It certainly isn't good, with the numbers calculated and 24 games in 105 days, one in four, and that's with no cancellations, it looks and sounds a little bit daunting" Hobbs said.

"Again, we have been in this position many times and the fixtures always get done.

"My concern will obviously be the players. We are rolling with a relatively small squad and putting that type of load on the players will naturally be very, very demanding and it could alter the course of what the results become.