It can be confirmed that Tonbridge Angels first fixture of the National South season will now be played away at Weymouth on 6th August (KO 3:00pm).
Unfortunately despite the best efforts of our contractors Slatters who are installing our new 3G pitch, because of a delay in the supply of certain material coupled with the extremely high temperatures that are now forecasted for today and tomorrow there could not be a cast iron guarantee that the pitch works would be completed in time for the first home fixture that would provide spectators and players with a safe environment.
In technical terms the shock absorption layer of the pitch is failing to cure on schedule because of the very hot weather in South East England which remains with us for the time being. This in turn is preventing our contractors from installing the final carpet layer. The pitch handover date has therefore slipped to the beginning of August which the Board believes is too much of a risk to guarantee the scheduled match on 6th August going ahead as planned.
The club is extremely grateful to Mark Ives, General Manager National League and Ian White, Chair of Weymouth who have both agreed to this fixture switch which of course means we will be hosting our friends from Dorset on 10th December. Our first home game will be against Hampton and Richmond Borough on Saturday 20th August (KO 3:00pm)
Chairman of Tonbridge Angels, Dave Netherstreet, said today: “I am very disappointed that this decision had to be taken as so many people, contractors, volunteers and staff have worked so hard to meet the 6th August date and up to 4 weeks ago there was still the belief that this date was attainable. Unfortunately, due to material supply problems and the extremely high temperatures that have been forecast the risk that the ground would not be ready to host the game was one that the Board felt could not be taken.”
The club’s Open Day on Sunday 31st July is still going ahead from 12:00 midday to allow supporters to view the new pitch, meet the manager and players informally, and enjoy Marquee hospitality.
The club apologises to supporters for any inconvenience that these alterations may cause.
The automatic feed of 1st team fixtures that Football Web Pages supplies to the website is sometimes slightly behind in its updates but the appropriate changes will come through as soon as possible.