Game Off

[Lionel Ritchie]

Just another point to the know alls who keep defending the situation,
at 7.00pm or just before that it is still bright enough to train as any one will tell you who is training at the moment.There is more to this story than people
know but the whole country seems to have been there last night to witness the events.

I doubt that. I wasn't there but I got the twenty past six bus from Limerick city center to thomond park last night and noticed it was getting dark when I got off the bus which can scarcely have been later than 6.30. By 7pm last night I'd say you're in twilight at least. I'm going home at the same time this evening so I'll be paying careful attention.

This might've been a spat of silly buggers (no pun intended) that got out of hand but I just gravely doubt he took a bus full of lads who had to sign out of work early all the way to Wexford to pull a stunt he'd have known could result in a points deduction ...and to what end? ...where's the percentage? ...hardly have been thinking Limerick would be awarded the points eh?

[Jofspring]

So no lights in Limerick either? :D Good pun!

no he was there, hence why he was in the dark :p ;)

[manalishi]

Every team that plays at Jackman are given the courtesy of warming up on the pitch.That should be afford to us when we travel.
Next time the funboys come to Limerick they can warm up in the Peoples Park.


Have you not noticed but there is no training pitch at jackman park.
And on the health and safety policy that the ultras keep harping on about
jackman park is no oasis,the away dressing room is fit for only 7 players at a time,and one entrance in and out of the grounds which is another potentially dangerous obstacle, so don`t slag off other teams facilities please until you have your own grounds.

[jebus]

Have you not noticed but there is no training pitch at jackman park.
And on the health and safety policy that the ultras keep harping on about
jackman park is no oasis,the away dressing room is fit for only 7 players at a time,and one entrance in and out of the grounds which is another potentially dangerous obstacle, so don`t slag off other teams facilities please until you have your own grounds.

Who's slagging off their facilities? The issue is them sending us up to an inadequate pitch when there was a perfectly adequate one sitting empty. Why do you have a Limerick avator as well when you refer to the club as them? :rolleyes:

[joeSoap]

Everybodys got opinions and feelings about this, and in the aftermath it's very easy to blow off steam. What I feel its going to come down to at the end of the day at any subsequent hearing is the following:

1). Wexford broke no rule by initially not letting us warm up on the pitch.

2). We must have known going down there that this would be the situation. It has been the situation for us in the past, and for all other clubs too.

3). It would have looked a whole lot better for us if we played the game (under protest) and officially complained afterwards.

4). A feasible explanation is owed to the fans who travelled as to why the offer of a 40 minute prior to the game warm up wasn't accepted. The referee would surely have allowed a 15 minute delay under the circumstances. Our failure to do this and subsequent jumping on the bus and heading home has left us wide open to speculation as to the 'real reason for our departure'.

5). It is not Mick Wallaces place to speculate on other clubs affairs, especially on national radio and he should be fined for doing so.

In summation, Wexford deserve the points. They were prepared to fulfill a fixture that we were not. We will also be fined, but so too should Mick Wallace for his comments.

Our comments about 'Health and Safety' issues are hogwash. They were stupid and ill-advised comments that now have the club at the scrutiny of Health and Safety Officers of other clubs every time they visit Jackman. And that could be sticky for obvious reasons....

[manalishi]

Everybodys got opinions and feelings about this, and in the aftermath it's very easy to blow off steam. What I feel its going to come down to at the end of the day at any subsequent hearing is the following:

1). Wexford broke no rule by initially not letting us warm up on the pitch.

2). We must have known going down there that this would be the situation. It has been the situation for us in the past, and for all other clubs too.

3). It would have looked a whole lot better for us if we played the game (under protest) and officially complained afterwards.

4). A feasible explanation is owed to the fans who travelled as to why the offer of a 40 minute prior to the game warm up wasn't accepted. The referee would surely have allowed a 15 minute delay under the circumstances. Our failure to do this and subsequent jumping on the bus and heading home has left us wide open to speculation as to the 'real reason for our departure'.

5). It is not Mick Wallaces place to speculate on other clubs affairs, especially on national radio and he should be fined for doing so.

In summation, Wexford deserve the points. They were prepared to fulfill a fixture that we were not. We will also be fined, but so too should Mick Wallace for his comments.

Our comments about 'Health and Safety' issues are hogwash. They were stupid and ill-advised comments that now have the club at the scrutiny of Health and Safety Officers of other clubs every time they visit Jackman. And that could be sticky for obvious reasons....

At last someone with a balanced view who is talking some sense and not going along with the rest of the sheep on this thread.
Kerley(roy keane in disguise) what were you thinking?the fai have helped lim37 out before but your on thin ice now.

[blinkx]

The phrase "Beggars can't be choosers" springs to mind...

Got to applaud Kerley's diplomacy or lack there of on the matter...

[PinBallWizard]

I see from the website that the clubs public relations people and the players are not exactly singing from the same hymn sheet

'Further Statement'

Limerick 37 changed back in to their team suits at 7.20 and had boarded the team bus when they were finally given a grudging and unofficial permission by Mick Wallace to go on to the main pitch at 7.25pm.

Players Statement by Pat Purcell:

At no time prior to leaving at 7.30 were we informed that we could warm up on the main pitch.

At least they could get their stories straight.:confused:
This is a hugely embarrassing fcuk up.

[PinBallWizard]

See here (http://www.fai.ie/index.php?option=com_content&task=view&id=3672).

"In response to yesterday evening’s cancelled eircom League of Ireland, first division match between Wexford Youths and Limerick 37, the FAI will review the detail of the referee’s report and the match delegate’s report and under disciplinary procedures, both clubs will be asked to provide a full response to those reports within the next three working days. After this the matter will be put before the FAI Disciplinary Committee. Speaking today, Fran Gavin, Director of the eircom League of Ireland said:

“We are deeply disappointed and dissatisfied that this match did not go ahead and we will be carrying out a full review and disciplinary process to take appropriate action. We will not be in a position to comment further until this case is heard.”

[Footsoldier]

I think Wallace was out of order for suggesting that the Limerick squad wasn't fully united or whatever. It was none of his business and he's lost some credibility with me for that.
I do find it strange that Limerick have come to Wexford 5 times previously (I think) and only now has it become an issue. If they had a problem before now they should have let Wexford and the FAI know about it before they arrived.
In relation to the Derry game, the running of the event was taken over by the FAI. As far as I know, they said it was ok for both teams to warm up on the main pitch (however, they didn't insist on it). Wexford warmed up on the back pitch as usual, for all the good it did them!
Both Limerick and Wexford come out of this looking very stupid.

[clownboy]

I see from the website that the clubs public relations people and the players are not exactly singing from the same hymn sheet

'Further Statement'


Players Statement by Pat Purcell:


At least they could get their stories straight.:confused:
This is a hugely embarrassing fcuk up.


It all depends on the timing .I presume if the players got changed at 7.20 and were on the bus for 7.25 , by the time everything and everyone was packed up the bus probably pulled away at 7.30 therefore there is no need to get anything 'straight'.

[Youths4Ever]

Everybodys got opinions and feelings about this, and in the aftermath it's very easy to blow off steam. What I feel its going to come down to at the end of the day at any subsequent hearing is the following:

1). Wexford broke no rule by initially not letting us warm up on the pitch.

2). We must have known going down there that this would be the situation. It has been the situation for us in the past, and for all other clubs too.

3). It would have looked a whole lot better for us if we played the game (under protest) and officially complained afterwards.

4). A feasible explanation is owed to the fans who travelled as to why the offer of a 40 minute prior to the game warm up wasn't accepted. The referee would surely have allowed a 15 minute delay under the circumstances. Our failure to do this and subsequent jumping on the bus and heading home has left us wide open to speculation as to the 'real reason for our departure'.

5). It is not Mick Wallaces place to speculate on other clubs affairs, especially on national radio and he should be fined for doing so.

In summation, Wexford deserve the points. They were prepared to fulfill a fixture that we were not. We will also be fined, but so too should Mick Wallace for his comments.

Our comments about 'Health and Safety' issues are hogwash. They were stupid and ill-advised comments that now have the club at the scrutiny of Health and Safety Officers of other clubs every time they visit Jackman. And that could be sticky for obvious reasons....

Perhaps the best summary of events that I have read.

Agree Wallace should not have suggested that Limerick had internal squad problems no ones business but Limerick's if there where any

Can see both teams being fined Limerick for not fulfilling fixture and Wallace for his post match comments and a replay ordered.

[The Optimist]

I think it is fair to say that most people agree Wallace should not have made his post match comments.
But these comments didn't cause the game to be called off.The fact is that Limerick 37 left the ground approx 30 mins before the scheduled kick off time!

[LFC in Exile]

Why don't Wexford allow teams to warm-up on the pitch before the game?

The Limerick statement said that the referee refused to warm up on the back pitch. If true there must have been an issue with the lighting or something.

The fact that Limerick have warmed up on the back pitch without any problems in the past indicates that there was something 'special' about last night. It was a very damp and dreary night (at least in Cork) so it's not unreasonable to think that there were problems with inadequate lighting that wasn't an issue on previous visits.

[L37Ultra]

.
I do find it strange that Limerick have come to Wexford 5 times previously (I think) and only now has it become an issue. If they had a problem before now they should have let Wexford and the FAI know about it before they arrived.
.


Different management last season so there wouldn't have been a 60 minute warm up like Kerley does.

[sadloserkid]

Referee and his team apparently wouldn't warm up on the back pitch either, Wallace has kept that part quiet.

Whole affair is looking bizarre now in the cold light of day. Looking at it I would have preferred if Limerick had played the fixture but to suggest that the players were given adequate time to change, warm up and prepare for the game at 7.30 isn't good enough either.

I honestly think that if Mick Wallace is going to be so precious about his pitch then he needs to light up the area of the second pitch properly. The feedback that I've gotten from people who were there last night on both sides of the divide has been that the practice pitch wasn't lit well enough. Wallace has got a thing for gestures of nothingness and last night proved it. Derry City warmed up on the main pitch at the weekend, Wexford's stewards prevented our players for doing the same. Wtf like?

[gspain]

Different management last season so there wouldn't have been a 60 minute warm up like Kerley does.

Mike was manager for our game there earlier in the season though.

Complaining about H&S issues at other clubs isn't a smart move when we've relied on goodwill in the past with other clubs overlooking a lot worse.

I don't think it ever went public but we threatened not to play in another game under a previous regime because of an aspect of the home club's facilities. A senior FAI official who was present said "Fine but you are out of the league if you don't play tonight". We played. That game (as last night's) was of little consequence at the time.

[L37Ultra]

Mike was manager for our game there earlier in the season though.


Yes, but that was in May and it would have not have been dark at 7-7:30pm.

There is a difference between complaining about facilities (which Limerick would have some cheek to do especially as Wexford have top class pitches + facilities) and having a concern over warming up in the dark where players can get injured etc.. If it is the training pitch to the left of the clubhouse, from what I can remember the only lights are those facing the car park.

Still not a good enough reason to walk away from a match so I think more has happened than what has been reported.

[Sunny Jim]

Referee and his team apparently wouldn't warm up on the back pitch either, Wallace has kept that part quiet.

Officials are never asked to warm up on the back pitch. They use the perimeter of the main pitch.

[LK37oldskool]

Officials are never asked to warm up on the back pitch. They use the perimeter of the main pitch.

And did they warm up on the perimeter last night? At present we're led to believe that the ref agreed with our managment that the back pitch was unsafe.

[LK37oldskool]

There's another interesting piece in the Limerick FC statement that says they were kept waiting an hour in their dressing room waiting for access to warm up facilities.
This seems rather odd?
Surely if this is true its a totally unacceptable situation.

[Jofspring]

There's another interesting piece in the Limerick FC statement that says they were kept waiting an hour in their dressing room waiting for access to warm up facilities.
This seems rather odd?
Surely if this is true its a totally unacceptable situation.

i think maybe you touched on a good point there. Some people are saying it was an overreaction from Limerick (which maybe it was) but also it could be a combination of them waiting around for an hour followed by not being allowed on the main pitch followed by being told 30 or 40mins before kick off that they could use it that made them just decide preperations had be disrupted and weren't right for the match, enough is enough and that they would not fulfill it. So thats an hour and a half before anything was decided.

In saying that i think they should have played and sorted it out later.

[gael353]

Even though it was bright when warming up i just thought i'd point out that limerick warmed up on athlones back pitch a few weeks back without any complaints.

reason being two days earlier the pitch failed a pitch inspection and on that back pitch it did put an end to Shane Tracys knee

My two cents are that its good to see so many posters back on foot such as pinballwizard :) last night the pitch offered to limerick was pitch dark. A mist had come down and it was raining and had made the street lights and the glimmer of the main floodlights beams inadaquate so MK the ref and his team and our team (who also made a statement) didnt fancy it and the H&S line was first mooted by the ref. Some people are going on about what about jackman, yea its a dump but the pitch is good and no games are called off, it is also offered to all teams to warm up on, and i saw someone mention jackman doesnt have a training pitch so who are we to complain....Liverpool, man u, spurs etc stupid and rubbish point. i think the main pitch could have been used last night without damaging the pitch. wex behind goal and sidelines are miles from the perimeter wall why wasnt that used for warm up and drills? no good saying if its good enough for all the other teams why isnt it good enough for limerick? bull****. Derry and now limerick...shows who puts up with **** and who doesnt. unprofessional and professional! My bet is a replay in a few weeks time with a slap on the rist for both, appeals and all brused under the carpet at seasons end.

ps undeer 20 fixture this weekend in hogan park, Limerick Vs......Wexford

[ramblers]

All I can say is fair play to a team who do a 60minute warmup!!

Imagine how good the team might be if the cut it down to 30 minutes. I have been to most grounds and watch a lot of warmups but have to say I have never watched a 60 minute warm up by a team.

[Battery Rover]

reason being two days earlier the pitch failed a pitch inspection and on that back pitch it did put an end to Shane Tracys knee


I am amazed that someone involved directly with a club would write something like that especially on a public forum. By writing that you are saying that the pitch was the cause of his injury.

Our second pitch is of UEFA standard and is the exact same dimensions and surface as the main pitch with UEFA standard floodlighting. Our 20s and 17s play on this weekly.

All teams visiting Lissywoolen this season and that includes all the international teams so far this season warm up on the second pitch without any problem. Why are you the only one complaining about it.

Maybe when your club owns something you will relise the cost of maintaining pitches and facilities

[da bishop]

I am amazed that someone involved directly with a club would write something like that especially on a public forum. By writing that you are saying that the pitch was the cause of his injury.

Our second pitch is of UEFA standard and is the exact same dimensions and surface as the main pitch with UEFA standard floodlighting. Our 20s and 17s play on this weekly.

All teams visiting Lissywoolen this season and that includes all the international teams so far this season warm up on the second pitch without any problem. Why are you the only one complaining about it.

Maybe when your club owns something you will relise the cost of maintaining pitches and facilitiesshould not be that amazed,we are quite used to that down here,gaels our EL expert,goes to it all,does it all,knows it all and can still despite ALL that make the comment above.now as for warmups i can forget my dinner for our next home game as the warmup will start at approx 6.30 to 6.35.never seen a warmup as i normally get to jackman around 7.40,but i am not going to miss this one,it lasts an hour.

[wexfordseagull]

our players trained for an hour after the match failed to go on,no one injured etc,the match officals always run the perimiter of the main pitch,no issue there,i would suggest most of us have played football at some time,we all know if you want to ruin a pitch you kick about around the goal,everyone wants to kick the ball in the net.what annoys me is that those poor limerick fans who made the journey were not even thought about in this scenario,yes you may have a point over the 2nd pitches lighting,maybe someone from lim37 should have insisted on a later kick off,as your manager was not happy,but to get on the bus and leave at 7.30,30 mins before kick off,is distrepectful to everyone there.:eek:

[gael353]

I am amazed that someone involved directly with a club would write something like that especially on a public forum. By writing that you are saying that the pitch was the cause of his injury.


First up im a fan and thats it to say im from limerick and support limerick is fine and if thats been directly with the club so be it. Now i was making the point that Limerick did have to warm up on a reserve pitch once in athlone as the pitch had failed a pitch inspection and Shane Tracy injured his knee while on it. Whats the problem? Have no other players from athlone or other ever got injured while playing or training on that pitch? Is this pitch so good and coated in rubber that no player can ever get injured on it? Less defensive there boy, you have a fine place but no need to remind us of it all the time

[gael353]

should not be that amazed,we are quite used to that down here,gaels our EL expert,goes to it all,does it all,knows it all and can still despite ALL that make the comment .

obsessed!

[jebus]

I am amazed that someone involved directly with a club would write something like that especially on a public forum. By writing that you are saying that the pitch was the cause of his injury.

Gael's a volunteer and a fan, nothing else, so he's entitled to offer his opinion as nothing other than that


All I can say is fair play to a team who do a 60minute warmup!!

Imagine how good the team might be if the cut it down to 30 minutes. I have been to most grounds and watch a lot of warmups but have to say I have never watched a 60 minute warm up by a team.

Ever wonder why Cobh are dead certs to be relegated? :p

[oldyouth]

There's another interesting piece in the Limerick FC statement that says they were kept waiting an hour in their dressing room waiting for access to warm up facilities.
This seems rather odd?
Surely if this is true its a totally unacceptable situation.
This is from the official L37 statement

In addition Limerick 37 would like to confirm that the team arrived in the ground at 6pm above the requisite 90 minutes before kick off and were forced to sit in the changing rooms for over an hour waiting for access to warm up...................

........At this stage the team manager had already instructed his players that they were not in a position to fulfil the fixture as they were not in a position to complete their 60 minute warm up routine that they carry out for each and every game.

The kick off was 8 o'clock, you do the maths and tell me if there is something not right here

[L37Ultra]

http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/wallace-urges-heavy-sanction-for-limerick-37-1492596.html

[L37Ultra]

This is from the official L37 statement

In addition Limerick 37 would like to confirm that the team arrived in the ground at 6pm above the requisite 90 minutes before kick off and were forced to sit in the changing rooms for over an hour waiting for access to warm up...................

........At this stage the team manager had already instructed his players that they were not in a position to fulfil the fixture as they were not in a position to complete their 60 minute warm up routine that they carry out for each and every game.

The kick off was 8 o'clock, you do the maths and tell me if there is something not right here

Sure after the hour waiting in the dressing room, it was 7pm by that stage and it was dark when Limerick were forced to warm-up on a dark pitch.

[oldyouth]

Sure after the hour waiting in the dressing room, it was 7pm by that stage and it was dark when Limerick were forced to warm-up on a dark pitch.
My point is that the statement implies they were waiting for an hour FROM 6pm to get out and do a 60 minute warm up for an 8 o'clock KO.

[oldyouth]

http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/wallace-urges-heavy-sanction-for-limerick-37-1492596.html
That'll calm things down nicely:eek:

[L37Ultra]

My point is that the statement implies they were waiting for an hour FROM 6pm to get out and do a 60 minute warm up for an 8 o'clock KO.

I think the statement implies that during that hour waiting they weren't even allowed out on the training pitch. Not sure how true that is though. Wallace's comments today not helping things though.

[joeSoap]

I see John Gill is now throwing his 5 cents worth behind Wexford, and getting involved in a matter that is of no concern to him. The media seem to be of the opinion that Wexford and Mick Wallace are the injured party here and I think that the club could do worse than have Mike Kerley make a statement of some description on the matter. His refusal to do so just adds more fuel to the fire.

The sad thing about all of this is that there has been months and months of ball breaking effort and hard work done by people like Kieran Judge, Trevor Beacom and others that now is going to be forgotten and ridiculed. You can't blame clubs like Wexford, Dundalk or anyone for now criticising Jackman because it is a dump, and does deserve criticism. But all of this is coming to light now because of this situation which should have been handled better on the night by Kerley. He shouldn't have boarded that bus...he should have played the martyr and moaned later. Even if he felt there was H&S issues with the back pitch lighting, he still refused a 40 minute warm up on the main pitch and got the team to board the bus and go home. Thats going to be a sticking point when the FAI make any decision, and one that will ultimately go against us.

[oldyouth]

I think the statement implies that during that hour waiting they weren't even allowed out on the training pitch. Not sure how true that is though. Wallace's comments today not helping things though.
Yeah, Mick seems to be going for it alright. I'm a footballing man and I don't like victories not earned on the pitch. Having said that, I (obviously) have an opinion on where blame lies and I think L37 must take the bulk it

As for the dressing room incident, we don't have armed guards on them, it was perfectly bright at 6pm if your lads wanted to go on the training pitch or walk around, go on the astros, have a bit of pasta etc

[Jofspring]

Wallace said limerick have been complaining about the facilities, where?? its the lighting on the back pitch was the problem, not the rest of the facilities there.

i'm not defending the decision not to play the game at all but if limerick had warmed up on the back pitch and a player got injured people would be saying kerley should have spoke up earlier if he was not happy with the training facility on the night and should have asked for use of the main pitch.

[sadloserkid]

For me Mick Wallace has turned from somebody who loved the sound of his own voice but was basically ok into a small, small, petty little man in the last couple of days.

'Kiss of death for the league', 'best facilities in the country'. If he keeps this up he'll choke to death on his own delusional rhetoric and they can scatter his ashes over Ferrycarraig if the pitch can take it. And at this stage I'd shed no tears.

Regardless of whatever sanctions we're hit with (and I agree with JoeSoap, by leaving we've left ourselves open to punishment) Wallace deserves a hefty fine of his own by throwing such an infantile tantrum through the media.

Query: Have The Mail or The Indo, who are both falling over themselves to sneer at the situation, EVER run a positive piece on this league.

[joeSoap]

If he keeps this up he'll choke to death on his own delusional rhetoric and they can scatter his ashes over Ferrycarraig if the pitch can take it. And at this stage I'd shed no tears.. lol...:D

[Battery Rover]

Shane Tracy injured his knee while on it. Whats the problem?

Shane Tracey was carrying that injury before the game. It was not a result of the pitch in any way that it occured in the warm up it could have happened anytime. The second pitch we have is UEFA standard as I said and if we put a perimeter fence around it and permanent dug outs on it then we would be able to play first team games on it as well. It would still be well above the standard of many league grounds and I am sure many of your players would agree with that.

I have no problem with people criticising and blaming facilities but there have to be facts to back it up not just what you think in your head.

On the point of players getting injured in warm up. Over the past two seasons we have had 3 injured in warm ups on another clubs pitch and have had some pull up with injury on our own pitch and these things happen it is part of football. We just get on with it.

[Battery Rover]

Gael's a volunteer and a fan, nothing else, so he's entitled to offer his opinion as nothing other than that

Exactly the same as myself a volunteer. I have no issue with opinions but at least have some grounds to back them up. Gaels post is the first news I have heard that our second pitch was to directly blame for Shane Treacys knee injury

[jebus]

http://www.independent.ie/sport/other-sports/wallace-urges-heavy-sanction-for-limerick-37-1492596.html

My my isn't Wallace sounding like a complete and utter idiot at this stage, disgraceful behaviour from a dictator of a club and he should be fined for that if nothing else

[GenerationXI]

Gill: "I don't want to kick Limerick when they're down, but we actually had to change in a hotel because you couldn't swing a cat in their dressing rooms..."

Well if they'd used the dressing rooms for getting dressed in and hadn't decide to test the water by swinging an innocent animal by the tail I'm sure they'd have been sufficient. :cool:

SO now what? It's been stated that the FAI are awaiting written statements form both clubs and though it seems clear that we'll be docked points how far reaching can this really be? What kind of sanctions are we looking at here? Will L37's ground have to stand up to rigorous examination due to allegations made in the aftermath of a quarrell? Will Wallace really be reprimanded in any tangible substantive way?

[jebus]

We'll probably get a fine and Wexford will get a walkover, doubt we'll get points deduction to be honest

Wexford will get a slap on the wrist for Wallace being a clown and hopefully the FAI will have the backbone to tell Wallace that opposition players have a right to use the main pitch for their prematch warm up

[KevB76]

.......and hopefully the FAI will have the backbone to tell Wallace that opposition players have a right to use the main pitch for their prematch warm up

To be fair though I dont think thats up to them is it? If Wexford want teams to use another picth for warm ups I think thats fair enough ........as long as they sort their lights out.
I've lost all respect for Wallace following his comments over the past few days (I did have a lot of admiration for what he's doing with Wexford Youths). He seems to have conveniently forgotten its not the first time we've had to come away from there because of lighting issues.

[osarusan]

A couple of questions that maybe people know the answers to......


1. Does a team have to be allowed to warm-up on the main pitch, if they request to do so?

2. Is there a minimum time which a team must be allowed in order to complete their warm-up? Were Limerick given that time?

[jebus]

To be fair though I dont think thats up to them is it? If Wexford want teams to use another picth for warm ups I think thats fair enough ........as long as they sort their lights out.
I've lost all respect for Wallace following his comments over the past few days (I did have a lot of admiration for what he's doing with Wexford Youths). He seems to have conveniently forgotten its not the first time we've had to come away from there because of lighting issues.

That would work too, if the practice pitch had match standard lighting then there wouldn't be much of a problem (I'd still say that away teams should be allowed get a feel for the pitch before hand, but that could be put to one side).


A couple of questions that maybe people know the answers to......


1. Does a team have to be allowed to warm-up on the main pitch, if they request to do so?

2. Is there a minimum time which a team must be allowed in order to complete their warm-up? Were Limerick given that time?

1. I doubt there's a rule as I'd assume everyone else would assume that the home club would be gracious enough to accept the request. Furthermore most clubs don't have a second pitch nearby to push a team on to so it's not really an issue for them that would be brought up

2. Different teams have different warm ups so I'd say there's no set time. We weren't given enough time though, Wallace only accepted our request 35/40 mins before kick off, and at that stage our players weren't even togged out. Even if we shortened our warm up you'd have been looking at an 8.30/8.45 kick off, which would have inconvienced everyone concerned (including the fans that Wallace claims to care about so much), and might not have been sanctioned by the ref. That's where we fall down in my opinion. When Wallace relented we should have said to the ref, right here's our normal schedule, you can either push the kick off back by an hour/hour and a half, or call off the game and reschedule it. Then we could have logged an official complaint with him to include in his match report and we could have got on to the FAI about it the next day

[harpin]

(I'd still say that away teams should be allowed get a feel for the pitch before hand.

I always thought this was the case that said we should have played the match and complained after

And Wallace is a plum