Snow wipes out Scottish football fixtures

A NUMBER of football matches across the Scottish leagues fell victim to the snowy weather on Saturday, with one game being called off less than ten minutes before kick-off.
The Paisley Panda grabs a shovel and helps out - but to no avail. Picture: SNS GroupThe Paisley Panda grabs a shovel and helps out - but to no avail. Picture: SNS Group
The Paisley Panda grabs a shovel and helps out - but to no avail. Picture: SNS Group

St Mirren’s match with Raith Rovers in Paisley was postponed at 2.52pm, after the referee deemed the pitch unplayable - and not even the efforts of the Paisley Panda made a difference.

The match between Dumbarton and Queen of the South in the Championship was also postponed due to a frozen pitch while in League One, Forfar’s visit to Airdrie, Ayr United’s clash with Cowdenbeath and Dunfermline’s home tie with Albion Rovers were all postponed due to frozen pitches while Stenhousemuir’s game with Brechin City at Ochilview was abandoned at half time.

Hide Ad
Hide Ad

In League Two, only Annan Athletic’s match against East Fife at Galabank and Queen’s Park v Montrose survived the wintry conditions, with the matches between Berwick Rangers and Arbroath; Clyde and East Stirling and Elgin City and Stirling Albion all succumbing to frozen pitches.

Several matches, including Kilmarnock’s game with Inverness Caledonian Thistle, were halted to allow the lines to be swept clear of snow.

Rugby Park even employed a small orange tractor to help clear the snow from the (artificial) turf.

And Alloa’s match with Morton was abandoned at 4.22pm, after heavy snow left the pitch unsafe.

The Tractor Boys? Kilmarnock had help to clear the artificial turf at Rugby Park... Picture: SNS GroupThe Tractor Boys? Kilmarnock had help to clear the artificial turf at Rugby Park... Picture: SNS Group
The Tractor Boys? Kilmarnock had help to clear the artificial turf at Rugby Park... Picture: SNS Group

Following the late postponement of the St Mirren-Raith match, Buddies boss Alex Rae said: “It was the right decision. I came out at two o’clock and it was totally playable.

“I came back out at half past two and I was starting to get reservations because the snow was lying.

“The snow was coming down too heavy. I feel sorry because we had 70 people here this morning clearing the place and a lot of work’s gone in. It’s disappointing but I’ve no doubt it was the right decision.”