Youth football frozen out

THE Lothian Buses South East Region Youth Football Association has taken the unusual step of cancelling the whole of this weekend's proposed programme early because of the weather, writes COLIN GREENHILL.

The safety of players, coaches, referees and parents travelling to games and the state of pitches was paramount in the Association's thoughts in making its unprecedented decision.

The total wipe-out creates a headache for league secretary Allan Archibald as it is not just a case of carrying over this week's games to next. Adjustments have to be made throughout the card.

East of Scotland under-21 Youth Secretary John Robinson has also stated that he didn't expect games to go ahead, and the fixtures for this week would carry forward to 16 January.

The West Lothian Association of Youth Football Clubs' games have all been cancelled as well.

As far as the Lothian and Edinburgh Amateur FA is concerned, no formal decision to cancel its programme has been taken but Association Secretary David Ramage has said that he is less than hopeful of any games going ahead – even those scheduled to take place on all-weather pitches.

All-in-all, it is looking pretty bleak for grass-roots football in the Lothians and surrounding area in the immediate future with no sign of a thaw on the horizon.

It looks like the season may have to be extended or, alternatively, clubs will be playing lots of midweek games in an effort to catch up.