Cancelling matches has cost Guernsey FC thousands

A former groundsman at Footes Lane said the drainage system was 'past its expiry date'

Football match cancellations due to an unplayable pitch have cost Guernsey FC thousands of pounds, the club has said.

Heavy downpours causing the pitch to become waterlogged have meant the club's last two home matches have had to be rescheduled.

One match, called off on the day, cost the club an estimated £10,000 for flights and hotel accommodation.

The club's director Nic Legg said Guernsey FC "simply can't afford more cancellations".

'Worst case scenario'

He said calling off the match on the day it was meant to be played was "the worst case scenario".

Mr Legg added: "That means we're going to have to pay for that team to fly over again.

"It becomes an overnight stay.

"You've got 60 flights there to pay for and a hotel stay, so you're looking at well over £10,000."

Mr Legg said the cancellations were not just having an impact on the club financially.

"It affects the team as well," he said.

"We've had two of three weeks without a competitive game and that's a real shame.

"We're looking now at playing seven games in March.

"We've got a very small squad and we're fighting to survive in this league."

Guernsey FC fans have also missed watching their team play, according to Mr Legg.

"It's much more than a football match," he said.

"We say we're one big family here.

"I'm hoping this is just a blip.

"We've had some really bad weather but this pitch is being used a lot more than it used to be."

'Done its time'

Shane Moon, the former groundsman at Guernsey FC's home at Footes Lane, said the drainage system was 'past its expiry date'.

He added: "Footes Lane has been brilliant but its drainage system has done its time.

"It needs work, the sooner the better."

States of Guernsey's Education, Sport and Culture committee said plans to replace or refurbish the drainage system, which was first installed in 2014, would be made in the coming months.