Aldershot Town: Fans make 300-mile trip for game to be cancelled 15 minutes before kick-off

Aldershot Town v Gateshead was called off 15 minutes before kick off

Non-league side Aldershot Town and their fans made a 300-mile trip to Gateshead Tuesday night to see the game called off 15 minutes before kick-off.

The referee only confirmed a second pitch inspection 90 minutes before the game, by which time everyone travelling had already arrived.

Shots fan Ian Read made the trip and wasn't happy with how the situation was handled.

"It's a wasted journey," he told BBC Radio Surrey.

"I'm disappointed with the lack of communication from the club and I'll have to do it all over again in a week or so."

It was a key game with both the Shots and Gateshead chasing play-off places in the National League.

The pitch at Gateshead International Stadium had seen around five hours of heavy rain before easing ahead of the start of the game.

Read had planned to see the game and then spend a few days in the town to make the most out of the 600-mile round trip.

"I got quite hopeful after the rain eased and I hadn't heard anything from the club," he added.

"It was surprising it took this long to call the game off after the forecast.

"I will make the trip up for the rescheduled game, but I won't come up for as long. I'll have to make a decision."

After the announcement that the game would not take place, Aldershot Town shared on social media that they were incredibly disappointed with the apparent lack of consideration given to their supporters, players and staff surrounding the decision to postpone.

Both clubs have shared that an update on the rearrangement of the fixture will be announced in due course.

A Gateshead FC statement said the club had "desperately wanted the match to go ahead".

"Following the inspection, an agreed remedial package was agreed, only for it to be revoked, and ultimately the decision was made that the match would be postponed," it added.

"It is unfortunate the match did not go ahead and impacted both sets of supporters, many of whom had travelled.

"We would like to thank our staff, supporters, volunteers and Gateshead Council for the huge effort today, and we are immensely grateful to all."