Town turn-up FA Trophy heat
07 January 2010

Fleetwood Town have gone to extraordinary lengths to ensure this Saturday’s FA Carlsberg Trophy clash against Dover Athletic goes ahead as scheduled.

The Lancashire club recently installed a new frost protection system at their Highbury ground which enabled both festive home games to go ahead despite below freezing temperatures. 

Micky Mellon’s side earned six points fro those matches to maintain second place in the Blue Square North.  Due to the prolonged and severe frost which has hit the Fylde Coast, and the rest of the country, the club have sought further assistance from the company who supplied the new frost covers.  

AAASK of Glasgow have now covered the Highbury playing surface with a protective dome filled with warm air.  Arthur Gaughan, Aaask Pitch Protection Manager said “I’m pretty confident the game will happen. It’s the same system we use successfully in Glasgow with Celtic and closer to here we’ve done Macclesfield and Shrewsbury Town.”

Arthur Gaughan (Aaask) and Steve Curwood

Clubs officials are also optimistic that by 3pm Saturday the pitch will be ready for action. Speaking Thursday afternoon, club chief executive Steve Curwood said “Aaask are erecting the dome which will cover the entire playing surface. Warm air will be pumped inside and ultimately ready the pitch in time for Saturday’s kick-off. They’ve already covered one corner of the pitch and that area is getting closer as the hours go by.”

Curwood has been in close contact with officials from the Blue Square South outfit “My thanks also goes to Dover Athletic, who have been very understanding, and have agreed to pay for part of the significant costs.  They are very keen to ensure the game takes place on Saturday, as opposed to having to make the lengthy journey next Tuesday.

“I’ll speak to my counterpart at Dover before their squad sets off on Friday lunchtime. A further update on the condition of the pitch will be provided after that conversation takes place”.


Seven-year-old Town supporter Ben Thomas inside the inflating dome

Fleetwood has escaped further snowfall and the club are confident that the stadium and surrounding areas will be cleared and made safe from snow and ice.

In a further twist on Wednesday evening, a lighting control box caught fire whilst the floodlights were being used to illuminate the frost protection work.  The blaze was quickly dealt with by Lancashire Fire & Rescue. Abacus Floodlighting, who erected the Football League standard lights during the summer of 2009, have said the damage will be repaired before Saturday’s kick-off.


All burnt out - floodlight control box