By Gordon Thomson
November 29 2003

I've heard of football being described as 'The peoples game' but after driving to Arbroath and back for no reason today I'd be inclined to paraphrase Jim Royle in response. <b><font color="#000000">
<p>Like 700 odd others I had been looking forward to seeing Owen Coyle make his debut and had to drive through horrid torrential rain storms, diversions and roadworks, to reach Arbroath. It was after 2.30pm that Radio Scotland nonchelantly advised that the game was off. I'd spent £20 quid of fuel that would have been better spent down The Staging Post watching my coupon sink as normal whilst downing half a dozen pints of Stella. It's not the first time a game has been cancelled that could have been avoided. If fans have to travel for over two hours surely there should be a mandate that the game must be cancelled at latest a further hour earlier in order to prevent such a waste of time and money. Isn't football in a bad enough state without driving people away. I've run out of holidays at work now so can say with almost 100% confidence that I won't be busting my butt to make it to the rescheduled game. Many others at this time of year will say "why should I make such an effort?". </p>

<p>With that in mind I've emailed my gripes to the SFA: </p>
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<i> <p> "Dear Sirs</p>

<p>Today, 29/11/03, I travelled approximately 250 miles from Glasgow to Arbroath, via Airdrie, and back, spent over £20 on fuel, and gave up an afternoon with my family, for a game of football that was cancelled only 40 minutes before it was due to kick off thanks to the overnight, and continuing, downpour.</p>

<p>I do not have a grievance with the game being cancelled, more the disgraceful timing of it. If visiting fans have to travel over 2 hours to the ground, a decision must be taken (with the aid of a weather forcast!!!!) at latest 3 hours prior to kick off to save the supporters the gross inconvenience of these wasted journeys. This is the second time I have been caught out on a journey of this distance and both times there has been no excuse for leaving things so late.</p>

<p>I am so disappointed that I will not take the time to make the journey for the rescheduled fixture and seriously suggest that the SFA, as the games governing body, sets in motion guidelines protecting the fans (last time I checked we were the lifeblood of the game). In the current financial climate I would have thought that all levels of beaurocracy in the game would be making every effort to protect the interests of the fans."</p>

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<p>I've no doubt it will fall on deaf ears, but if I get a response I'll print it.</p>
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