Football is a winter sport, and fixture postponements due to weather are inevitable. Climate trends suggest this will continue to increase. Southwell City is committed to supporting our teams by enabling them to play fixtures wherever reasonably possible, whilst maintaining financial prudence and planning for long-term sustainability through our proposed 3G pitch investment.
This policy sets clear, fair criteria for when the club will fund alternative pitch hire to ensure no team is left unable to play for extended periods.
Policy Statement
Eligibility Criteria
The club will fund the hire of an alternative grass or 3G pitch for a team when:
Four consecutive weekends have passed where the team has had scheduled fixtures postponed (whether home or away games). Note: Holiday breaks (such as Christmas) do not count toward the four-week period.
Financial Support
When a team meets this criterion:
- The club will fund a single alternative pitch hire to enable the team to play a fixture
- Once a team has played a fixture on the hired pitch, they are not eligible for further alternative pitch hire funding until another four consecutive weekends of unplayable pitches occur
Scope and Fairness
This policy applies equally to all teams across the club – juniors, seniors, vets and disability sections – without exception.
The policy is designed to be a safety net for exceptional circumstances, not routine fixture management. The frequency threshold (once per four weeks maximum) ensures the club can manage costs whilst meeting our commitment to all our players.
Booking Process:
- Team managers should notify the club via the treasurer when they believe their team meets the criteria
- The club will verify the four-week period of postponed fixtures and confirm eligibility
- Once confirmed, the team manager will find an available alternative pitch and inform the club of the cost
- The team manager will book the pitch and pay upfront. The manager can then claim back the cost from the treasurer.
- The club reserves the right to refuse funding if the proposed pitch hire cost is deemed excessive. In such cases, the club will work with the team manager to identify a more cost-effective alternative.
Review
This policy will be reviewed annually by the Executive Committee, with particular attention to:
- Total costs incurred across all teams
- Whether the 3G pitch project timescales have changed
- Whether the criteria remain fair and proportionate
Southwell City is committed to supporting all our players and teams. This policy balances that commitment with financial responsibility and long-term sustainability.