Thetownend.com

TEF,
The forecast shows that snow should stop today at around 5-7pm. Marcus is going to make an effort to clear the snow off the frost covers tonight and then we can just remove them tomorrow. If any of you can help tonight that would be great.
PM me if you can.
Thanks.

Should be off due to getting to and from the game,regardless of the pitch condition. I'd bet that's what will happen too

No chance I'm risking going out in the car for the rest of today.

I live in Highworth and cant even get my car off the drive....sorry I cant help, I really would!

agreed , didnt they do  this a couple of years back ,  pitch and stands cleared but game still called off cos of surrounding areas . But if enough people turn up i might get my arse into gear and give them a hand

The roads in and around Shropshire are dreadful. I've had to leave work early due to public transport stopping because its just not safe.

It will depend on the away fans but I can't see them holding it off any longer than close of play today. I'm afraid it will be done on a Tuesday night.

I heard Shrewsbury were boycotting anyway.

If it is on I won't be able to make it and most fans would rather have a lunch at the meadow instead of paying to go in the county ground

Enjoy putting up with our idiots.

The pitch tomorrow is perfectly playable, so now its down to clearing the ground and areas of snow off the pitch.


http://www.thisisswindontownfc.co.uk/news/headlines/10171759.WEATHER_UPDATE__Swindon_Town_v_Shrewsbury_Town/?ref=rss

...aannndd breathe

Sorry PV, but even the main roads in Swindon are only passable with some care, so with that and the effect on side street parking, I really can't see it going ahead. (If I'm honest, I'll settle for a mid-week game later in the season)

All seems a bit pointless. Roads are bad enough already and with snow and sub zero temperatures forecast for the next 24 hours it's hard to see how it can go ahead. Sure the pitch and surrounding areas might be fine but encouraging people to travel in these conditions is just reckless.

Plus it might hurt Apple's share price.

 :clap:

I'm hoping it's off tbh. Roads around here are fucking bad, made much worse by stupid cunts who think it's clever to drive like fuckwits. 6 hour round trip to go about 60 miles..

Not really inclined to dig our car and go to the CG this time. If the roads were better - yes, but they are a bit shit still.

Surely the police will have a say if it is on or off due to road conditions and the general elf an safety considerations.

 :hmmm:

The magic roundabout and roads around the stadium are actually ok just a bit slushy.

Be fine tomorrow.

"Swindon Town Football Club
Due to the heavy snowfall, the snow clearing effort has now been stopped. The club are now in dialogue with the Football League."

Game off apparently.

Odd, the snow's stopped now.

It was access to the club I hear not the pitch but the surrounding parts of the ground etc with more snow forecast for tomorrow.

That's a shame. So that'll be 5 away games in a row (unless they rearrange the Shrewsbury game in the next 3 weeks!)

Yet to be confirmed officially but that was a friend working at the club clearing the stands, they told them to stop clearing.

Swindon Town FC ‏@Official_STFC
The club are continuing with the snow clearing effort. Volunteers are asked to report to E1 gate between TE and Arkells #STFC

There's still hope!

Swindon Town FC ‏@Official_STFC
The club are continuing with the snow clearing effort. Volunteers are asked to report to E1 gate between TE and Arkells #STFC

Beat me by a second  :)

Every second counts...

"Town staff and management, including Paolo Di Canio, are currently working to remove snow from the pitch covers #STFC"


Paolo loves the upkeep on the pitch!

Strange really as they sent everyone back an hour ago according to my mate who was helping and now they want them back!

Hope it goes ahead tbh otherwise we would have played 5 away in a row!

If it gets called off because of 'health and safety' outside of the ground it's a total farce. So there's a bit of snow around, big deal. I hate the society we live in today, everything is dangerous. 30 years ago it would have been on.

Speaking from experience?  ;)

30 years ago it wouldn't have been on due to the frost down the Shrivenham Road stand side of the pitch, that was the main reason games were called off back then.

Or because of the medium strength winds blowing would have threatened to take the roof off the old stand.

Ok bad example, in Eastern Europe it would be on.

I think thats more due to the infrastructure of the transport system and the fact that they are better prepared for weather like this, whereas we have it most years and are never prepared for it.

Hardly all that safe for the old codgers, the out of towners with a long drive, etc

Common sense will be applied if the surrounding areas are dodgy

Just cancel the game,why the desperation to get it on?

The roads and paths are dangerous and will only get worse as they freeze over night.People shouldn't be making non essential journeys I'm sure the emergency services are stretched already with out getting 8000 idiots to go to a football game.

More the fact that the concept of Health and Safety does not exist.

There is a club in Bosnia called Sloboda Tuzla who have run out of money whilst building a new stand. The solution is as follows.

[url width=460 height=345]http://www.scsport.ba/userfiles/image/nova-tribina.jpg[/url]

Shrewsbury fan just said we are a comedy club of the highest order for trying to get the game.

Jug eared cunt.

7999 idiots  ( salopian cant make it tomorrow )

Your getting old Mr Red, I want the old school drunken late night Yeovil Red back. (he wouldn't give a shinny shite)

truth is i've got a ticket but don't fancy freezing my bollocks off but don't want to let my mate down if the games on

I bet you were panic buying at your local supermarket.

Multiply that by 5 and you've got a PL game. Bet none of their games will be called off.

If a PL club can make it safe for 40,000 fans there can be no reason why we cant get the game on - if the pitch is not a problem.

Clearing snow from pathways aint rocket science

Yeo is right (and probably quite busy at the moment)

We had to cancel shifts at our company today,(that'll have a significant impact on our financial results) and let people go home early as we felt a duty of care to our employees. you'll have seen comments on here about road conditions.

How can the club realistically try and encourage people to travel to the game in those circumstances? (Paolo was speaking before the extent of the weather was apparent I assume) If the game does go ahead, the gate will be way down on what they would get for a rearranged fixture.

30 years ago, as you say, it may have been on, but times have changed - look how many people are at university for example compared to then.

You must realise how bad the conditions are, being stuck in Gloucestershire as you are. oh wait...

ive heard of parking the bus but....................

You're right Nev, I'm off to Tesco to fill a trolley with tinned food.

or perhaps working for a breakdown/ recovery company(when not air traffic controlling) I get to see more of the complete utter carnage that a bit of snow causes

[url width=632 height=421]http://static.klix.ba/media/images/vijesti/120204002.15_mn.jpg[/url]

paolo di canio , paolo di canio , paolo di canio , paolo di canio

[url width=400 height=600]http://www.24sata.hr/image/snijeg-pada-u-dalmaciji-i-lici-bura-otezava-promet-duz-obale-400x600-20120205-20120202152757-9a1c45e564dc26cdd3af523f2ab61673.jpg[/url]
I'll raise you your 'bit of snow'.  

They probably don't have to resort to appealing for volunteers to clear the place, that fact we are doing this says the club are struggling.

Snow gets cleared, more snow falls

Pitch inspection 8am tomorrow

Pitch inspection tomorrow at 8am apparently, but they're still asking for volunteers to go to the CG now?

Good decision, early enough so that Shrewsbury fans haven't set off/have only just left. The mistake with the Colchester and Orient games was calling them off the day before.

If its on will you be driving? cos I cant tell you how much I hope you end up in a ditch waiting 8 hours for the AA turn up :D

Nah, no significant snow before tomorrows game. But shovelling snow off the covers is a bitch, and then there's the car park, paths. etc.

Just can't see it being on.

Coca probably hasn't ever driven in these conditions

Fixed for you

Weather it is on or not, I doubt I will risk driving down, so selfishly I hope it is off.

Impressive. What happens when they meet an equally intrepid motorist travelling in the opposite direction? Leave it until the last possible moment?

It will be on.... ;)

Nev, they are Eastern Block, they hold or know no fear

The rest of the world are just plain pussy's

When I were a lad and all that

It's not whether we can physically play on the pitch (as I have faith that our excellent groundstaff, as well as Paolo working like a fucking snowblower, will sort that out), it's whether the conditions are decent, and safe enough, for nearly everyone to get to the game who'd be coming normally. There's no point holding the match if 4 Shrewsbury supporters turn up and we only get 3-4k attendance. It's just not worth the risk/fee.

People (Coca) can moan all they like about "Oh in other countries it would be different, oh if this were 30 years ago we'd still be playing and all the supporters would only be wearing string vests 'cos we were well 'ard back then." We don't deal with snowfall well enough for a Northern Hemisphere country, this is true, but comparing us to somewhere in Eastern Europe where 10ft in winter is the norm is ridiculous because we rarely see 1-2ft of snow every year as it is.

The reality is that putting on the match is not simply a matter of the club's priority of a clear, defrosted pitch, but the myriad transport links and safety considerations that go along with it and that are out of the clubs control. I want it to be on tomorrow, but I am aware it probably will not be- and even if it is, my train probably won't be running. I'm not going to fucking moan on about it because it's fucking snowing and I'll just go make snowmen in the park with my girlfriend instead.

A bristolian man puts it very eloquently (I know, I'm surprised too) at the end of this very informative video from Charlie Brooker:
http://www.youtube.com/watch?v=qO52SMQB7tE

Yugoslavia was not part of the Eastern Bloc, look up the Tito-Stalin split.

i hope they grit the path to the tap and barrel :pint:

Correct Fred (although according to CF's last minute essay not entirely).  Perhaps you should replace 'Eastern Block' by 'cheap leather jacket wearing folk'?

Clever, or plain half witted?

My bad

Thanks Comrade

Oh how we yearn for the old Motherland (I think a few of us could make some suggestions on appropriate actions)

I'd rather stick a biro down my jap's eye

You do that anyway Fred, we don't want to hear about your bizarre fetishes.

Thanks Fred!

Guffaw

Everything out here grounds to a halt when it rains. Traffic doesn't move. You'd think it was acid the way they react.

Could somebody with a spare 10 minutes please do a comparative study of the number of games called off 'these days' (bloody elf and safety) versus 30 years ago, when of course, no games were ever postponed, even though the weather was much much worse.

Thanks.

I'd like to claim the former...

Wasn't Biro Hungarian?

Nev I highly doubt he has the intelligence to make that link.

 :clap: I like people who can laugh at themselves, Fred this feud is over.

come back to me when you have got your degree yeah

I think you vastly underestimate your adversary.

Stop bicering

I have an adversary.  :toocool:

You stop bickering :D

Not what you desire but heres a start. Some interesting facts about football postponements.

http://www.footballsite.co.uk/Statistics/Articles/DidYouKnow25.htm

Three of the best were 3-0 up against Bradford when the fog rolled in...Jimmy Quinn treble i think....also the famous downpour at Bolton in the cup semi final.......and i seem to remember a home match against top of the table Brighton being called off when we were 1-0 up.....in the days of Peter Ward,remember him.

The game at the Walkers stadium is on tonight.  Looks like they had a fair bit of snow, but it is on TV, so h & s won't be so much of an issue.

Making progress

http://twitter.com/Official_STFC/status/292356775758426113/photo/1

tremendous effort.

I'm sure that the Brighton game was 4-0 at the time it was called off.

As for that Bradford game, they had a man sent off and the ref took the teams off for a while to see if the fog would clear. I'm sure someone said that when they came back on that Bradford came back out with 11 but as you couldn't see half the pitch the ref didn't notice (probably bollocks, but was quite amusing at the time).  The other thing with the Bradford game was that we went 2-0 up early in the re-arranged game, but eventually got pegged back to 2-2.

Correct Posh....about the Brighton game.

It was 4-0 I was there, I think we won the amended game 2-1 but I didnt make that one.

@Fergo_Hughes: Paolo bought us all pizzas, what a lad! #STFC

You just have to love the man

"So Swindon have got rid of the snow leaving the WET ground to FREEZE overnight. #clever"

Just popped home to grab something to eat.

The pitch is fine under the covers. It's supposed to be a mild night, and importantly...no more snow.

Now got to go back and get run over by Paolo's big broom !!

The covers are on the pitch...it is perfectly playable.

Sadly tonights temperatures will make the surrounding areas deadly tommorow so i reckon its odds on to be called off.

Well done to Summerof69 and everyone else though.

Looking at the attendance at Leicester tonight, just wonder how many of our out-of-town fans will be able to make it if it is on?

Di Canio has bought every volunteer pizza - nice gesture

Just read that on twatter. What did they expect us to do, given the 8am inspection. But regardless of the inspection it takes fucking ages to clear that much snow by hand.

Haha I know, I did try and explain that but I don't think I got through to them.

here here

I have given explaining it another go. Pitch probably OK + frost covers + 8am inspection = dig snow

I was in the town end that night and thought is was called off @ 3-0 with Ray McHale curling the third around their goalie in the town end goal.

Don't get me wrong he annoys me sometimes but for me pdc is fast becoming swindon towns greatest ever manager.  I just flippin love this guy and when he goes I hope we can have a proper send off and thank him for what he has done for us.

Hardly anyone there though, if we play can't see us getting much of a crowd, can't rely on tin pots to bring more than a car load down either!

Was deffo 4 nil up . . cant remember Ray McHale curling a turd around their goalie though!!
Did he stick a flake in it . . ala Mr Whippy?

Would be quicker using shovels and brooms.

Plane diverted to stansted so I'm in the country. Will still be amazed if game is on tomorrow by the sounds of things.

Snow stopped and the miracle workers are clearing the pitch. Who knows.

He buys the pizza, be buys the pizaaaaaaa, Paolo di Canio, he buys the pizza!

great effort by everyone down there, sadly smashed my car today up today due to weather so can't make it down...fingers crossed all the hard work pays off!

Hope it's off, I've mislaid my season ticket yet again and I can't be bothered to hunt for it.

Sorry to hear that, its not been a great day for you then Major.A big pat on the back for all those who have been at the CG helping out.

Poor effort troll. :-)

Just left. They are just clearing the last remnants of snow.

If they call the match of due to health & safety reasons, I'm getting the sniper out for the ref.

Nice one So69, nice one.

And Paolo might still be out there. I saw him about 10.30 with his staff clearing snow off.

There is absolutely no other manager who would do this.

Fair play to you :clap: Have the paths and car park at/around the CG been cleared of snow?

What a bloke. I heard he bought pizzas for everyone too. Legend

Well done to all on an obviously monumental effort.  As a result I've now changed my thinking.

If the club is this determined to be so absurd and foolhardy into making this is a goer, I will be similarly determined to match their stupidity and determination by trying to make it from Witney.

I hope you hugged him.

He kept away from me at the other end of the ground !!

It looked like the car park had been gritted. Still snow around but there was no icy patches that I could see.

And a big heads up to Marcus Cassidy and the groundstaff. They'll be lucky to leave the ground until around midnight and they'll probably be there from around 6am to be ready for the pitch inspection tomorrow morning.

Well here's hoping its game on then.

Swindon Town FC ‏@Official_STFC
The club still require volunteers in the morning, at 8am, to assist with the removal of the covers. Please arrive via gate E1 (TE/Ark) #STFC

Not long got back. Knackered.

Paolo was still going strong when I left, along with probably 40-50 others, all fuelled by the SIXTY pizzas that PDC bought!

Will be gutted if this isn't on. Now, sleep.

Just got home and knackered. Havent done 6 hours manual labour for 20 yers! Pitch cleared of snow and is nowhere near frozen. Covers go to -6 so it should be ok. If H&S call it off it'll be a big shame.

Well done  to all of Paolos little helpers,I still hope its off though.

There are very few words to express the love I feel for Paolo di canio.

He's a bloke that had no affiliation to our club before we took him on as manager yet, I feel like he's been a lifelong fan.

He may be mental and spending all our money, but I don't care.

I want him as our manager for as long as possible.

Swindon Town FC ‏@Official_STFC
Today's game against @shrewsweb goes ahead after an 8am inspection at The CG #STFC

well done everyone involved , now lets make it a special atmosphere. Paolo , u are a legend

we cleared all the snow, we cleared all the snow
with help from Paolo, we cleared all the snow...

Last night was a fantastic spectacle. Around 200 Swindon Town fans and staff came together with shovels, spades and wheelbarrows in hand to get the game on!

I spent a good couple of hours working with Town physio Paul Godfrey and i can tell you now, he put a massive shift in! Fair play, top bloke and funny too!

Not that i snuck a word in with the great man but Poalo Di Canio also put a huge shift in. Is there another professional football manager in the world who'd put 6 hours work in to get a game on? I don't think so.

Just so heartening to see. Any prospective new owners at the game today? Hope they've seen what the club means to so many people. We're going places, i can feel it!!

 O0 KAMMY GAME ON ...............NOW

Today is much more than about a game. It is trying to pitch us to investors

I'm encouraged by the extent to which Paolo is buying in to the impending sale of the club.  He wants this as much as anyone else.  He looks very personally invested in this process.  I'm almost wondering if the murmurings earlier in the week about his possible involvement in a potential takeover may be true.

I don't normally post my speculations up here, but this one has been gnawing away at me.  Everything that Paolo has done recently seems to show that this is more than a job to him.  It's personal.

Since he joined, the last few weeks has only highlighted it in my opinion.

It is exactly the way he played the game,every match he played in was full of passion,every match was personal.

This a thousand times over. How can you not love the bloke. I'd even let him shag my mrs!

He's always said it , but "actions speak louder than words". His recent actions have been deafening us they are so loud!

To be honest I was getting a little pissed of with some aspects of his interviews, his constant call for new players, etc. I honestly thought he'd walk the very instant the shit hit the fan. But he has so far done the opposite, he's dug in. Forza Paolo.

Poor old graham turner would have a coronary at the thought of it, lets give these fuckers a good old stuffing today . A great effort by all i was really not thinking about needing to get out of lambourn today a bit of snow won't stop me getting there.

This

Completely this

I thought exactly the same Batch. When Patey arrived I thought we wouldn't see Di Canio for dust. He obviously is prepared to work with what he's got, which is what I wanted to see him do. It also encourages me when I read things like the article about Roberts recently where he and PDC sat down and talked through how he could get better, as opposed to be him being chucked out on loan to some God-forsaken northern L2 outpost. I think he's constantly evolving as a manager and does learn from his mistakes. He's clearly read some of my (constructive) criticism and taken it on board  ;) Credit where due.

A massive well done to everyone that helped clear the pitch, brilliant turn around in prospects, looking forward to another 5 goals for us today :)

I dunno, he had that difficult time with his parents passing and still refused an adequate amount of time off. He always speaks of a united club, fans, players, other staff and everyone in between. Let the tea boy sit on the bench at Wembley. Hear of him putting in monster hours behind the scenes.

I think we have all (myself included) given him less credit than probably what he is due. As I said in another thread, when was the last time we had a manager who worked so hard? I'm only 28 years old but I can't think of one.

Fair point Si Pie, fair point. I think the difference for me is that most of that (parents aside) was when things were going as he wanted off the pitch.

This time it isn't.

FWIW, I don't think the parents passing away issue has much bearing at all on how he's gone about his job.

Great work by all concerned. Lets hope there's a worthwhile crowd and that the players match the effort with a comfortable stuffing. I'm commencing operation 'drive clearance' at 0930

Tremendous effort by all involved and as for Paolo being there helping throughout, well what can you say?  The last couple of days have been unsettling for the club and I have to be honest, I'm massively impressed at the stance Paolo has taken.  I really did think he might consider his future, but instead he's shown just what the club means to him.  Hats off to Paolo.

Good luck everyone...............I will make it one way or another.

If I have to walk 6 miles to get to Banbury train station so be it.

Respect to all of you last night ......... this will be in my mind as I travel.

Paolo Di Canio..........................THE LEGEND

 :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap: :clap:

I think all those who turned up last night should be bought out onto the pitch at half time and applauded by everyone, even getting the directors box crowd out to do the same. You bet most of them will in there quaffing and stuffing their faces and not bother.

He's got a nice little mention in the Daily Mail too

http://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/football/article-2264434/Football-matches-postponed-snow.html

Footballers and those involved with the game get stereotyped and usually rightfully so.

Paolo Di Canio does not the fit the stereotype. In fact his attributes make him the perfect footballer, he's always done it for love then money rather than money and more money.

I firmly believe, league cup win aside - he might just be the best thing to ever happen to this football club

And they still can't get his name right.  It's Paolo not Paolo!!

 :girlgiggle:

Women logic,..does not compute....

:)

I like this from a crawley fan.

'Deluded Swindon fans still praising dick canio, he only cleared the pitch so the club gets money off you lot to keep his job! #goingbust'

Hahaha

So can we just clear this up, is his name Paolo, or Paolo...I'm a little confused :hmmm:

It's not even funny, it's depressing  :no:

Just as well for Crawley fans that they could never be in the position of unsustainable, what with their massive gates. Oh wait.

Haha.. How deluded of us I must say.

What a mong

That cunt wise from the bbc has got a lot to answer for I still can't believe he did what he did on Thursday so irresponsible . I just laugh off the constant snipes by the fans of these tinpot clubs it is jealousy of the highest order I still think all of this will turn out positive and we will be the ones with a smile on our faces Come the end of the season

Some top drawer advice on the OS for those going today...

- Allow plenty of time for making your journey
- Allow extra time if purchasing tickets at the stadium
- Wear suitable clothing and footwear for the weather conditions, plenty of layers
- Listen to BBC Wiltshire 104.3FM for travel information

Driving advice when roads are icy or slushy:

- It can take ten times longer to stop in icy conditions than on a dry road.  Drive slowly, allowing extra room to slow down and stop
-   Use the highest gear possible to avoid wheel spin
-   Manoeuvre gently, avoiding harsh braking and acceleration
-   To brake on ice or snow without locking your wheels, get into a low gear earlier than normal, allow your speed to fall and use the brake pedal gently
-   If you start to skid, ease off the accelerator but do not brake suddenly

I hope you got all that :nod:

- "   To brake on ice or snow without locking your wheels, get into a low gear earlier than normal, allow your speed to fall and use the brake pedal gently"

Or see how ineffective your average ABS is in snow by jamming on your breaks!

They had a bloke from the IAM on breakfast news yesterday proclaiming the wonders of modern ABS systems that will allow you to brake and steer at the same time. In principle maybe, in practice no way!

That's what I shouted to Mrs Fatbasher.

My car isn't modern enough, but some newer ABS have a sort of snow mode. God knows how that works! Presumably it locks the wheel slightly longer to allow snow build up in front of the tyre to assist stopping, but not so much that it prevents control. Witchcraft.

Anyway the point is, abs is great but don't be expecting to stop quickly!

- buy some winter tyres

And of course their game is on as well . . . . oh hang on!!!

...but NOT for information on STFCs finances

Out of all he has done a Stfc, last night tops it for me. He (and his staff) may be masters of publicity, but his commitment is unrivalled. I only wish he could buy the club, run it as he wishes and stay forever. I have had moments where he has infuriated me (notably the embargo saga...) but the man is an inspiration.

Changed my mind,looking forward to this now :o

Incredible effort from everyone involved last night. Especially considering the week we've had. And what can you say about Paolo? He can be highly irritating, but it's hard not to love him at times like this. Some may have expected him to walk at the first sign of troubled waters but he's doing the opposite and almost single handedly bring the club together.

3 points would be huge today and cut the backlog of games that we have. The next couple of weeks look like they'll be very interesting for us all. Scary, but interesting.

COYR!

Only downside to the game being on is the effect on the crowd.  Just walked straight through the turnstile and the stands are very empty.

Edit:  The ground suddenly filled and it was a good crowd considering.

No way was there 7,600 human people at that game today

All ST holders are included. Hard to know how many didn't show up, but I'd imagine 600 wouldn't be an underestimate? So perhaps 7000 there.

Massive thanks to everyone who put the effort in to help get the game on today. You're all heroes!

Here here!! :clap: :clap:

Well done you fuckers...excellent.

Did you count em? I didn't think it was far away to be honest. More made it than I expected.

In some ways the empty Arkells and Town end and I dare say DRS showed how many fans come from outside the area.

There was a good 15 ST holders missing from around us in the Arkells.

ST holders are included in the crowd figures regardless of whether they attend.
It looked much less than the quoted 7500 ish yesterday but given a good number of ST holders probably didn't make it wasn't too empty.

Hi!! No picnic getting to the game from luxembourg, that's for sure!

nice letter on 459 on sky text thanking paolo and the fans

Based on the roads yesterday it would be great if we had snow every week.

Seemed to keep most of the muppets off the road and we had a better journey down & back than normal :D

http://www.bbc.co.uk/news/uk-england-london-21101960

Altogether now, "No one likes us, we don't care"  :beers: