Fog stops play in Norfolk – and now things aren’t so clear in Sussex

Sometimes a football team’s ambitions are halted by red mist, but in Haywards Heath Town’s case, their season has beem complicated by a sea mist.

That is what caused their FA Vase fourth round tie at Great Yarmouth Town to be abandoned last early Saturday, with the teams locked at 1-1 early in the second half.

It was a long trip for a club normally used to playing only other Sussex sides, and it’s one they will have to make again. But they can’t head north again on Saturday – because Great Yarmouth’s ground is shared with Gorleston Town, who already had an Isthmian League North Division fixture planned for that day versus Brantham Athletic.

It seems that takes precedence over the FA Vase – though that in itself seems odd to many, when it’s well known county cup matches are deemed more important than league fixtures at other times.

The upshot is that this Sunday has been ruled as the day Kev Green and his staff and his players – and their fans, or at least those that can make it – must return to Great Yarmouth to see who can secure a place in the last 16 of the Vase.

The change to Sunday already seemed like an upheaval for Heath, but it’s further complicated by the fact their next SCFL Premier Division fixture is planned for Tuesday at Pagham. Pagham do not want to change that, and nor do they have to.

That prompted a statement from a rather disgruntled Haywards Heath Town. They said on Tuesday: “Haywards Heath Town FC would like to place on record our disappointment regarding the scheduling of our upcoming fixtures.

“We apologise for not communicating this information to our supporters yesterday, but we were exploring every possible avenue in an effort to find a more suitable solution.

Despite the best efforts of both ourselves and Great Yarmouth Town FC, we have been instructed to play our fixture on Sunday. This requires our players, staff and supporters to undertake a long journey on a day that is not our designated football day.

"With regards to the league fixture away to Pagham on Tuesday (January 27), Pagham FC have been unwilling to move this fixture to another week or even to a later date within the same week.

"We have also been informed by the Southern Combination Football League that their hands are tied by FA regulations, leaving them unable to take any action to assist their last remaining representative in a prestigious national competition.

"The consequence of these decisions is a congested and demanding schedule that places significant pressure on our squad. Our players are not professionals, and the physical and logistical demands being placed upon them are, in our view, unreasonable. Decisions such as these inevitably have an impact on player welfare and the sporting integrity of the competitions involved.

“We would like to apologise to our players and staff who are now required to accommodate these fixtures around their working lives, and to our loyal supporters, some of whom may now be unable to attend despite being issued with free admission tickets following last week’s abandonment.

"Our mindset remains resolute and we will face head-on anything that comes our way. Further posts will follow regarding coach travel.”

The statement has sparked a fair bit of criticism aimed at Pagham, who have chosen not to respond publicly. It is understood Pagham have communicated with Haywards Heath and the SCFL.

The fixture is one Pagham have already moved before now – and in Pagham’s defence, although they may want to see other clubs do well in the FA Vase, we are talking about a league that they have their own ambitions in and are not in to make Heath’s league life any easier.

Haywards Heath have led the league all season, though their lead over Steyning Town – who have played one game more – is down to just three points, making the trip to Pagham a vital one.

For his part, Heath manager Kev Green is adopting a ‘let’s just get on with it’ attitude.

Speaking to us on Tuesday, he said: “There’s no point moaning about it. We’re not going to cry about it. We just get on with it and try to win games.”

Of last Saturday’s abandonment, he said: “We kicked off the second half and it was fine. Within five or ten minutes, you couldn’t see anything across the pitch. It was incredible.

"The photos don’t do it justice. It was a lot worse than that. There was no way they could have played on.”

The referee initially delayed proceedings in the hope the fog might lift, but Green said: “I said to him, why are you delaying it? This isn’t going, is it? You’re better off just calling it so everyone can get back on their way rather than sitting around waiting for something that’s never going to lift.”

The abandonment came as a particular frustration given the visitors’ performance. After conceding early, HHTFC’s response was impressive: “From that moment on we were just on the front foot. We created a number of chances, deservedly got an equaliser and probably should have been two or three up at half-time.

“We must have created six or seven really good chances and had eight or nine corners. In terms of football performance, it was absolutely fine. We just didn’t put the ball in the back of the net.”

Tactically, little is expected to change for the second attempt to play the tie. “We’re focused on being the best version of ourselves. If we are at our best, we give ourselves a real opportunity of getting through to the next round.”

Green praised the travelling support, who turned out in large numbers despite the long journey. “They were incredible. We must have had between 150 and 200 supporters up there and the noise they made was unbelievable. We’re really thankful for that."

Green hopes many of those fans can make the trip again. “If they can perform like they did on Saturday, that’s definitely going to help us,” he said.

Incidentally, the winners of the Vase tie will land £1,875. If that’s what Heath scoop, they may not have much left after the costs of two trips to Great Yarmouth have been paid.