Hey ref, a hole’s just appeared in the pitch!

Aug 28 2008 by Andrew McGilvray, Hamilton Advertiser

BLANTYRE VICS’ Central League Division Two match at home to Shettleston on Saturday was held up after a HOLE appeared in their Castle Park pitch.

And the club discovered their roller had been STOLEN when they tried to repair the damage on Sunday.

Play was held up 12 minutes into the second half when a Shettleston player stumbled and alerted the referee to the problem, which is believed to have been caused by subsidence. The hole, approximately one foot deep and a foot wide, was filled with sand and the game continued.

And it wasn’t a case of “turf” luck for Vics, who turned around a 1-0 half-time deficit to win 3-1.

Vics manager Willie Harvey explained: “A hole appeared where the ground had just sunk, probably as a result of the weather we’ve had.

“We had to fill it up before the game could continue and the seven-minute delay killed the game a bit, but that suited us. Shettleston were in control at that stage and that break upset their rhythm. We took advantage of that.”

Brian Glancy, Steve McCluskey and Gary Espener grabbed Blantyre’s goals in the win.

Match secretary Andy McDade discovered the theft of the club’s roller when he tried to returf the damaged area, near the home dug-out.

He explained: “The park has been built on top of mines – as has most of Lanarkshire – and all that rain led to the appearance of the hole.

“I filled it with sand and we’ve since re-turfed it, but when we went to roll the park to repair it properly we found that somebody has stolen our roller! It’s just something that happens to junior clubs from time to time, but if anybody has a spare roller, can they contact the club?”

Anyone who can help has been urged to contact Andy on 07930 128702.