A NON-LEAGUE match was postponed barely 40 minutes before kick-off last night due to a freak fire.
Berkshire club Thatcham Town had been due to host Bideford AFC in the Southern League Division One South.
The match had been scheduled to take place at Thatcham’s Waterside Park[/caption]
With the Devon part-timers having already made the three-hour trip east, the game was called off due to a floodlight catching fire.
Providing a further update to supporters just 10 minutes before the game had been due to kick off, Bideford wrote on social media: “A floodlight caught fire and the fire brigade had to be called.
“Therefore the game unfortunately had to be postponed just as we had arrived at the ground.”
In footage subsequently circulating on social media, a fire engine could be seen arriving at Thatcham’s Waterside Park.
A further clip featured firemen inspecting the floodlight, which had smoke billowing from it.
This morning, Thatcham posted a statement from chairman Paul Ayres offering a further statement.
It read: “We regret to inform everyone that last night’s match had to be postponed due to an unexpected floodlight failure.
“The floodlights had been on for approximately 30 minutes when, at around 18:50, one of the eight pylons faulted and blew, causing a small fire at the base of the pylon.
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“The fire brigade responded swiftly and were on the scene quickly to extinguish the fire, ensuring everyone’s safety. However, due to the incident, it was not possible to continue with the match.
“Our next steps involve arranging for a floodlight electrician to assess the damage and determine the necessary repairs to restore full functionality.”
No update has yet been given on when the rearranged fixture between Thatcham and Bideford will take place.
Thatcham’s statement went on to acknowledge the inconvenience to their opponents.
It added: “We sincerely apologise to Bideford AFC’s players, management, and supporters who made the long journey to us on a Tuesday night. We appreciate your understanding and will provide updates as soon as possible regarding the rescheduling of the fixture.
“Thank you for your patience and support.”
Ninth-tier Thatcham are scheduled to host Melksham Town on Saturday, although it is so far unclear whether floodlight issues could put the match in jeopardy.
The Berkshire side are 21st in the 22-team table, having won just six of their 30 matches this season.
Bideford, meanwhile, are safely mid-table in 14th.
