2024 Washout Season

[2ndclasscitizen]

From Newcastle Herald:

Community football seasons look set to be extended and Newcastle Football are exploring hub grounds to accommodate a backlog of washed-out fixtures. Some community teams, who play in interdistrict competitions run by Newcastle, Macquarie and Hunter Valley zones, have not played for a month with grounds closures and game postponements a recurring theme due to continued rainfall. Newcastle Football general manager Chris Brain said wet weather and mounting matches was a hot topic of conversation at a mid-season meeting for clubs on Wednesday night and the zone was working with Macquarie Football and Hunter Valley Football to extend the season by one week. A spare August 9-11 wet weather round was already in the interdistrict draw and another looks set to be added for the following weekend. Finals would instead start on the weekend of August 23-25 and at this stage still played across three weekends in a semi-finals, preliminary final and grand final format.

"Communication between zones is that we're going to extend the season," Brain told the Newcastle Herald on Thursday. "All clubs across the zones will be communicated to today."

The use of under-utilised grounds in Newcastle Football, which spans a geographical area from inner-city Newcastle to Kotara South, Beresfield, Raymond Terrace and Nelson Bay, is being explored for rescheduled fixtures. "I'm in the process of creating some hubs where Newcastle Football is going to book some space with council," Brain said. "We're going to maintain it. We're going to mark the lines. We're going to have flags and nets at these hub grounds. "They'll be our club grounds but the bookings itself will be under Newcastle Football and if we've got four grounds a week where we can reallocate wash-out games to, it will start taking the heat off a little."

Fixtures relocated to neutral hub grounds would be coordinated by Newcastle Football to take the pressure off club volunteers. "I went up and had a look at Tarro and we've got space there for four pitches," Brain said. "There's one field set up. It needs a little bit of mowing but the drainage is pretty good and Beresfield [Junior Football Club] have been very accommodating. They've got five pitches up there and they've got seven teams. "So that could be a hub. And if I can create a few more hubs under Newcastle Football's control then we can start allocating games to the hub if we get games washed out." Brain said there was an astounding number of games that had been washed out this season and club feedback from the meeting on Wednesday night was positive.

"There's 1015 games that we usually play across all zones in one weekend," he said. "At the moment we've got 2050 to reset across all three zones, and Newcastle is the biggest. "The feedback from all of the representatives from the clubs was fantastic. They're looking for solutions. That's the most important thing they want. Everyone was really happy with what we came up with."

The Herald reported last week that the Bureau of Meteorology's long-term forecast for July to September predicted rainfall was likely to be above average for the Eastern seaboard. Northern NSW Football has already extended its premier competition seasons by one week. A catch-up weekend has been added to NPL Men (August 3-4), NPL Women (August 17-18) and League One (August 3-4). The NPL Men's grand final will now be played on September 14 and the Women's championship decider on September 15, both one week after the original date.

[Alton]

From Newcastle Herald:

Community football seasons look set to be extended and Newcastle Football are exploring hub grounds to accommodate a backlog of washed-out fixtures. Some community teams, who play in interdistrict competitions run by Newcastle, Macquarie and Hunter Valley zones, have not played for a month with grounds closures and game postponements a recurring theme due to continued rainfall. Newcastle Football general manager Chris Brain said wet weather and mounting matches was a hot topic of conversation at a mid-season meeting for clubs on Wednesday night and the zone was working with Macquarie Football and Hunter Valley Football to extend the season by one week. A spare August 9-11 wet weather round was already in the interdistrict draw and another looks set to be added for the following weekend. Finals would instead start on the weekend of August 23-25 and at this stage still played across three weekends in a semi-finals, preliminary final and grand final format.

"Communication between zones is that we're going to extend the season," Brain told the Newcastle Herald on Thursday. "All clubs across the zones will be communicated to today."

The use of under-utilised grounds in Newcastle Football, which spans a geographical area from inner-city Newcastle to Kotara South, Beresfield, Raymond Terrace and Nelson Bay, is being explored for rescheduled fixtures. "I'm in the process of creating some hubs where Newcastle Football is going to book some space with council," Brain said. "We're going to maintain it. We're going to mark the lines. We're going to have flags and nets at these hub grounds. "They'll be our club grounds but the bookings itself will be under Newcastle Football and if we've got four grounds a week where we can reallocate wash-out games to, it will start taking the heat off a little."

Fixtures relocated to neutral hub grounds would be coordinated by Newcastle Football to take the pressure off club volunteers. "I went up and had a look at Tarro and we've got space there for four pitches," Brain said. "There's one field set up. It needs a little bit of mowing but the drainage is pretty good and Beresfield [Junior Football Club] have been very accommodating. They've got five pitches up there and they've got seven teams. "So that could be a hub. And if I can create a few more hubs under Newcastle Football's control then we can start allocating games to the hub if we get games washed out." Brain said there was an astounding number of games that had been washed out this season and club feedback from the meeting on Wednesday night was positive.

"There's 1015 games that we usually play across all zones in one weekend," he said. "At the moment we've got 2050 to reset across all three zones, and Newcastle is the biggest. "The feedback from all of the representatives from the clubs was fantastic. They're looking for solutions. That's the most important thing they want. Everyone was really happy with what we came up with."

The Herald reported last week that the Bureau of Meteorology's long-term forecast for July to September predicted rainfall was likely to be above average for the Eastern seaboard. Northern NSW Football has already extended its premier competition seasons by one week. A catch-up weekend has been added to NPL Men (August 3-4), NPL Women (August 17-18) and League One (August 3-4). The NPL Men's grand final will now be played on September 14 and the Women's championship decider on September 15, both one week after the original date.
Anyone pick up on the I, I, I ?

[magician]

Plenty of rain mid next week and through to the weekend so that will be more washed out games

[MCG_1997]

It was meant to be the hottest winter as per BOM and the global warming activists. Just saying....

[2ndclasscitizen]

Plenty of rain mid next week and through to the weekend so that will be more washed out games

Yeah we'll get Saturday and maybe Sunday done this weekend then definitely will be another missed week


It was meant to be the hottest winter as per BOM and the global warming activists. Just saying....

It's hot off shore which is generating all of the rain

[Addios]

So here's the weather for next week. Its gonna be a widweek night comp.

1852

[jessepinkman]

Anyone pick up on the I, I, I ?

There?s literally significantly more ?we?. Imagine being upset at a proactive solution when the past admins would have just said ?too bad, already got your coin? just because you don?t like a bloke

[mge61]

Just give ?em a chance.

[anfield]

I like the idea of these football hubs to get games on, short term solution to fix current problem.

Long term solution is for one of the associations to have a similar set up to Lake Macquarie Regional football facility at speers point.

For example Newcastle Football to have a facility based around Wallsend or Mayfield. Newcastle football would have offices there and 2 or 3 synthetic pitches.

Each weekend the facility would host games from all Newcastle football clubs. These games would be scheduled in the draw, so each year everyone in community football that plays for a Newcastle club would play one home game there. Each scheduled home team provides a duty officer etc. These games would be scheduled to play all day 9am start with the last game finishing around 4pm.

In the case of washouts involving teams from Muswellbrook, Scone or Southern United (zone league). The facility would be able to host their games after 4pm. Ideally two games , so finish around 7.45.
Other zone league teams could also use after 4pm and midweek.

Newcastle football would operate a canteen, possibly contracting it out. Money could be used to cover costs of the facility.

Club's would still have weekly home games at their home ground to keep money coming in through their canteens. It would be simply 1 or 2 of their teams moving a scheduled game to the facility.

[Eastwest]

Long term solution is for one of the associations to have a similar set up to Lake Macquarie Regional football facility at speers point.
For example Newcastle Football to have a facility based around Wallsend or Mayfield. Newcastle football would have offices there and 2 or 3 synthetic pitches.

Its a concept we have been advocating for over the last decade.
So how do we get our inept city council who only supports NRL and womens sports and a State govt who couldnt give a toss about this piss ant town to give funds for this project?
Pork barreling is the only way.

[Taffy]

I've had one round washed out 4 times so far this year along with most of the others. 3 games played and we are in July

[straightred88]

There are multiple grounds that get minimal or next to no use. All these pitches should be converted to synthetic but council are useless.

[Jardelsimage]

Councils will not touch synthetic grounds on 2 basic theories.
1: cost to change a ground to syn is around $1.5 to $2mil i have been told.
2: depending on usage, they have to be replaced after about 5years?? at a similar price, these prices came from Lake Mac council.

The cost to drain, irrigate and grass a field so it is playable in most conditions is around $500K so councils will continue waiting for clubs to get grants whilst doing a ground here or there so the budget does not blow out.

[straightred88]

Councils will not touch synthetic grounds on 2 basic theories.
1: cost to change a ground to syn is around $1.5 to $2mil i have been told.
2: depending on usage, they have to be replaced after about 5years?? at a similar price, these prices came from Lake Mac council.

The cost to drain, irrigate and grass a field so it is playable in most conditions is around $500K so councils will continue waiting for clubs to get grants whilst doing a ground here or there so the budget does not blow out.

It doesn?t suit councils agenda it?s a simple as that and they blow their budget all the time when it suits them.

[Eastwest]

Councils will not touch synthetic grounds on 2 basic theories.
1: cost to change a ground to syn is around $1.5 to $2mil i have been told.
2: depending on usage, they have to be replaced after about 5years?? at a similar price, these prices came from Lake Mac council.

The cost to drain, irrigate and grass a field so it is playable in most conditions is around $500K so councils will continue waiting for clubs to get grants whilst doing a ground here or there so the budget does not blow out.

Who's asking council to PAY for it? State funding would be the main contributor. All the council has to do is lift a finger (probs do a back), rubber stamp it, plus give up the rainbow crossing funds for a bit.

[Jardelsimage]

Who's asking council to PAY for it? State funding would be the main contributor. All the council has to do is lift a finger (probs do a back), rubber stamp it, plus give up the rainbow crossing funds for a bit.

No-one asking them to pay, just figures i was given and they took two steps back when it was raised.
Funding is the path needed, but council still are very wary of removing grass and doing synthetic as the upkeep is supposably higher.

[boz-monaut]

Can I just say that charging clubs $200 for forfeits of kids games when they're rescheduled midweek in the school holidays is some seriously next level bullshit

this is on top of having small, petty men from Newcastle Football complain about duty officer bibs not being warn (it was on a chair) for kids games when we're run off our feet hosting other clubs games, with a reduced volunteer load due to sickness

this is why we don't have volunteers, and also why those running competitions in this city can seriously go a **** themselves

[Alton]

Can I just say that charging clubs $200 for forfeits of kids games when they're rescheduled midweek in the school holidays is some seriously next level bullshit

this is on top of having small, petty men from Newcastle Football complain about duty officer bibs not being warn (it was on a chair) for kids games when we're run off our feet hosting other clubs games, with a reduced volunteer load due to sickness

this is why we don't have volunteers, and also why those running competitions in this city can seriously go a **** themselves

Who weee the ? brains? behind the appointment

[sammydog]

Can I just say that charging clubs $200 for forfeits of kids games when they're rescheduled midweek in the school holidays is some seriously next level bullshit

this is on top of having small, petty men from Newcastle Football complain about duty officer bibs not being warn (it was on a chair) for kids games when we're run off our feet hosting other clubs games, with a reduced volunteer load due to sickness

this is why we don't have volunteers, and also why those running competitions in this city can seriously go a **** themselves

With 6 weeks warning of this weekend, we tried to reschedule games when we knew teams couldn't field teams due to holidays.

No chance was the answer and now a lot of teams have double headers this weekend, so thats two forfeits.

[straightred88]

Doesn?t help with council still emailing clubs stating you will get an infringement notice for ground damges.

Clubs will be reluctant to play coz of that reason as well.

[Yato]

OK. So, what's happening out there?
All grounds are now pretty much open, and next to no washouts rescheduled so far in most comps...
Can we get some games played mid-week? Is it seriously that hard???
The sun is out!!

[2ndclasscitizen]

Apparently all the mini roos have been rescheduled so hopefully everything else will follow. It is ridiculous though, we've tried to organise lots of catch-ups ourselves where teams have contacts at the other clubs, both sides in agreeance on time and place only to be told no. Have heard the same story from blokes at other clubs as well.

[straightred88]

Apparently all the mini roos have been rescheduled so hopefully everything else will follow. It is ridiculous though, we've tried to organise lots of catch-ups ourselves where teams have contacts at the other clubs, both sides in agreeance on time and place only to be told no. Have heard the same story from blokes at other clubs as well.

Yep coz NF didn?t think of the idea so it?s a no. Clubs can?t think for themselves you know!

[j_tez]

Anyone know if the finals structure remains as normal (major & minor SF with the preliminary/second chance before the GF) or if they've changed it to shorten it (1v4, 2v3, straight to GF)?

[northern_swan]

Anyone know if the finals structure remains as normal (major & minor SF with the preliminary/second chance before the GF) or if they've changed it to shorten it (1v4, 2v3, straight to GF)?

At this stage it is a 3 week finals series as normal.