Bognor-Gosport postponed due to waterlogged pitch

By Connor Steel

BOGNOR REGIS TOWN FC have announced that their planned ISUZU FA Trophy encounter against Gosport Borough on Saturday afternoon (October 28) has been postponed due to a ‘waterlogged surface’ at the MGM Arena; the muchly anticipated ‘derby’ ties joining multiple non-league matches to fall victim of wet weather in Hampshire over recent days.

This news was shared via social media platforms after a pitch inspection at 10:30am and it is the first postponement for either team due to poor weather in the 2023-24 campaign so far. The two sides will now try again on Monday night with a 7:45pm kick-off and Bognor have said that all pre-purchased tickets are to remain valid for this rearranged Trophy tie.

This postponement comes after lengthy showers over recent days and particularly overnight into Saturday morning that have left areas of the surface ‘unplayable’, with more expected to follow this afternoon. These forecasts have led to the Met Office issuing a yellow weather warning for rain across most of Hampshire; starting last night until later on Sunday.

Conditions have furthermore led to multiple postponements across all local non-league divisions; with Fareham’s trip to Brockenhurst in the Wessex Division becoming the first casualty at approximately 9:45am. AFC Portchester’s away trip to strugglers Andover New Street followed ninety minutes later, with no new dates scheduled by the league at this time.

But Romsey Town’s home encounter against Fleetlands is due to go ahead as planned at 3pm; whilst US Portsmouth’s game versus Laverstock & Ford passed two earlier morning pitch inspections. These are two of just nine survivors from across the Wessex Divisions whilst many Southern League and Hampshire Premier League ties are also being played.

PICTURED BY BOGNOR REGIS TOWN FC: Aerial view of the ‘MGM Arena’ that will see FA Trophy game on Monday.