Accrington Stanley vs Lincoln City

Matchday 22 – Accrington Stanley Vs Lincoln City – Match Postponed.

Once again, our journey entailed picking up Liam directly from school and navigating the M6. Given past experiences at this hour, I anticipated heavy traffic, and unfortunately, my prediction held true.

Encountering significant traffic at three different points along the way, we managed to reach Accrington an hour before kick-off. Opting for a nearby car park with donation-based fees, I was disappointed to find most of it submerged in water. Concerned about wet shoes during the 2.5-hour drive home, I requested relocation from the attendant, who seemed a bit perplexed. Eventually, we found a small, frozen patch of grass without water.

With the temperature at 0 degrees, the frosty air was palpable as we made our way to the ground, snapping photos and inquiring about the club shop from a helpful steward. Finding the shop at the rear of the stadium car park, we bought a scarf and a 20p timesheet, as the program was digital.

Inside the stadium, Liam opted for a hot Meat and Potato pie given the freezing temperatures, which was priced at £3 and proved to be of excellent quality and size.

Heading pitchside toward our seats, we took numerous photos. However, as we observed the players warming up, concerns about the pitch’s quality became apparent. Unfortunately, at 19:45, just at kick-off time, the game was called off due to a frozen pitch.

This was incredibly frustrating, especially considering the three-hour journey through challenging traffic to make it to the ground on time. Adding to the frustration was the discovery, after the postponement, that the pitch had been frozen since 17:00, making the late call-off decision perplexing.

Feeling particularly upset, especially for the Lincoln City fans who endured a 3.5-hour journey, I recognize that weather conditions can lead to postponements. However, deciding to call off the game right on the brink of kick-off seems unacceptable to me.

The return journey took 2 hours and 20 minutes with no traffic. Unfortunately, as part of this challenge, the goal is to visit all 92 football league grounds and watch a match. Consequently, we’ll have to replan and revisit the Wham Stadium, so Matchday 22 will be revisited on another date.