Fixtures in the mid-winter months are the most likely to fall victim to the weather, whether that be snow and ice, or like more recently, persistent rain, which causes pitches to be waterlogged.  Matches are called off following a pitch inspection.  This may have been carried out by a local official, to save the appointed referee a wasted journey.

On many occasions, the final decision on the fitness of the pitch is left as late as possible.  When the game is called off late in the day it leaves many folks frustrated, especially supporters who have had a wasted journey.  This was the case last Saturday when some of our travelling fans had arrived at Totton, only for the game to be postponed about 90 minutes before kick-off.  Their time travelling and the cost of the fare was wasted.

Over the years there have quite a few annoying journeys for Beavers supporters.  One that sticks in my mind was a Tuesday night game at Weston-super-Mare.  The coach carrying most of the players and some supporters had already arrived.  It had been quite a nice day on the Somerset coast, but it had just started to rain.  The pitch was a bit damp in one spot.  The match officials were taking ages over their inspection.  Our manager at the time was Alan Devonshire.  He was rapidly losing patience with them.  Eventually about an hour before the scheduled start time the game was called off, just as one of our defenders, John Scarborough, pulled into the car park.  He had left his job in Maidstone and sped down the motorways.  That really was a wasted journey.

My dad and I had a frustrating trip to a match that wasn’t postponed.  We travelled the length of the district line with the aim of watching West Ham v Spurs.  In those days, you just turned up and paid your money at the turnstiles.  When we arrived at the ground there was a massive queue.  We got almost to the front when the doors were shut.  The ground was full.  There was nothing for it, but to trudge back to the station and make our way home.  We got indoors just in time for the football results on Grandstand!!  I remember my mum telling us that that was a waste of time!!

During Jesus’ ministry, there were several journeys that appeared to be a waste of time.  Perhaps the most famous, is the story of Lazarus.  His sisters sent for Jesus, who was his friend, after Lazarus became ill.  Jesus delayed his journey, and Lazarus died.  In fact, he’d been dead four days - by the time Jesus arrived.  The journey appeared a complete waste of time, or so his travelling companions thought.  Jesus called Lazarus and he came out of the tomb, and the “dead” man was alive. This was a sign of Jesus’ power over death and the resurrection to eternal life, which is available to all who believe in Him.

Paul Barker                                                                                                                                   

Club Chaplain