I WRITE this in the hope that some light can be shed on something that has puzzled me and thousands of other amateur footballers and managers around the borough.

Quite simply, what I and others want to know is, how do those faceless local government employees decide when we can play football on their precious pitches, for which courtesy we are ALL charged between £325 and £450 per season?

The reason I ask is because of two weekends — the last in January and then the first in February.

On Friday, January 29, some of us had to telephone the local pitches’ hotline to find out what was happening, and we got the usual disembodied, pre-recorded message that the decision was being left to the referees on the day.

Now the previous week it had been very cold and the majority of pitches were solid, so it was no surprise that when Sunday arrived, our referee called it off without even getting out of his car, but claiming his half-match fee of £12.50 for the privilege.

And on the latter weekend, stating “adverse weather conditions”, the council called off ALL pitches in the area without a second thought. Why?

All right, we’d had a small amount of rain during the week, and the weekend (February 6 and 7) was a little brisk .... but “adverse weather” — I think not.

If there is actually anyone at the council who takes note of things such as this, please answer how do you decide such things as this? What is the criteria when reaching such a decision that affects so many?

I know from experience that other leagues we have played in, such as Bury, Tameside, Manchester and Salford, the councils go and inspect every pitch under their control on both Saturday and Sunday, and only then do they decide if they are playable.

What I’ve been told is that our local council checks a select two or three sites, such as Spa Road, and if they’re bad, then it’s “ALL OFF”.

Another point is that on previous weekends when all council pitches have been cancelled, some school pitches have been played on. What’s the difference? Surely these are also under council control?

Also, when you’ve spent what the council did not too long ago on new under-soil drainage at the Newhouse Farm site, why was more care not taken over the access to equine lovers and owners?

We had a game called off recently, not because the pitch was unfit, but because some horse rider had ridden their steed across every pitch and left huge hoof holes in each pitch that were then deemed dangerous by the referee.

More of this and some teams will be hard pressed to get enough lads to play as the season progresses.

It’s not fair and it’s been going on for far too long without satisfactory recourse.

Can we have some answers please in light of what we have to pay every year?

Frustrated football follower Name and address supplied