Darlington could face explaining themselves to the Football League after yesterday's postponement of the third division clash with York City at Feethams.

Preston referee Phil Richards called the game off because the sodden surface was "unsafe" for the players and left the Quakers, who had expected a 7,000 crowd, with a huge headache.

With little rain in the north east over the Christmas holiday period fans were left non-plussed as to why the pitch was unfit, but Darlington chairman George Reynolds explained: "When the pitch was rolled all the clay and ice came to the top.

"It was a freak really, because the pitch had been covered. Maybe if we had left the covers off then it might not have been so bad."

Referee Richards, who had stayed overnight in Darlington, gave two reasons for calling the match off.

"I arrived at 12.30 and saw the pitch was in a muddy condition, which left me with two concerns," said the official.

"Firstly the safety of the players, and that the match might be reduced to a farce.

"The players' safety is the most important thing and some of them expressed negative comments and, with the weather forecast in mind, I spoke to the two managers and I decided to call the game off."

City manager Neil Thompson reckoned that Preston referee Phil Richards' call was a fair one.

"It's like a quagmire out there," said Thompson after viewing the Feethams pitch.

"To be fair it is in a shocking state. I spoke to the Hull City manager Warren Joyce a couple of days ago and he said we would be lucky to have a game because when they played on it on Boxing Day it was terrible.

"In truth it is dreadful and it was right not to play it because it would cost any side to play on a pitch when it isn't right."

Thompson was not too perturbed by the fact that his side had been dragged up the A1 for a non-event.

"It is frustrating to come all the way up here but the referee did give us a call and said that he wanted everyone to be au fait with the situation," explained Thompson.

"I think he has already made half a decision before we travelled, but he had to give it a go and in the end he has made the right decision and that is all we can ask for."

However, Thompson was not holding out for much better whatever date City are made to return for the rescheduled fixture, particularly as there had been no rain fall in Darlington for 24 hours and the temperatures were more than reasonable prior to yesterday's match.

"Will it be better for football the next time, what year will that be in?" smiled Thompson.

"They are going to have problems with their pitch the way it is and I can see that lasting for the rest of the season.

"I have had a chat with their manager Dave Hodgson and I know the personnel at Darlington know that they have a problem.

"You could even say that they have got to be looking at a problem fulfilling their fixtures.

"But from our point of view all we can do is move on to the next one."

All the trivia anoraks could perhaps got their notebooks out to try and trace the last time a side disembarked from the team bus at 1.40pm and were almost to a man back on it by 1.50pm.

But that was City's plight as the match was called off within minutes of their arrival at Feethams - and their short stay even included two leisurely walks around the outfield of the cricket field that stands in front of the football ground.

City secretary Keith Usher said today that City fans wanting refunds should bring their tickets to the Bootham Crescent office to get their money back.

Those intending to go to the game when a new date is arranged should keep their tickets.

City are next in action against Mansfield Town on Saturday (3pm) at Bootham Crescent.

It's as you were

Despite their inactivity City retained 20th place in the third division despite three of the four teams below them picking up points.

Carlisle grabbed three points as they hammered bottom of the table Chester City 4-1 at Brunton Park, with 21-year-old striker Scott Dobie scoring twice, and there was a point a piece for Shrewsbury and Leyton Orient.

The Shrews impressed with a 1-1 home draw against promotion chasing Barnet, while the Os drew 0-0 at home to Hull City, former York City keeper Nick Culkin saving a penalty as he kept his third cleansheet since signing on loan for the Tigers from Manchester United.

Another ex-Minsterman, Nigel Pepper, marked his debut for Southend United with a 36th minute goal.

However, Pepper, signed from Scottish Premier strugglers Aberdeen by ex-City boss Alan Little, was on the losing side as the Shrimps went down 2-1 at home to table-toppers Rotherham United - striker Leo Fortune-West bagging both goals for the Millers.

Converted for the new archive on 30 June 2000. Some images and formatting may have been lost in the conversion.