Read what Ben Clasper had to say in his programme notes ahead of our National League South clash with Ebbsfleet United.

It is said that insanity is doing the same thing over and over and expecting different results and so I may think twice before booking a hotel stay the night before our next attempt to play away at Bath City. There are definitely worse places for an abandoned footballing mini-break but at some point it might be nice to see some football. After the traumatic events of the first abandonment this week’s postponement was one of the many to succumb to a frozen pitch during the recent cold snap. If the same weather conditions affect clubs in the same competition at the same time it would be reasonable to expect all of those clubs to follow the same process and arrive at the same outcome but football’s insistence on allowing clubs to regulate themselves is based on the fundamental flaw that you can trust those clubs to act consistently and honourably and sadly not all clubs are like Bath City.

Our game on Tuesday was postponed by 12pm early enough to cancel our team travel and inform fans before they would need to travel to a game where entry would be free because Bath honoured their obligation under the league rules following the abandonment of a game before half time. Decisions were taken quickly, based on common sense (a pitch frozen in the morning does not magically thaw during a day in which temperatures are not predicted to raise above zero) and driven by the safety of the players and avoiding unnecessary costs to the away club and its fans.

Other clubs and fans have not been so fortunate including those from Havant who arrived at Dover on Saturday to a pitch that was not only frozen but had been reported as such by the groundsman to the club that morning but as there is no obligation for a club to conduct a pitch inspection before the match referee arrives all fans are at the mercy of the regard in which they are held by the host club and I am sad to say the needs and requests of other clubs and their fans don’t register at some clubs.

The heart of the problem is a lack of direction from the football authorities on why, how and when decisions should be taken. A clear ‘why’ would tell clubs what to prioritise, is it ‘get the game on at all costs and everyone else is secondary’ or is it ‘ensure costs are minimised’ or even ‘fans come first’ (however fantastical the idea of football authorities putting fans first may be). Rules on ‘how’ should replace vague guidelines and would ensure all clubs have to adopt the same preventative measures and follow the same process to assess whether a game can proceed. Lastly ‘When’ should set clear deadlines for taking and then communicating those decisions.

Having read all of the comments from unhappy clubs and fans over the past weeks it may surprise you to hear that there are no laws or rules on postponing games there is only a ‘recommended procedure’ in which there are no ‘musts’, only ‘shoulds’ and a home club is under no obligation to take any action in advance and can leave it to the match referee who is the sole authority on whether a match can proceed.

When you have guidelines that ask clubs to consider the impact on their visitors but no rules that enforce that ask, whether you hear a game is off having already arrived, when on the train or the motorway, after you have paid to travel or in the comfort of your own home will be down to the attitudes of the club you are visiting and I am sad to say it is all too easy to predict which games we need to worry about.

This is the reason we continue to campaign for changes to how football and its competitions are governed and regulated. It is admirable to expect clubs to look out for each other and the fans but an honour system only works if all clubs and individuals respect it. Havant complained in public about the lack of respect shown by their hosts but Dover will no doubt refer to the (lack of) rulebook and point out they have not done anything wrong. I can sympathise when clubs protest but it would be nice if they showed some support for our position when we actually seek the changes to the game needed to address the causes rather than only complain about the symptoms when things impact them personally.

If more clubs were like Bath City they might understand why I will be booking a third away day trip and why our travelling support will show up in greater numbers at their stadiums and bars.