City defend pitch

York City communications director Sophie Hicks had defended the state of the Bootham Crescent playing surface after their weekend game with AFC Wimbledon was postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

The Minstermen’s game was the only one called off in the top five divisions after their playing area became flooded in little more than an hour and forced a cancellation two hours before kick-off.

“We’ve always had a problem with the drainage,” Hicks told BBC Radio York.

“We’ve spent quite a lot of money on the pitch over the years. But, in the last two seasons, it’s done incredibly well in the conditions.

“The referee was at the ground. It was just the persistent heavy rain in York. We had a real deluge,” she added. “Wimbledon had arrived and they agreed with the referee’s decision.”

Manager Martin Foyle was also in agreement with the verdict: “The referee was 100 per cent right to call it off,” he said. “The rain settled on the pitch. We couldn’t have called it off any earlier.”