The Beast from the East has wreaked havoc with Scottish football’s calendar this week but it’s far from the first time that adverse weather conditions have disrupted matches.
It has been a long-running debate within Scottish football for years now. Should we switch to a summer season?
For some, the idea is totally abhorrent. Our national sport is steeped in tradition and to suddenly make such a drastic change would alter it forever.
Can you imagine a Scottish Cup final played on a bitterly cold November day, for instance?
However, for some – and a growing number too – switching to a summer schedule is the logical decision. Our top teams are kicking off their European campaigns at the end of June now anyway and playing in sub-zero conditions on terrible pitches does nothing to attract supporters to games.
We asked Press and Journal sports editor Danny Law and reporters Jamie Durent, Dave Edwards and Andy Skinner for their take on things.
KEEP IT
Dave: “As we shiver under the influence of the Beast from the East with the prospect of another blank Highland League card this Saturday, the perennial argument regarding the merits of a winter shut-down, or perhaps a total shift to ‘summer soccer’, gets an annual airing.
“Now, I’ll nail my colours to the mast right away, as a traditionalist I have always opted for the status quo, having said that, as one of only 394 frozen fans at Balmoor on Tuesday night to watch Peterhead against Clyde, I did start to question my lifelong viewpoint.
“If the Highland League guardians ever did decide to extend the current season into the summer months by taking a three-month winter break, say from November to February inclusive, as the Highland League is now very much part of the pyramid system, the SPFL would have to follow suit.
“And there’s the rub, I don’t think they would, as that would open an even bigger can of worms.
“Mind you, It’s a great topic for discussion, over a pint in the pub, or on a day like today, perhaps a warming mug of hot chocolate, and I think it’s one we will still be chewing over for decades to come!”
Danny: “I have spent many a Saturday afternoon at a freezing football ground but I’m a traditionalist and would be totally opposed to switching the Scottish football calendar.
“The summer break should be for major international tournaments and I wouldn’t want to be watching mid-season league games in June and July.
“It is a complete non-starter for me.
“The argument for the Highland League to move is a stronger one as we seem to get an increasing number of postponements every year.
“But now the league is part of the SPFL pyramid I don’t see how it would be possible to change to summer football.”
CHANGE IT
Jamie: “There needs to at least be a prolonged discussion about changing the Scottish football calendar. This week is an extreme example but plenty of games this season have been played under driving rain, snow or bitterly cold temperatures.
“If we’re wanting to draw supporters back to the game in this country we have to make it more appealing.
“Take Caley Thistle’s Irn-Bru Cup tie against Crusaders for instance. I watched it on TV and even I felt miserable.
“What was an entertaining contest was arguably dulled somewhat by the horrendous conditions it was played in. Move that fixture to a May or June and you’ll likely have a completely different scenario.
“It won’t completely eradicate the problem of call-offs and backlogs but it will minimise disruption.
“A March to November calendar might be more feasible and ensure more games are played in favourable conditions. It should also mean our teams playing in Europe won’t have the short summer breaks required for competing in the early rounds of continental competitions.
“It’s always surprised me the Highland League hasn’t had some sort of winter break before now and I’m sure they’d much prefer having a game played on a Saturday in July than a Wednesday night in January.
“Increased gates mean more valuable income for these clubs.
“Countries like Japan, Russia, Iceland and the US operate summer leagues and still manage to perform reasonably well at international competitions.
“If the appetite is there for change across the board, there are plenty of examples of summer football proving beneficial.”
TRY IT
Andy: “Without committing fully to the idea of summer football, I am certainly in favour of testing the water by virtue of some form of pilot scheme.
“I know it has the potential to cause chaos in the calendar, particularly in the initial phasing-in of any change, but I just feel we are increasingly being left with little choice.
“The summer break we have at present seems to be shortening by the year, which is damaging our clubs’ chances of progressing in European competitions, and the consequent fall in co-efficient only makes it harder.
“The cold weather can strike at any stage over a four-month period each winter, so the break we have now, which I also feel is too short, constitutes little more than pot luck.
“The result of playing too many games outwith the growing season is resulting in pitches being decimated which is seriously affecting the quality of football.
“Look no further than Caley Thistle as an example – under John Robertson they have been trying to play some very attractive stuff, but it has become difficult for them to get games on before they even think about that.
“There have been four postponements at Caledonian Stadium since late November and more could still follow despite the best efforts of the ground staff.
“There are not many Scottish-based players at major tournaments these days, but if a clash with the World Cup and European Championships is an issue then I don’t see the issue with having a short summer break, which could also accommodate a brief holiday opportunity for players and their families.
“If we are going to try and cram games into any period, there should certainly be more emphasis on trying to do it during the warmer months when there is a better chance of attracting good crowds and less competition for televised slots – a combination which would surely drive a more lucrative deal.”
So there you have it. Two in favour of keeping it as it is, one supporting a change and one in favour of trialling a change.
It looks like our top team is as divided as the rest of the nation. What do you think?
Vote in our poll or leave us a comment below.
