Away Match Day Thread 03/02/2026 - MDT: Sheffield United v Oxford United

[Oldman159]

Maybe they will “invade” Sheffield and capture Wilder then…..

I guess that will depend on whether ‘Chippy’ has reneged on a drug/oil/rare minerals deal made with the Orange Buffoon.

 

[Kernow Yellow]

Just back to Cornwall. That was a looong wasted trip (and stupid money on trains and hotel). I know these things happen but it wasn't even that cold in Sheffield this morning - we were completely shocked when we heard the news. Never for a minute considered that Bramall Lane wouldn't cope with overnight temperatures that were only slightly below freezing. Oh well, the Kelham Island beers were nice last night at least...

 

[uptheus]

Where the "F" did all this compo culture come from?

Games have been called off for many, many years. Its part of the fun.

You either shrug your shoulders and go home or find another game to go to.

Yeah, fully understand it if the weather was a lot colder than it was, plus stands/surrounding streets are icy and there was no undersoil heating etc, but it wasn’t any of these. I mean, what’s the point of having undersoil heating!

This seems a cock-up by Sheffield Utd e.g. potentially not turning the undersoil heating system on to allow enough time to fully thaw the pitch!

There’s no mention in the Sheffield Utd statement re; issue being that the system malfunctioned!!

 

[Beech Road Bokelberg]

Just back to Cornwall. That was a looong wasted trip (and stupid money on trains and hotel). I know these things happen but it wasn't even that cold in Sheffield this morning - we were completely shocked when we heard the news. Never for a minute considered that Bramall Lane wouldn't cope with overnight temperatures that were only slightly below freezing. Oh well, the Kelham Island beers were nice last night at least...

Massive Kudos

 

[derek]

What do smaller stands have to do with it?

Smaller, lower stands = less shadow = more sun on the pitch for longer.

 

[NottsYellow]

Yeah, fully understand it if the weather was a lot colder than it was, plus stands/surrounding streets are icy and there was no undersoil heating etc, but it wasn’t any of these. I mean, what’s the point of having undersoil heating!

This seems a cock-up by Sheffield Utd e.g. potentially not turning the undersoil heating system on to allow enough time to fully thaw the pitch!

There’s no mention in the Sheffield Utd statement re; issue being that the system malfunctioned!!

The weather forecast all week had forecast frost on Friday & Saturday night, so why did they even let it get frozen in the first place?
Surely one would turn the under soil heating on low and keep it just ticking over to prevent it getting frozen then you don't need to thaw it out.
Not only would this ensure the game goes ahead but surely a warm soil helps the grass grow, albeit very slightly, which helps maintain the long term state of the pitch.

 

[Marked Ox]

Smaller, lower stands = less shadow = more sun on the pitch for longer.

Wouldn't have made any difference by 12 at any of the games today whether the stands were smaller or larger.

 

[derek]

Wouldn't have made any difference by 12 at any of the games today whether the stands were smaller or larger.

You asked, I answered. Not going to argue.

 

[PottersRightBoot]

Just back to Cornwall. That was a looong wasted trip (and stupid money on trains and hotel). I know these things happen but it wasn't even that cold in Sheffield this morning - we were completely shocked when we heard the news. Never for a minute considered that Bramall Lane wouldn't cope with overnight temperatures that were only slightly below freezing. Oh well, the Kelham Island beers were nice last night at least...

Sympathies. What a waste of your time .

 

[Marked Ox]

You asked, I answered. Not going to argue.

Aye, just clarifying that it seemed to be given as a reason why games were on elsewhere unlike our game hence my question in the original post.

 

[Kernow Yellow]

Massive Kudos

Thanks but I'm not trying to claim some superhuman effort here at all. I know people who travel great distances to many more games than me - this just happened to be one I really fancied and was prepared to splurge a bit on. It's just an example of how a bit of poor planning by a football club can have significant implications for thousands of fans. There was a Blades fan in our hotel this morning who'd come up from Southampton yesterday so it isn't just away fans either. People travel a lot to watch football and aren't always well considered by those making decisions...

 

[CaptainOx]

Was walking out of Sheffield station just after 10am as the postponement alert came through. Luckily had only travelled from Derby and my Dad from York so not the longest of journeys, but still incredibly irritating. We made a bit of a day of it any way but had numerous Blades fans come over and agree what a shambles it was.

Talking of Derby, when I left home at 8am, there was still plenty of unthawed snow and ice from Friday on the ground. Arrived in Sheffield to see next to nothing. Derby's game was on today, yes a 3pm so more time, but also far more to do to get the game on.

I've got an email ready to go to SUFC with a list of queries around timings and decisions made that I don't expect an answer to but I wanted to highlight their failings today fall far wider than just the frozen pitch.

Temperatures in the area have been below freezing overnight for a few days in a row, this wasn't a sudden unexpected snap of cold weather, the forecast was clear. Sheffield United's own statement says "The referee was then called in at the earliest possible opportunity to assess the playing surface. After he arranged an inspection, he deemed there to be a player safety concern, and opted to call off the fixture at 10am."

So why then were supporters not advised that there was some doubt around the game at the two opportunities above?
Firstly when they decided there was enough risk that they needed to get the referee in and secondly when he arranged a full inspection. I wonder if OUFC were told about the above or whether they found out shortly before us out of the blue as well.

In a world where information is so easy to cascade, someone at Sheffield United decided to stay silent despite knowing the game was at risk.

It's worth noting that their X account has now deleted a "early start at BL" post that was published 47minutes before the postponement announcement.

If anyone wants to use my email as a template for their own complaint to SUFC, then drop me a message. Their own statement gives enough detail to make the majority just shrug and accept it but is carefully worded to avoid specifics or even take any ownership of potential failings.

As fans we really get treated woefully at times and this is yet another example.

 

[Bath Yellow]

Smaller, lower stands = less shadow = more sun on the pitch for longer.

In that case why was there a near wipe out at lower league grounds

 

[Yellows1]

Very frustrating for our fans that made the trip!

In the cold light of day (Pardon the pun) I think this has done us a favour as will give us a bit of extra time to get some injured players back and to also hopefully sort out our new manager and take stock.

Sounds like Sheffield United made a complete balls up of it mind and they should be held accountable….

 

[bazzer9461]

I’d this was the reverse fixture and the ref called of the game with 2 hours notice we would be ckasssed as the three sided tinpot team and the Blades would be up in arms…

 

[West Oxon U’s]

 

[holdsteady]

Yeah you have driven 3 hours on a Sunday morning with your kid, “right little un, games off but I am going to get pissed up then drive us home, don’t tell your mum”.

 

[Shaun Rice]

Yeah, fully understand it if the weather was a lot colder than it was, plus stands/surrounding streets are icy and there was no undersoil heating etc, but it wasn’t any of these. I mean, what’s the point of having undersoil heating!

This seems a cock-up by Sheffield Utd e.g. potentially not turning the undersoil heating system on to allow enough time to fully thaw the pitch!

There’s no mention in the Sheffield Utd statement re; issue being that the system malfunctioned!!

That is the main problem. Perhaps Sheffields system is not working properly, or malfunctioned. There was human error and the system wasn’t switched on in time. It needed to be on days before the frost and snow hit. Either way they knew the game was in doubt. It’s not like the pitch was only frozen the night before the game, by some random freak weather event. It’s really poor from them and feel sorry for the fans already travelling.

 

[Stanford yellow]

Easy for him to say,he was named after the bloody ground

 

[joshua]

Why didn't both clubs say sod sky and move the fixture to 3pm kick off, the pitch would have been ok then and the most important people the supporters would have been happy, would have saved a lot of expense, now the game has to be rearranged which will be a night game and presumably a lot of supporters unable to attend

 

[Wallop]

Why didn't both clubs say sod sky and move the fixture to 3pm kick off, the pitch would have been ok then and the most important people the supporters would have been happy, would have saved a lot of expense, now the game has to be rearranged which will be a night game and presumably a lot of supporters unable to attend

It's just not as simple as that though is it. For example:

- All stadium staff will be employed for certain hours and on this occasion that won't be from 1-6pm - you can't just change that at short notice. Without the required number of staff, you cannot hold the event
- Many fans will have made other arrangements for the period 3-6pm and would criticise the clubs if they changed the times at short notice
- Some OUFC fans will have booked certain trains based on the match finishing around 2pm and would have to travel on those trains so again, you can't just change this at short notice

I could go on but hopefully the point has been made.

 

[Oxymoron]

Also, you have to get the EFL to approve it which would probably take them more than a few hours


But Sheff may be in for a misconduct charge

 

[uptheus]

It's just not as simple as that though is it. For example:

- All stadium staff will be employed for certain hours and on this occasion that won't be from 1-6pm - you can't just change that at short notice. Without the required number of staff, you cannot hold the event
- Many fans will have made other arrangements for the period 3-6pm and would criticise the clubs if they changed the times at short notice
- Some OUFC fans will have booked certain trains based on the match finishing around 2pm and would have to travel on those trains so again, you can't just change this at short notice

I could go on but hopefully the point has been made.

What happens if there is a genuine reason a game gets delayed e.g. medical incident, team coach held up in traffic etc?

 

[Oxymoron]

Seems we're not the only ones with conspiracy theories....

 

[m]

Seems we're not the only ones with conspiracy theories....View attachment 32707

That's a little odd! Is it real?

 

[Peterdev]

Seems we're not the only ones with conspiracy theories....View attachment 32707

That was transferred very late on. I guess many of their supporters would have travelled for many many hours to get to Hull

 

[Peterdev]

It's just not as simple as that though is it. For example:

- All stadium staff will be employed for certain hours and on this occasion that won't be from 1-6pm - you can't just change that at short notice. Without the required number of staff, you cannot hold the event
- Many fans will have made other arrangements for the period 3-6pm and would criticise the clubs if they changed the times at short notice
- Some OUFC fans will have booked certain trains based on the match finishing around 2pm and would have to travel on those trains so again, you can't just change this at short notice

I could go on but hopefully the point has been made.

There’s also police arrangements that can’t be changed that easily. Catering staff etc and less important issues too

 

[ThatSlopesATwelfthMan]

What happens if there is a genuine reason a game gets delayed e.g. medical incident, team coach held up in traffic etc?

There's an hour or so built in for these things but if the delay extends beyond it's abandoned. Faulty floodlights, standing water, travel issues all the same - there are too many people involved on time-capped contracts to do a realtime reschedule

 

[Marked Ox]

There’s also police arrangements that can’t be changed that easily. Catering staff etc and less important issues too

Also, it assumes the Match Officials are still available or alternatives are available.

 

[Berliner]

Also, it assumes the Match Officials are still available or alternatives are available.

Not to mention probable contractual issues with Sky as well...