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English Premier League
19th December 2010 9:30:00 PM IST
Chelsea VS Manchester United

Sunday, December 5, 2010

Saturday's Premier League Meeting Between Blackpool & Manchester United Postponed Due To Frozen Pitch

The Premier League fixture between Blackpool and Manchester United at Bloomfield Road on Saturday has fallen victim to the extreme weather conditions that have hit the country this week.

There had previously been concern that the fixture was in danger of being postponed when the club revealed they were having trouble thawing out the playing surface after a heavy frost on Thursday night.
Referee Peter Walton inspected the pitch on Friday afternoon and as a result, decided that the surface would not thaw in time for the match and therefore abandoned the game.

The news was originally broken by Manchester United defender Rio Ferdinand.

"Blackpool game tomorrow called off due to the frozen pitch, so gutted tweeps," read the player's post on twitter.

Just minutes later, the announcment was made official with a statement on Blackpool's website.

"Following ongoing discussions between the Premier League, Match Officials and Mancester United it was agreed match referee Peter Walton would inspect the Bloomfield Road playing surface on Friday afternoon," read the statement.

"Mr Walton expressed concern that the severely affected areas of the playing surface would not thaw sufficiently for the game to be completed."

Groundsmen at the newly promoted Premier League club have been working all week to ensure that the game would go ahead, but it appears the weather won the day.

Despite using frost protection covers since the last game on the surface over a week ago and the use of large hot air blowers throughout the night in order to defrost the problematic areas, temperatures of -8C have resulted in the postponement of the game.