Ground staff salute after postponement fears fade

ATMOSPHERE . . . Chris Hamilton.

CHAIRMAN Chris Hamilton praised the work of Stalybridge Celtic FC groundsman Pete Owens after Oldham’s Championship bow on Sunday.

The fixture went ahead without a pitch inspection despite heavy rain on Friday night and throughout Saturday.

The host club’s footballers weren’t so fortunate as their game against North Ferriby United exactly 24 hours before the Roughyeds’ big kick-off was postponed.

Hamilton said: “You think of how the weather was on Saturday, and you look at the pitch for our game, it’s a credit to Pete Owens and to Stalybridge Celtic.

“We were in constant touch with the club, and the way the forecast panned out, there was going to be a window of dry weather. It dried up overnight and there was no rain on match day.”

Bower Fold got the thumbs up from Oldham fans, who switched ends at half-time to cheer on their side from behind the posts.

Hamilton is certain the atmosphere will be cranked up when the likes of Bradford Bulls and Halifax roll up.

“It’s a cracking facility,” added Hamilton. “With covered ends, it’s made a difference in the singing and the amount of noise the fans make.

“Obviously, there weren’t many away spectators for the Broncos game, but when the bigger clubs come down, it’s going to an absolutely fantastic atmosphere.”