Tanner Cup: Bamford count the cup cost

HERE’S looking forward to a sunny Saturday on September 6.

That’s when the Tanner Cup final will be played after it was called off for a second time last weekend.

Players, officials and supporters from Bamford Fieldhouse and Heyside were again beaten by the wet weather after heavy overnight rain left parts of the Hollin Lane ground underwater.

Andy Barton, the Bamford captain, is sick of the situation.

He said: “It has become an absolute joke, but not a very funny one.

“It started raining about 7pm on Saturday and didn’t stop until Sunday morning. The outfield was saturated and we had no chance of playing.

“Fortunately, I cancelled most things after I saw the forecast, otherwise we would have lost even more money.”

After the first postponement, Bamford had to fork out £2,000 for food, the hire of portaloos, a PA system and a bouncy castle even though none of it was used.

The final has now been switched to a Saturday, because that was the first free date available.

Both teams will be hoping to avoid a repeat of events way back in 1951.

The final between Saddleworth and Moorside was never played. Originally scheduled for Uppermill which was rained off, it was then changed to Saddleworth amid much controversy.

The teams were due to meet in a league match before the end of the season and it was decided that it would double up as the final.

However, that idea was scrapped and because the last available date of September 29 was washed out, both teams shared the spoils.