On 29th March Frome Collegians management committee regrettably decided to withdraw the Adult First Team from the Premier Division of the Somerset County Football League.
Club Chairman Mike Buckley explained, “The bad weather throughout the winter resulted in many home and away games being postponed, having completed only 16 fixtures in seven months, the resultant fixture backlog left us with an impossible task of playing 18 games in the remaining six weeks of the season, many of them evening games throughout the County.
“Many of our players work shifts or are self employed, and it was clear we would have been unable to raise a team for five crucial evening away matches with 6.30pm kick offs. The Somerset County Football League have been very supportive and sympathetic to our situation throughout this very difficult time for our club.”
In 2009 Frome Collegians built a new pitch on the Old Showfield in Frome, and have steadily improved the quality of the playing surface each season. However this winter has been very wet and mild, the grass never stopped growing, and the Club were only able to play one home match in five months.
Two specific areas of the ground have become waterlogged and the Somerset FA arranged for a professional survey to establish the cause, and remedial work will be carried out in the summer to ensure the problem is rectified.
In the meantime Frome Collegians Reserves will continue to play in the Premier Division of the Mid Somerset League, and complete their season on 7th May. The Club plan to have a meeting with all current players to discuss the options available for them next season.
Frome Collegians Youth players are not affected by this situation and will continue to train and play matches as scheduled.
