Is it time to play summer football?

Some of the local leagues have seen complete programmes of fixtures totally wiped out during the last couple of months due to either frozen or waterlogged pitches.

And following the cold snap and torrential rain that has fallen across Hampshire, league officials are now facing up to the prospect of having to squeeze in midweek games and double headers later in the season.

A number of leagues are in the process of applying to get their seasons extended while one league has even taken the controversial step of putting their cup competitions on hold until their league season is completed.

City of Southampton Sunday League results and fixtures secretary Mick Carter is desperately trying to think of ways of reducing the fixtures backlog. He said: “We had about three or four weeks of rain and then the frost. Since that went we have had three more weeks of rain so we are about eight or nine weeks off where we should be.

“We are averaging about two games being played every weekend.

“The big problem we have got is the cups.

“They take precedence so if those games are off then games the following week have to be moved back.

“We will have to put in midweek games towards the end of the season.

“Some clubs like it, but others are not very happy. Unfortunately it’s something we have to do.

“We won’t be doing the double headers, though.

“They are a farce and are only really an advantage to teams with big squads.

“We like to finish on the last week of April.

“But even if we played evening games every Tuesday and Thursday from when the clocks go back, we still wouldn’t get them in.

“So we have tried to get an extension to the season.”

Greg Dickson, assistant and fixtures secretary for the Southampton and District Sunday League, has to find games for some teams who have not played for nearly two months.

“In total we should have 466 matches by last weekend, but we have actually played only 275,” he said.

“Of the 191 games not played, which is close to half of our fixtures, 181 have been postponed due to the weather.

“We (both Sunday leagues) have spoken to the city council and asked them to keep places like the Sports Centre, which don’t affect the cricket, open.

“One of our teams hasn’t played since November 30 and three of our teams haven’t played since December 7.

“Mid-week games will go ahead as soon as possible and I’ve spoken to some clubs about playing double headers.

“Some people don’t like playing them but the games are 30 minutes each way so it is just like playing a cup tie with extra time.”

Rod Sutherland, secretary of the Drew Smith Saturday League has also struggled with postponements, particularly since the turn of the year.

He said: “Before Christmas we had been going well but we’re looking at playing midweek games and will soon be asking Hampshire FA if we can do double headers.

“The teams hate them and we don’t like them, but it’s just one of those things that we may have to do. It is difficult with the cup competitions.

“The Hampshire Cup takes precedence over the Southampton FA Cups and the SFA cups take precedence over the league game, so every week we are having to put fixtures back.

“It’s a lot of extra work for us for no games being played.

“The teams have been very good and some have made an extra effort to get games played, which really helps, but it’s not always possible and we don’t want people being silly.

“If it’s frosty we don’t want people going out there and breaking legs.”

Dan Wilson, Tyro League competitions secretary, is anxious that the safety of younger players is not compromised in the quest to get games played.

“Several clubs have suggested playing midweek fixtures and then on Saturdays and Sundays in one week. But as a Youth League, our main priority is the safety of the young children and we can’t subject them to too much football in a short space of time.

“We are currently in discussion with various authorities to help clubs (get their fixtures played) in the remainder of the season.”

Jim Pearson, chairman of the Eastleigh and District Mini-League, has had to delay cup ties to ensure the league programme is not put even further behind schedule.

“Our under 9’s have not played a full set of fixtures since the last weekend before Christmas.

“We have taken the decision to put our cup competitions on hold which is a bit controversial but we’ve really got to get the league games played as they’re the priority.

“Once we’ve got the league games done we can concentrate on the cups. That might be over a couple of weekends or by using midweek games.

“But we can’t get to the end of the season and not have league games played. That’s a nonsense.

“Fleming Park have extended our season until May 3 and they might be able to extend it even further.

“The pitch providers have been very co-operative in helping us try and fulfil the fixtures.”