West Sussex sport is badly frozen out

The Sussex County League football programme was the first to go, with the league calling off every Saturday game under their jurisdiction on Thursday morning.

Ryman League fixtures were soon to follow and the Rocks’ game at Faversham was called off on Friday, as with a foot of snow on the pitch at the Kent club’s ground, there was no chance of the game going ahead.

The only game in the whole of Division 1 South to survive took place at Ramsgate, who beat Eastbourne Town 3-1.

Luck didn’t improve for Bognor on Tuesday night as their match at home to Ramsgate was postponed owing to a frozen pitch, as was the only other match in the division, Walton & Hersham’s home match against Worthing.

Following the senior football was that of the West Sussex League, parks and Sunday football, along with the juniors and youth games, with Lavant and Pagham’s County Cup clash to be one of the only ones to survive.

The local hockey and rugby was also wiped out, while squash, athletics and golf was hit as well.

Fontwell Park’s racing was also hit by the freeze - despite optimistic hopes from officials, Tuesday’s seven-day race card Christmas party race day meeting would go ahead, it also was frozen out.

At least the forecast looks warmer for this weekend as football and rugby teams, among others, look forward to a return to action.