A roof has been blown off one non-league club’s main stand and into vehicles as Storm Eunice postpones weekend’s matches.
Police have had to cordon off Nyetimber Lane in Pagham with the structure appearing to have blown over the ground’s fence and crashed into a parked van and car.
It comes as millions of UK citizens have been told to stay at home as one of the worst storms in decades, Storm Eunice, causes havoc.
UK TODAY 🇬🇧 #viral #uk #crazy pic.twitter.com/tbNoyTVSn9
— LV (@lv_x29) February 18, 2022
Stay inside football peeps, its dangerous out there. Credit to @toppstiles their adhesive is made of strong stuff. pic.twitter.com/xrsnlwnogj
— Barton Rovers FC (@bartonroversfc) February 18, 2022
Rare red weather warnings have been issued – meaning there is a danger to life with flying debris and trees falling due to the gusty winds.
The Met Office have mainly issued red areas to much of southern and eastern England, and south Wales.
High winds have led to power cuts, flights cancelled, hundreds of schools shut, and a number of major bridges around the country closed.
- Hundreds of school closures in much of Wales and affected areas of England, including in Cornwall, Devon, Somerset, Wiltshire, Hampshire, Dorset and Bristol
- The closure of the two Severn bridges between England and Wales, the Britannia Bridge between Anglesey and mainland Wales, the A14 Orwell Bridge in Suffolk, and the QEII Bridge in Dartford
- The Humber Bridge, near Hull, has also had to close for only the fourth time in 40 years
- More than 200 delays or cancellations of flights into Heathrow and Gatwick
- Train cancellations and speed limits imposed on much of the network
- Fallen trees blocking multiple train lines and roads
The first EFL and National League matches to be called of was Saturday’s League Two game between Exeter City and Barrow while Dover’s trip to Halifax.
Exeter called off their home game with Barrow because of safety concerns over part of their St James Park ground.
The Grecians said there was no opportunity to check for damage caused by the persistent high winds.
Halifax against Dover was postponed because of a waterlogged pitch.
Exeter said the decision to call the game off more than 24 hours in advance of kick-off was because of “concerns over the integrity of the Big Bank structure”.
“We will always take everyone’s safety seriously, and therefore while this is a difficult decision, we do not have a sufficient window of opportunity to inspect the high level structure to confirm if any lasting damage has been done by the persistent high winds,” read a statement on the club website.
“We have tried to ensure that this decision has been made early for everyone’s benefit including Barrow who would be traveling down today.
“All options to inspect the necessary connections at high level of the Big Bank are not possible during high winds, which are expected to continue until the scheduled kick-off tomorrow.”
Halifax’s game with Dover was postponed following a pitch inspection at The Shay on Friday morning. The game will now be played on the 12th of March.
It comes three days after Dover’s rearranged home game against Notts County was also called off, having initially been postponed in January.
AFC Bournemouth’s game against Nottingham Forest on Friday night has been postponed.
Forest are said to be furious after traveling down on Thursday night, and wanted a decision by no earlier than the following morning.
Bournemouth said: “Structural engineers have carried out an inspection of the stadium and have confirmed that the damage could pose a significant risk to supporters’ safety.
“The ongoing impact of the storm means the damage cannot be repaired in time either to fulfill the fixture on Friday, or at a re-arranged time on Saturday.
“The postponement was recommended by the club’s Safety Advisory Group. “
Bournemouth v Forest OFF. #nffc understood to be furious after traveling down last night – pressed for decision by this morning at the latest but postponement only just confirmed. Forest willing to play Sat morning but Bournemouth declined the offer
— John Percy (@JPercyTelegraph) February 18, 2022
POSTPONED MATCHES (updated from the top)
Norwich United v Fakenham Town
Woodford Town v White Ensign
Felixstowe & Walton United v AFC Sudbury
Ruthin Town v Buckley Town
Penydarren BGC v West End
Launceston v Dobswall
Bournemouth AFC v Nottingham Forest
Seaton Delaval v Cullercoats
Plymouth Parkway v Evesham United
Wroxham v Swaffham Town
Prestwich Heys v Litherland REMYCA
Thetford Town v Gorleston
Potter’s Bar Town v Horsham
Basford United v Warrington Town
Wadebridge v Penryn
St Dennis v Falmouth
Honiton v Newton Abbot
Exeter City v Barrow
Halifax Town FC v Dover Athletic
Maldon & Tiptree v Aveley
Felixstowe & Walton United v AFC Sudbury
Market Drayton Town v Kidsgrove Athletic
Belper United v Hinckley AFC
Newquay v St Austell
Hayling United v Colden Common
Quite a few ‘early doors’ pitch inspections in the various Northern Premier League divisions are already scheduled, including…
Ashton United v Atherton Colls (10.00 am);
Lancaster City v South Shields (9.00am);
Bridlington Town v Brighouse Town (9.30 am);
Pontefract Colls v Worksop Town (9.00 am);
Sheffield v Yorkshire Amateur (10.00 am);
Tadcaster Albion v Stocksbridge PS (9.30am);
Cambridge City v Sutton Coldfield Town (10.30 am)
Chasetown v Stamford (9.15 am);
Loughborough v Wisbech Town (10.30am);
Shepshed v Yaxley (10.00 am);
Ramsbottom United v Workington (8.30 am)
In the latest travel disruption due to Storm Eunice this afternoon, Network Rail has confirmed that no more trains will arrive or depart from London Euston on Friday.
A statement said: “All lines are suspended affecting services between Euston and Milton Keynes until further notice.
“The message to passengers is ‘DO NOT TRAVEL’ today as the railway network is being battered by gale force winds.
“Rapid response teams are clearing fallen trees and debris which are blocking lines in multiple locations on the West Coast main line.”
Earlier, Network Rail told the BBC it was likely all train services would be canceled at London’s main stations as the worst of Storm Eunice passes through the capital.
‘A tree has fallen and crushed my car so I won’t be able to make it to training tonight.’#NonLeague Gaffers : Hahaha Good one, see you tonight #StormEunice pic.twitter.com/QZ3nekccne
— JORDS (@longest90) February 18, 2022
