ALMOST the entire grassroots football programme was wiped out by the big freeze for the second weekend running, with the fixture backlog steadily growing.

Ross Juniors FC men's trip to Woolaston in North Gloucestershire One was off, while Newent Town's first Hellenic League home game of 2025 against top-half Stonehouse was switched from Saturday to Tuesday night (January 14), when they drew 0-0.

For Juniors with 30 teams, already hit by three floods this winter as well as frozen pitches, it's a pressing concern, and the club have called for the town to have a 4G pitch to facilitate matches and training.

Committee member Paul Flitney told BBC Gloucestershire before the recent freeze: "We've had flooding in October, flooding in November, and flooding in December.

"So we're estimating… we've probably lost seven to eight weeks of the season for home fixtures.

"We're having to postpone games, ask opponents if we can play them at their place, or look for expensive facilities in the local area that haven't flooded.

"Over the last few years it's become more and more of a challenge.

"We have a groundsman, who's the only paid person we have… And instead of him working to improve the pitches, it's always repair now."

The town needs its own 4G pitch away from the river, he said, adding: "We're just not playing games, and there doesn't seem to be any immediate solution. It's very disheartening."

Hopefully, matches this Saturday (January 18) will include – Ross Juniors v Westbury, FC Stratford v Newent, Newent Dev v Pershore Dev, Ruardean Hill v Wick, Lydbrook v Berkeley, Blakeney v Ruardean Hill 2nds, Milkwall v Howle Hill, Huntley v Stroud, Broadwell 2nds v Mitcheldean, Longhope v Yorkley, Lydbrook 2nds v Redbrook, Mitcheldean 2nds v Redbrook 2nds, Blockley v Ruardean Utd, Ruardean Hill A v English Bicknor 2nds, Staunton & Corse v Lydbrook A.

Ross Juniors women also host Worcester United Ladies on Sunday (January 19).