Todmorden Borough are hoping that a problem with Canada Geese occupying their pitch will not cause them anymore problems as they prepare to host Croston Sports in a West Lancashire League Division Two clash on Saturday (3pm).
Borough were forced to postpone their scheduled game against Stone clough because the playing surface was covered in droppings from the birds.
It is not the first time that sports clubs have been affected by this problem with a cricket club in the Bradford area also having to deal with the unwelcome addition.
“We have had problems with a few geese before but not on this scale,” said Borough spokeman John Gilford.
“There were hundreds of them and they made such a mess of the pitch that we had no choice but to call the game off.
“Hopefully I will be able to mow the grass on Friday which will get rid of the droppings. It is a question then of finding a way to keep the geese off the pitch.”
Borough will be hoping to improve on a difficult start to the campaign.
The last two matches, against TNB and Furness Cavaliers have resulted in defeats, 1-0 and 3-1 respectively, and Gilford admits that the team are lacking firepower.
“They were two close games but we came away with nothing,” said Gilford.
“We are looking very, very weak up front and that isn’t good enough.”
Borough’s lack of firepower was evident in their 1-0 defeat by CNB last Thursday.
A good spell saw Borough do everything but find the net and they were stung by the classic counter-punch when the opposition netted the only goal 10 minutes from time.
Last Saturday’s long trip to Furness Cavaliers saw Borough find the net through a Chris Kay toe-poke but Furness levelled from the kick off with a shot from inside their own half which whistled into the top of the net.
They added a second after 75 minutes then a third as Borough looked to chase the game.