Todmorden Borough look set to resume their West Lancashire League programme on Saturday after two home postponements following the invasion by Canada Geese.
Around 150 of the birds took a fancy to John Gilford’s lush Bellholme pitch over the Bank Holiday weekend and left a carpet of droppings.
Last Tuesday’s game at home to Stoneclough was called off and overnight rain last Friday scuppered hopes of facing Croston Sports on Saturday.
Gilford explained: “If the droppings are dry and you mow the pitch, they turn to dust and disappear.
“Unfortunately it was wet on Saturday and I couldn’t get the mower on the field.”
Gilford said league chiefs were sympathetic with the club’s plight as Division One outfit Mill Hill St Peters had been faced with the same problem and had been unable to play a home match this season.
Borough will be hoping the birds have not migrated to the southern Lake District by Saturday because Steve Hook’s side are due to travel to Milnthorpe Corninthians.
Milnthorpe were one of the better sides in Division Two last season but have only two points from their opening six games and are bottom.
Tod are just above them, having beaten Barrow Wanderers 2-0 at home in their opener before losing their other three games.
Gilford said it was disappointing for Borough to fall behind with their fixtures but there was a silver lining in that Chris Kay, James Peavoy and Dean Farry had been given an opportunity to shake off injuries.
Tod also have players with cricket commitments.
Hook’s side have looked short of firepower so far, with all their three goals coming from midfielders, and Borough will hope the likely return of Ben Whitham this weekend eases the problem.
Walsden C & FC lost their opening Rochdale Online Alliance game by 2-0 away to Rochdale Asia last season.
They had only 12 players, with others on cricket duty, and have been given the next two Saturdays off before returning to action.
Woodhouse United were beaten 5-3 away to Talbot Head in their first Rochdale Sunday League game of the season.