Full-Time: Essex & Suffolk Border League – Pitches

We are all aware of the exceptionally dry conditions we have experienced this summer, despite a few drops of rain in the past couple of days!

Essex FA have a webinar on 24th which you can find details of here https://www.essexfa.com/news/2026/aug/13/grass-pitch-revival-webinar 

I suggest someone from your club attends where appropriate. You can also find other guidance/advice as well such as https://www.teamgrassroots.co.uk/fa-guidance-grass-pitch-usage-during-drought/

The season for the Premier, Division One and Two started earlier in August and all planned games have been played.

However, we have already heard that the Colchester Council pitches at Shrub End and Mile End will not be opening until at least 19 September. There are just 3 games each week arranged and these will be rearranged.

I am writing so that you can alert me if your pitch provider is not able to hire pitches so that we can review the fixtures schedule and make changes where possible.

I do NOT want to know about possibility and speculation, I just need to know where the provider has decided on a delay or change. Please forward me their email.

Of course I don’t need to know about Shrub End or Mile End unless there is an update.

The potential knock on effect of this is that we will have to be more flexible.

We will consider reversing fixtures; ordinarily we prefer teams not to have too many consecutive home games but under the circumstances this may be unavoidable. Also we may need to be flexible on kick off times to allow 2 games on pitches which are fit or 3G pitches. We may also need to consider using alternative pitches.

We just need to try and work together on getting the fixtures arranged and played and anything clubs can do to help with would be great – including rain dances at least once a day!!

Many thanks for your support and cooperation.

3G pitch link:

https://footballfoundation.org.uk/3g-pitch-register?countyFa=Essex