Wet winter leads to 'extremely frustrating' grassroots football season

Relentless rainfall over recent months has had a major impact on grassroots sports, especially football. Saturated ground, flooding and waterlogged pitches has led to an "extremely frustrating" season. Some grassroots and youth football clubs in southern England have been unable to play any fixtures so far in 2026. It is a similar situation in Wales where 30% of games have been postponed. The Football Association of Wales, recognising the problem, has just begun a pilot project this spring to find a solution. "Game off" is a familiar text for many over the last few months after pitch inspections deem it unsafe to play football. Football is particularly sensitive to changes in playing surface condition, with the Football Foundation saying that any surface water makes it unfit for play. Goudhurst Dynamos Football Club in Kent - a small, grassroots village club – has been particularly badly affected. Club chairman Phil Kirkby said: "What should be the busiest and most exciting stretch of the grassroots season has instead turned into a string of cancellations." He described how extended breaks in training and matches can be "detrimental to cardiovascular fitness and match readiness, ma