Bucks get the frost covers out ahead of Guiseley clash

AFC Telford United are laying out the frost covers in an effort to beat the weather ahead of their crunch clash with Guiseley on Saturday.

The Bucks are bidding to break their own Blue Square Bet North attendance record for the eagerly-anticipated fixture with the high-flying Yorkshire club.

They are staging a 'Turn The Stadium Blue Day' in tribute to long-standing sponsors Capgemini and have dished out around 1,500 free tickets to schools in the Borough.

Club officials are now determined to make sure the big day is not ruined by freezing conditions and have taken immediate steps to protect the New Bucks Head playing surface.

"We've got three more nights of frost from tonight according to the Met Office, with Friday night being the most severe," said chairman Lee Carter.

"We'll take it on a day-by-day basis and we are putting covers down as a contingency. The key area is just in front of the Frank Nagington Stand as the sun doesn't rise high enough to thaw it out there.

"We are confident the game will go ahead and this is entirely precautionary," added Carter.

"It's forecast to go down to minus-four and, with frost covers, that shouldn't be a major problem for us."

Telford have already lost one fixture scheduled to take place at their ground this season - the Wolves reserves clash earlier in the month being called off due to a waterlogged pitch.

That was a big blow to the Bucks, who had hoped to cash in on an expected 2,000 crowd that night.

But the game will still go ahead in Shropshire, having been re-scheduled for Monday, January 31 (7pm).

• Supporters wishing to help with putting covers on the pitch and gritting the site over the next few days are asked to call the club office on 01952-640064 or email office@telfordutd.co.uk

By CHRIS HUDSON