It's game on for Market Drayton Town
Market Drayton Town's band of pensioner groundsmen are in overdrive trying to repair their Greenfields pitch for the visit of Stocksbridge Park Steels.
Jokingly nicknamed 'Dad's Army' by a former club chairman, the volunteers' work and a favourable weather forecast make it increasingly likely the game will be on.
But amid the inevitable anger of the crisis, club officials are stressing that the vandalism of their pitch will not deflect their pursuit of a new youth policy and stronger links with the community
Last close season, Town officials announced they would be going to greater lengths to open the club and its facilities to local youngsters.
They backed this policy by launching a new under-18s team in the Midlands Floodlit League and fostering a closer working relationship with Tigers, the town's club for junior teams.
And now, despite seeing their hard work turned into a quagmire, Town are keen to stress this remains their priority.
The mindless actions of some youngsters means enhanced security is inevitable – especially as the same thing happened after a spell of heavy rain last season.
CCTV cameras, tighter control of locked gates and increased patrols are all under consideration to counter any further threats.
And manager Martyn Davies has provided very timely proof of the club's determination to press ahead with supporting youth.
He has struck deals with two neighbouring lower-league clubs – The Tigers and Child Ercall – to help further the ambitions of two well-known local players.
He's signed up Mike MacKintosh, the captain and driving midfielder who had led Tigers to the top of the Stafforshire League's adult First Division, after promotion from the second last season.
And he's agreed a loan deal with Childs Ercall, enabling defender Nigel Wellings to gain game time with them.
Wellings joined Town from the village club as one of Davies' first signings, helping the club through a successful relegation battle, but injuries have limited his Evo-Stik League South chances this season.
Davies said: "It's his idea to get game time with his former club so we hope it will be win-win for everyone. MacKintosh has had several training sessions with us and really impressed."
