King's Lynn Town FC Under Investigation for Alleged Pitch Flooding
National League North club King's Lynn Town are currently under formal investigation by the National League following serious allegations that the club intentionally flooded their own home pitch to force a postponement of a crucial fixture. The match in question, scheduled for February 14th against South Shields, was called off due to a waterlogged pitch at The Walks stadium in Norfolk.
CCTV Footage Sparks Formal Inquiry
According to reports from The Times, the investigation was triggered by anonymous sharing of CCTV footage that allegedly shows sprinklers being activated on the pitch. This activity reportedly occurred on the day before the scheduled match, a period when the area had already experienced significant heavy rainfall. The time stamps on the footage are said to align with hours just prior to the referee's remote pitch inspection, which ultimately led to the game's cancellation.
The National League has confirmed it is actively investigating the matter and has formally contacted King's Lynn Town to request access to the full video evidence. A league spokesperson stated, "The National League are aware of the allegations and are conducting an investigation into it." The club, which sits 19th in the National League North and is embroiled in a relegation battle, had cited injuries and illness within the squad in the build-up to the South Shields game.
Reactions and Rearranged Fixture
South Shields chairman Geoff Thompson commented to the BBC, acknowledging the investigation and the evidence presented. "We are aware the matter is being investigated by the National League. We've also seen the evidence of the sprinkler system being on for a very considerable time in advance of the referee pitch inspection," he said. The pitch inspection was conducted remotely via telephone with the match referee, hosted by the King's Lynn Town groundsman.
King's Lynn Town's only public statement since the postponement has been to confirm the rearranged date for the fixture. The club announced, "We can confirm that our previously postponed home fixture against South Shields has been rescheduled to Tuesday 17th March with a 7:45pm kick-off." This midweek rearrangement necessitates a lengthy travel for South Shields, who must journey from the North-East to Norfolk for the rescheduled encounter.
The allegations, if proven, could lead to significant disciplinary action from the league, casting a shadow over the integrity of the competition and the club's conduct during a tense period in the season.
