A biting Arctic freeze has gripped the United Kingdom, causing widespread disruption to the sporting calendar and forcing the postponement of a significant number of football fixtures. The extreme cold has rendered pitches unplayable, leading to 15 matches across the English Football League being called off on Sunday, 4 January 2026.
Championship Clashes Fall Victim to the Cold
Among the highest-profile casualties were fixtures in the Championship. Sheffield United's home game against Oxford United at Bramall Lane was postponed following a pitch inspection. The club confirmed the match referee made the decision based on concerns for player safety on the frozen surface.
Similarly, Portsmouth's League One encounter with Ipswich Town at Fratton Park was called off after an 11am inspection deemed the pitch unfit for play. These postponements represent a major setback for teams and fans alike during a packed festive schedule.
Widespread Disruption Across League One and Two
The disruption extended far beyond the Championship, decimating the fixture list in League One and League Two. In League One, the matches between Doncaster and Luton, Rotherham and Mansfield, and Stevenage against Leyton Orient were all postponed.
The situation in League Two was even more severe, with a host of games falling foul of the weather. The following fixtures were called off:
- Barnet
- Barrow
- Bromley
- Cambridge United
- Colchester United
- Harrogate Town
- Newport County
- Notts County
- Port Vale
- Salford City
- Walsall
Horse Racing Also Abandoned
The impact of the freezing conditions was not confined to football. The National Hunt horse racing fixtures scheduled for Monday at both Ludlow and Lingfield have been abandoned due to the race tracks being frozen solid. This double abandonment underscores the severity of the cold snap affecting outdoor sport across the nation.
The series of postponements highlights the vulnerability of the winter sporting schedule to extreme weather events. Clubs and authorities are now faced with the logistical challenge of rearranging these matches, while fans are left disappointed. All eyes will now be on the weather forecast and ground staff as they work to get pitches playable for the next round of fixtures.
