07-02-2024, 17:27
magine flying 8,000 miles to see your beloved team in action only for the game to be abandoned because of heavy rainfall after only nine minutes.
That nightmare was a reality for Bolton fan Andy Bebbington, who made the trip from China for Tuesday's ill-fated away fixture at Cambridge United.
With an extended two-week break for Chinese New Year, it should have been a return visit to remember, with Wanderers riding high in League One and pressing for promotion.
But play was stopped with the score 0-0, referee David Rock taking the players off the pitch and after a delay of 16 minutes, it was announced the game was off altogether.
"I looked at the fixture list and this game popped up. I thought Cambridge in February, what can go wrong?" he told BBC Radio Manchester.
"It turns out everything can go wrong. It was just my luck but worse things can happen."
Despite the wet weather, Bebbington's spirits were not dampened by the experience, however.
He added: "Luckily we stopped over for the night so we found a little pub.
"If I said we drowned our sorrows then that would be a bit of an understatement."
'Let's just get the game on'
Tuesday's abandonment caused a headache for Bolton boss Ian Evatt, whose side have had a number of postponements this season during the winter period.
They have played three games less than leaders Portsmouth, who they trail by five points, and two less than second-placed Derby County, who are one point better off.
It means Bolton will have a packed weekend and midweek schedule leading into the tail end of the season in their pursuit of promotion to the Championship.
"It's not ideal. We've got one Tuesday free up until the end of the season so that's that gone," Evatt told BBC Radio Manchester.
"I think we've both [Cambridge and Bolton] got a free Tuesday two weeks from now; let's just get it on as soon as we can.
"This happens in football and anything you gain in life, as in football, you have to earn the hard way, it's as simple as that.
"We're focused on the job and we're looking forward to getting it done."
That nightmare was a reality for Bolton fan Andy Bebbington, who made the trip from China for Tuesday's ill-fated away fixture at Cambridge United.
With an extended two-week break for Chinese New Year, it should have been a return visit to remember, with Wanderers riding high in League One and pressing for promotion.
But play was stopped with the score 0-0, referee David Rock taking the players off the pitch and after a delay of 16 minutes, it was announced the game was off altogether.
"I looked at the fixture list and this game popped up. I thought Cambridge in February, what can go wrong?" he told BBC Radio Manchester.
"It turns out everything can go wrong. It was just my luck but worse things can happen."
Despite the wet weather, Bebbington's spirits were not dampened by the experience, however.
He added: "Luckily we stopped over for the night so we found a little pub.
"If I said we drowned our sorrows then that would be a bit of an understatement."
'Let's just get the game on'
Tuesday's abandonment caused a headache for Bolton boss Ian Evatt, whose side have had a number of postponements this season during the winter period.
They have played three games less than leaders Portsmouth, who they trail by five points, and two less than second-placed Derby County, who are one point better off.
It means Bolton will have a packed weekend and midweek schedule leading into the tail end of the season in their pursuit of promotion to the Championship.
"It's not ideal. We've got one Tuesday free up until the end of the season so that's that gone," Evatt told BBC Radio Manchester.
"I think we've both [Cambridge and Bolton] got a free Tuesday two weeks from now; let's just get it on as soon as we can.
"This happens in football and anything you gain in life, as in football, you have to earn the hard way, it's as simple as that.
"We're focused on the job and we're looking forward to getting it done."
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