Rotherham United have had their pre-season programme disrupted because South Yorkshire Police do not have enough staff to cover the game.
The Millers should have entertained Grimsby Town on Friday, 20th July which would have been the Mariners first trip to the New York Stadium.
We were told almost a month ago that, unless things changed, the South Yorkshire Police won’t be able to maintain policing at an acceptable manner after they spent £1.3 million policing local football games last season – and our friendly with Grimsby seems to be the first game to have fallen to this. There were even suggestions that they could stop away fans from coming to the grounds in South Yorkshire.
Cancelling this game means the Millers only have one home game before the season begins, which is Cardiff City. So what will happen on that Friday night now? I would imagine all other teams have got their pre-season games sorted out. Maybe we could play Grimsby at their home ground of Blundell Park? Otherwise I think it will be just a blank evening. Unless one of the Tuesday, 17th games could be switched to that Friday?
Pre-Season Friendlies
Saturday 7th July – Parkgate (A) – 1pm
Tuesday 17th July* – Sheffield FC (A) – 7.30pm
Tuesday 17th July* – Stocksbridge Park Steels (A) – 7.30pm
Wednesday 25th July – Cardiff City (H) – 7.45pm
Saturday 28th July – Mansfield Town (A) – 3pm
* Paul Warne will be sending a team to each game with first team members being in both teams
