Ever made the journey to a football game just for it to be cancelled at short notice?
Well, you’re not alone. It’s certainly a frustration many fans know all too well, including those who made the trip to Crawley for Arsenal Women’s recent fixture against Brighton & Hove Albion, which was called off just 90 minutes before kick-off.
On Sunday, Arsenal’s game against Brighton & Hove Albion was cancelled one hour and 30 minutes ahead of kick-off after the pitch failed a referee inspection due to being heavily waterlogged.
The late cancellation sparked understandable frustration among supporters of both clubs. Fans felt that the announcement could — and should — have been made earlier in the day, and they would be correct.
After the announcement, fans local to Crawley shared on social media that the weather had been poor in recent days and that the heavy downpour was not sudden, adding further frustration.
Supporters travelled from near and far, including Scotland, Sussex, Northern Ireland and Cornwall. Matchdays cost more than just a ticket: trains, food, accommodation and time all add up.
By the time 13:00 approached, many supporters were already in town, with some even queuing outside the stadium when the clubs announced that the game had been called off following a failed pitch inspection.
Although fans were left frustrated, that frustration was never directed towards Brighton & Hove Albion or Arsenal, but rather towards the situation itself and the belief that the decision could have been communicated earlier.
I myself am an Arsenal fan and travelled from Cornwall to London to watch the match. I had primarily come up to attend a concert on Saturday; however, I paid extra to attend the game. Like everything in this world, it isn’t cheap.
Travel Round-Up:
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6 hours on Saturday: Cornwall to London
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4 hours on Sunday: Wimbledon to Crawley (2 hours) and Crawley to Camden (2 hours)
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7.5 hours on Monday: Camden to London Paddington (1.5 hours) and London Paddington to Cornwall (6 hours)
Expense Round-Up:
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Accommodation: £70 for the night
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Trains/Tubes: £60 to Crawley and back
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Food: £50 for breakfast, lunch and dinner over two days
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Match tickets: £28 (one child, one adult, including booking fee)
Without including the train tickets to and from London — as I had already planned to be there that weekend — the additional cost of attending the Arsenal away game came to around £200 for two people.
Fans will still be able to attend the rearranged fixture when it is announced, as their tickets remain valid. However, fitting it into the schedule may prove difficult. Arsenal are now two games behind and are still competing in the Adobe Women’s FA Cup and the UEFA Women’s Champions League, alongside their Barclays Women’s Super League campaign, leaving the calendar looking very congested.
Some fans may be unable to attend on the rearranged date, whether due to other commitments or simply being unable to afford another trip. The club will offer refunds on valid ticket purchases, but it’s not always about the money — it doesn’t compensate for the disappointment or the lost time.
While the match never kicked off, through no fault of either side, one Arsenal player still made an impression.
Lotte Wubben-Moy, Arsenal defender and fan favourite, made a thoughtful gesture to thank travelling supporters and apologise for the late cancellation. She posted on Instagram asking fans to send proof of their tickets to be in with a chance of winning her shirt.
As a lifelong Gooner, Wubben-Moy bleeds Arsenal, just like many of the travelling Red and White Army, and she made sure to show her appreciation.
Although she did not have to do this, she chose to — much like her kind gesture back in January 2023, when Arsenal’s fixture against Brighton in Crawley was called off due to a frozen pitch. On that occasion, she reached out to the Arsenal Women’s Supporters Club and also shared on Twitter (now X) that travelling fans could get a pint of cranberry juice and crisps on her.
Although postponements are never something a club wants — as they impact players, fans and the schedule — there are improvements that could be made.
Football will always be dependent on the weather, but for travelling supporters, earlier communication can make all the difference. Still, as long as there are matches to attend, fans will continue making the journey.
I write this while sitting on my six-hour train from London to Plymouth. The things we do for football.
