Town’s live-on-Sky game at Rotherham United this evening has been postponed on the grounds of supporter safety after the River Don burst its banks.

A statement from the Millers reads: “Rotherham United’s Sky Bet Championship fixture against Ipswich Town has been postponed on the grounds of supporter safety following discussions with representatives from the Safety Advisory Group and the EFL which took place shortly after 4:30pm on Friday.

“After the River Don – which courses around the perimeter of AESSEAL New York Stadium - burst its banks, urgent discussions between representatives from the Safety Advisory Group/Rotherham Metropolitan Borough Council, South Yorkshire Police and club safety personnel and the EFL – were held with the conclusion deeming the weather conditions and their subsequent effect on the surrounding area a danger to supporters.

“This coupled with continued rainfall resulting in the flood waters rising and Don Street being closed to the public left the authorities with no choice but to postpone the game.

“Throughout the day the pitch at AESSEAL New York Stadium has remained playable but with the safety of everyone attending the match at the height of our priorities, the difficult decision to postpone the fixture has been taken.

“The decision was relayed to the EFL and our counterparts at Ipswich Town with all parties in agreement that postponing the fixture was the only possible way to ensure the safety of players, staff and supporters.

“It goes without saying that we are obviously disappointed for supporters due to attend and those set to watch at home given the game was being broadcast live on Sky Sports.”

The heavy rain had caused havoc for Town fans travelling to the game with public transport virtually non-existent.

In addition, supporters coaches bound for South Yorkshire were unable to get to Portman Road leaving hundreds of fans who planned to travel back in Suffolk, fortuitously as it ended up given the decision to call the match off.

Details regarding a new date for the fixture and refunds will be released in due course.

Town are next in action against Bristol City at Ashton Gate next Wednesday evening.

Photo: Action Images

fifeblue added 17:50 - Oct 20 Precautionary!
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Saxonblue74 added 17:51 - Oct 20 Fans should be allowed to decide whether they're prepared to travel/attend rather than the typical nanny state situation. If the pitch is playable the game should go ahead, although I suspect the club are not being 100% honest and passing the blame onto others after their "no concerns" statement earlier.
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ronnyd added 17:53 - Oct 20 Even more proof, if any was needed, that fans are way down the list when it comes to decisions being made.
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terryf added 17:53 - Oct 20 Judging what has been happening in our County let alone in South Yorkshire anyone with half a brain would realise that this conclusion was inevitable. Some of the scenes today have been unprecedented and in Rotherham the station was closed but it still took until the river Don breached it's banks before they called it off. Feel sorry for all our supporters who have had a wasted and dangerous journey. Shame on the powers that be....what a bloody shambles!!!

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martin587 added 18:08 - Oct 20 Forty five minutes away from Rotherham and they decide to call the game off.This is NOT the first time this club has done this.many thousands of us have made the effort to get here in terrible conditions.I would think a full refund is required and traveling expenses for us road travelers. I’m not very happy with this ridiculous outcome as are many others.Get your house in order Rotherham.!

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December1963 added 18:10 - Oct 20 Note to EFL and Sky. The dog wags the tail not the tail wags the dog. Was going tonight with 3 friends but called off at lunchtime, safe journey home for all who traveled.
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Gilesy added 18:12 - Oct 20 I’m pretty certain Rotherham will have waited to be forced into a cancellation by the authorities rather than make the decision themselves, to avoid penalty by Sky. I could be wrong but this is the world we live in. Go easy on them!!
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nowinecrisis added 18:18 - Oct 20 Bluelodgeblue I’m here in Rotherham the local area is certainly not flooded, one localised area (which can be avoided) is and one road, generally the town is very wet but otherwise ok, its not all flooded. It was much worse travelling up the A1 around the Grantham area. Just saying to highlight to all that think everywhere is flooded here, it isn’t. What is bad is the appalling way its been communicated and late decision on the match being cancelled.

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cfmoses added 18:19 - Oct 20 Absolute disgrace. Predicted by many. Resisted by the media and RUFC. When will they put the safety of the fans FIRST. Feel so sorry for the thousands of Town fans who now must struggle to get home.
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Kingfisher49 added 18:23 - Oct 20 And Anglia News are still saying it is on over an hour after it was postponed.
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Facefacts added 18:28 - Oct 20 Yorkshiremen trying to hold on to cash saying, not my fault it's been postponed. Should have been postponed early this morning, at the latest. Safe journeys to all supporters making their way home.
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Saxonblue74 added 18:31 - Oct 20 I suppose there is a slim chance that my judgements may be slightly clouded by disappointment! Was so looking forward to the game after 2 long weeks!
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algarvefan added 18:34 - Oct 20 I'm in Portugal and had arranged to introduce my Portuguese friends to Town's football, but at least I hadn't travelled for hours only to have the game called off at the 11th hour. I feel so much for all you people who have travelled only to receive a last minute cancellation, please take every care in your journeys home, the conditions sound awful. Hopefully there will be some kind of kindness shown to supporters for the rearranged fixture. Well done Town for looking after the coach travellers at Portman Road, feeding them whilst things were sorted.

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JimInGreensboro added 19:02 - Oct 20 Water runs through a pitch into a drainage network, which then flows into as wastewater effluence, but eventually that drainage wound have nowhere to go, given the volume of rain and flooding in and around the stadium. Rotherham were disingenuous not to take that into account with their cheery pronouncement about the state of their pitch.
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Texastom added 19:15 - Oct 20 As soon as Rotherham confirmed the game was definitely going ahead you knew it wasn’t. Late call is incompetence, with all the technology should have called it off yesterday. Bottom line is fans considerations aren’t even factored in. Never have been. Reimburse all travel to fans of course.
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Umros added 19:18 - Oct 20 More embarrassing incompetence on show. Anyone with half a brain could foresee this at 9am this morning. Where on earth do we dig these people up from ?
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dirtydingusmagee added 19:22 - Oct 20 to be fair, it was going to be a risky choice to travel, yes earlier postponement should have been announced ,but the conditions nationwide along with all warnings made it clear enough..There are times when individuals have weigh things up for themselves . It is a shame we now have to play the match later season . But thats that.. Personally i have been saying all week that i doubt game would be played .

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Bert added 19:30 - Oct 20 I know a little about contingency planning and I am sure that the local authority, Police and Safety Advisory Group would have known by midday that the river was going to burst its banks in the vicinity of the Stadium. These "experts" would have monitored river levels from yesterday so although Rotherham FC say the pitch was playable, all the experts should have assessed the local situation and made the decision much earlier. Nobody appears to have considered the travel difficulties of Ipswich supporters who could and should have been spared the journey. I hope that the club can sort out a fair way of subsidising their return if they choose to go.

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foreverthebeat added 19:36 - Oct 20 Game should have been called off yesterday everyone knew what was coming Rotherham sky and Galloways who had duty of care for their customers and drivers should all hang their heads in shame can't say more or I might get banned. ITFC Handled well to all traveling supporters.
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Crawfordsboot added 19:38 - Oct 20 I understand the disappointment and frustration from people who set out to travel but to say that anyone with half a brain could see this would happen and to criticise is unfair. If you knew it would happen why try to travel? Understand the frustration but the club, the EFL, Health & Safety, Local Council and police were all party to the decision. I was looking fwd to seeing it on Sky and I’m pretty fed up so can only imagine what those who travelled must feel.

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marinermyhero added 19:43 - Oct 20 Jimgreensboro Read the article properly it's not the pitch it's the surrounding area that's the problem some people lol
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Generic added 20:03 - Oct 20 ffs, now we’ve got to sit and watch other teams overtake us this weekend. Oh, hang on - we’re 8pts clear of 3rd!!!
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Saxonblue74 added 20:05 - Oct 20 Mmh, I think what Jim is saying is there's no way on earth the pitch is playable when those conditions surround the ground. There's nowhere to drain the pitch!
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IpswichT62OldBoy added 20:16 - Oct 20 I couldn't understand why Jimgreensboro had been marked down for stating hydrological realities in plain English. MMH has explained all.
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ThaiBlue added 20:29 - Oct 20 Poor town fans now have a terrible away game on a tuesday night.rotherham should pay 3000 blues there travel.
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