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| Ben Bowen with manager Pete Beadle |
Hereford's groundsman has praised the work of volunteers and is confident the FA Cup replay will go ahead as planned after the pitch was cleared of snow.
Volunteers turned up in their droves yesterday, armed with snow shovels and wheelbarrows, to ensure the snow was off the pitch before it started to melt.
Ben Bowen was speechless when he arrived at Edgar Street, surprised by how many people had turned up to help get the game against Fleetwood on.
Volunteers turned up in their droves yesterday, armed with snow shovels and wheelbarrows, to ensure the snow was off the pitch before it started to melt.
Ben Bowen was speechless when he arrived at Edgar Street, surprised by how many people had turned up to help get the game against Fleetwood on.
"I arrived at 2pm (because we had to try and open up some schools in the morning), but I was overwhelmed by how many were there and how much they'd done, I was speechless.
"Just to see the passion what people has got for this club and to get this game on, I thought then 'here we go we got a massive chance to get this on'.
"When I looked at the pitch Monday, we had 8 inches of snow on pitch, 7500 square foot of snow, we needed a army of people to clear it.
"I’m not sure of how many people helped out but in my eyes they are all heroes."
Bowen also spoke about the importance of volunteers, who also often help put the frost covers on the pitch when needed.
"From us boys who do the pitch, the volunteers are huge part for us. The frost covers are a pain, they are heavy, a ball ache and a hard job.
"You need bodies there to help and when we give the shout out, people turn up help us no questions asked, because they know the sheets are there to get games on.
The volunteers play a huge part in getting these games on and I thank them so much."
Now the snow is off, what's next to ensure the game is on?
"The plan is to verti-drain this morning after we've taken sheets off and then there's a dome going up to protect pitch from the weather.
"That covers the whole pitch - it’s like a big tent and it blows warm air inside, so hopefully that will dry it.
"Then dome will come off first thing tomorrow (Thursday) morning so we can prepare pitch ready for the game, so lots to do still but I’m confident the game will be on.
"From the ground staff to all the volunteers who helped with the snow clearance and who helped with the frost proof sheets thank you all so much for your help."