AFC Wimbledon pitch damage means Carabao Cup tie switched to Newcastle

2 days ago

AFC Wimbledon’s Carabao Cup match against Newcastle will take place at St James' Park due to flooding that has damaged the pitch at the League Two team's stadium.

Images taken at the Cherry Red Records Stadium in southwest London on Monday revealed a landscape that resembled a large sand trap rather than a football field, following heavy rainfall in the area overnight.

The game that was supposed to take place there on Tuesday night has been rescheduled and moved. The EFL announced that the severe flooding made it necessary to hold the match nearly 300 miles away in Newcastle on Tuesday, October 1.

The EFL stated, "After both teams came to an agreement and received approval from the competition's management committee, the match will now take place at the opposite venue."

Wimbledon understands that moving the event will upset their fans. They stated, “We’ll provide details about ticket options as soon as we can, including how refunds will work for the original match, and we are in talks with local travel companies to arrange coach services for fans who want to attend.” They acknowledged that this will be quite challenging for those looking to cheer on the Dons at this highly anticipated game.

The Met Office forecasted that certain areas in England could experience rainfall equivalent to an entire month's worth in just one day, following the recent warm spell. Pictures from the Cherry Red Records Stadium reveal a section of the pitch that is especially affected, featuring an uneven surface and waterlogged pathways surrounding the venue.

The delay means that Wimbledon’s League Two match against Crewe Alexandra, which was supposed to take place on October 1, will need to be moved to a different date. Wimbledon indicated that they will provide further information about the home game against Accrington that was set for Saturday.

Wimbledon secured victory over another fourth-tier team, Bromley, as well as Premier League side Ipswich, to advance to the third round of the Carabao Cup.