The weather had imposed a very continental full on mid winter break on the majority of the Shakers faithful, and had caused me to reflect on would this be a sensible move going forward, especially in the lower leagues. Of course there are many pros and cons but this season has thrown up in stark reality how the weather can impact on a club, causing damage to revenue streams and imposing unforeseen costs - from policing and away travel, to sponsors, catering and programmes.
The British weather is inconsistent, but a mid winter break in England from 3rd Round FA Cup day on January's first Saturday through to the 4th Round on it's last weekend could be a sensible window The opportunity to plan budgets knowing where their expenditure would be in the most unpredictable of months would surely be a welcome benefit? Opponents suggest that the break disrupts form and slams the brakes onto much needed momentum, the clubs in continental Europe who have had a scheduled break for years view their season in two distinct parts - the Germans even have a name for it, Herbstmeister is the Winter Champion in their leagues, the team top of the league at the onset of the winter break, and are able to plan for it. As a Shakers fan I think the opportunity to reverse momentum and catch our collective breaths has been a positive this January.
Another bonus of a winter break would be to allow the wheeling and dealing of the transfer window to go on without it affecting the onfield action. I remember arriving at Lincoln just prior to David Nugent's sale to Preston. The imminent sale was common knowledge and to see him playing, knowing the importance of the transfer money to the Shakers finances, was like watching someone juggle a priceless Ming vase, every tackle and challenge was a heart stopper.
Mid winter training is always a problem, especially at Gigg. Lower Gigg and Goshen are often under water or frozen solid, there are only so many favours that can be called in to share facilities in Carrington by one or the other of our money bag big city neighbours, and it can't be pleasant to be rubbing shoulders with the proletariat at Trafford Centre's Soccer Dome. Last season the club were able to hurriedly arrange a warm weather training camp and match in Gibraltar with our scheduled opponents still in the FA Cup, a planned midwinter break would allow such plans to be made and budgetted for at the start of the year.
The transfer merry go round has been much more active at Gigg Lane this year than in many previous seasons. It was like the start of the season again on Saturday as we got used to a redesigned defense, and returning favourites settling back in. Obviously some of the Shakers hand was forced by the transfer embargo but even the away games played in January featured markedly different personnel to Saturdays side. The loanees and signed on trialists gelled immediately and produced a superb battling win, surely a midwinter lay off would have given a more comfortable trial window and allow the manager to make a decision without the pressing need to select a side for Saturday hanging over him.
The traditionalist in me loves the cold deep winter matches, but the risk factor of setting off to those away games (especially in a national 3rd division, but that's another discussion) when the almost certain outcome is that you'll get a call at 11am saying it's off is surely too much for cash strapped fans, for whom no one gets a refund from the hosting club. I remember several trips to Walsall in the 90's when games were called off late, and on one famous occasion was called off on the radio incorrectly, and then reinstated, but not before many Shakers had turned around and were heading home.
There are as many arguments against the Mid Winter break as there are for it. However events at Gigg Lane this January suggest that the lower down the divisions you look, there are less reasons why a January 3 week shut down might not be the way forward.
