A non league match between Havant & Waterlooville and Farnham was delayed then postponed after ‘one of the weirdest evenings in football’.
On Wednesday night, the Southern League – Premier South fixture saw a kit clash delay with Havant (home, all white) vs Farnham (green/white).
The referee ruled the clash due to large white panel on Farnham shirts, with kick-off delayed to 8:15pm; and the Farnham kitman making a 30 miles round-trip to fetch the home kit.
Then a pitch tear was discovered at around 7:40pm. This came during the warm-up, with Farnham staff spotted a significant tear in the surface. Havant attempted repair but failed. Farnham insisted the pitch was unsafe (injury risk), so the referee postponed the match.
Farnham claimed Havant knew of tear pre-match and planned repair for next day, and apologised to fans. Havant though called the tear “very small”, said repair was completed and accused Farnham of hypocrisy for training on same area post-cancellation.
Havant & Waterlooville v Farnham Town
Southern League Premier Division South
Match 22
Ground 12
Team 25
K/O delayed, Farnham brought the wrong kit…. pic.twitter.com/zTVGhHwEYJ
— Adrian Corbett (@Adrian_Corbett) October 29, 2025
At 8:06pm, Farnham Town FC tweeted: “GAME OFF 🚫 After all that, the pitch has a large tear in it and the playing surface is deemed unfit to play. We are sorry to all of our travelling fans and the re-arranged date will be announced in due course.
Then at 9:31pm, they added: “As shared on social media this evening, unfortunately tonight’s scheduled Southern League Premier South fixture away at Havant and Waterlooville was postponed after the match officials deemed the pitch to be unsafe for play, due to a significant tear in the playing surface.
“Earlier in the evening, the kick-off for this fixture was delayed until 20:15PM after the referee deemed there to be a clash between the kits. Following this decision, our kitman travelled back to Farnham to retrieve our home kit, which was then in-hand and on-site ahead of the scheduled kick-off.
“At approximately 19:40PM, as the Farnham Town team came out for their warm-up, a tear in the playing surface was noticed by our staff and highlighted to the match officials.
“Following this, Havant officials made attempts to repair the tear in the playings surface, but were unsuccessful in their efforts. After which, following discussions between all parties, the match officials postponed the fixture on the basis that the pitch was unsafe for play.
“It’s our understanding that the tear in the playing surface was known to Havant and Waterlooville ahead of this game and opted to proceed with the fixture, and was already scheduled to be repaired tomorrow.
“At Farnham Town, we conduct ourselves in the interests of player safety, and it was very clear that there was a significant injury risk for both sets of players if the game was to go ahead.
“We’d like to extend our apologies to all of our traveling fans who have returned home disappointed with no game this evening, and any neutrals who wanted to come and watch a great game of football, and details of a revised date will be communicated in due course.
“Information relating to ticket refunds will be communicated by Havant and Waterlooville.”
Forget we ever said anything. https://t.co/34vUZ9xwwH
— Farnham Town FC (@FarnhamTownFC) October 29, 2025
“Kit clash” at @HWFCOfficial delaying kick off 🤦🏼♂️ pic.twitter.com/y5AvTEU68f
— Farnham Town FC (@FarnhamTownFC) October 29, 2025
GAME OFF 🚫
After all that, the pitch has a large tear in it and the playing surface is deemed unfit to play.
We are sorry to all of our travelling fans and the re-arranged date will be announced in due course.
— Farnham Town FC (@FarnhamTownFC) October 29, 2025
🚨 𝗖𝗟𝗨𝗕 𝗦𝗧𝗔𝗧𝗘𝗠𝗘𝗡𝗧 🚨
As shared on social media this evening, unfortunately tonight’s scheduled Southern League Premier South fixture away at Havant and Waterlooville was postponed after the match officials deemed the pitch to be unsafe for play, due to a significant…
— Farnham Town FC (@FarnhamTownFC) October 29, 2025
A bad week for kit clashes… 🤷
Which one would you go for on Saturday away at @Basingstoke_FC? pic.twitter.com/nwPTnQZJQQ
— Farnham Town FC (@FarnhamTownFC) October 30, 2025
At 6:43pm, Havant & Waterlooville tweeted: “📢 𝙆𝙞𝙘𝙠-𝙊𝙛𝙛 𝘿𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝟮𝟬:𝟭𝟱
“We can confirm that Kick-Off for tonight’s game has been delayed until 20:15 due to a clash involving our opponent’s Match Kit.
“Turnstiles will open at 18:45 as normal, look forward to seeing you soon Hawks!”
Then at 9:05pm, they issued a statement: “As most supporters will no doubt be aware, tonight’s Southern League Premier Division South fixture against Farnham Town has been postponed following discussions between the Match Officials and both Clubs.
“As per our earlier announcement, our opponents Farnham Town arrived with their Green and White kit, despite our home colours being all White. In addition to this, it should be noted that both Club Secretaries had been in contact on regular occasions, and that there is clear written communication from our club to state the colours we would be playing in. The Match Referee declared that this was a kit clash as the reverse of the Farnham Town shirt was a large white square where the numbers would be situated.
“A decision was taken to delay kick off to 20:15 in order for Farnham Town to retrieve their kit from their ground. During this delay, members of the Farnham Town management were in discussions with the match officials regarding a very small area of the pitch. A repair was requested and we completed this repair. The Farnham Town management were unhappy with the repair and a meeting took place with the match officials.
“During this meeting, the Farnham Town Manager made it clear that he felt the pitch was not safe to play on, and the referee had no option but to confirm that the game was to be postponed.
“Astonishingly, after this, the Farnham side then prepared to train on the pitch in the same area that they declared was not safe in their opinion.
“A further statement regarding the events of tonight, along with details of ticketing transfers or refunds will be published during the course of tomorrow.
“The club wishes to take this opportunity to apologise to all those in attendance, and thanks those who showed patience during the events of this evening.”
📢 𝙆𝙞𝙘𝙠-𝙊𝙛𝙛 𝘿𝙚𝙡𝙖𝙮𝙚𝙙 𝙩𝙤 𝟮𝟬:𝟭𝟱
We can confirm that Kick-Off for tonight’s game has been delayed until 20:15 due to a clash involving our opponent’s Match Kit.
Turnstiles will open at 18:45 as normal, look forward to seeing you soon Hawks!#HWFC #COYH pic.twitter.com/jjEb3EKLZj
— Havant & Waterlooville FC (@HWFCOfficial) October 29, 2025
🚨 𝐂𝐋𝐔𝐁 𝐒𝐓𝐀𝐓𝐄𝐌𝐄𝐍𝐓 | 𝐓𝐎𝐍𝐈𝐆𝐇𝐓’𝐒 𝐌𝐀𝐓𝐂𝐇 🚨
As most supporters will no doubt be aware, tonight’s Southern League Premier Division South fixture against Farnham Town has been postponed following discussions between the Match Officials and both Clubs.
As per… pic.twitter.com/lUZjVJUYD9
— Havant & Waterlooville FC (@HWFCOfficial) October 29, 2025
Idk about you lads but I don’t think this is a good sight for a player with two functioning ACLs pic.twitter.com/xsS7wWUtzG
— TEJ (@sartejt) October 29, 2025
Here’s how fans reacted with the Non league match delayed then postponed after ‘one of the weirdest evenings in football’…
@AdamStevenson7: Disappointing to see both clubs slagging off the other one. No need for it, doesn’t reflect well on either.
@Scandiwegians: Hopefully the match officials’ report will clear some of this up but it is very unbecoming of the two clubs’ statements to be blaming each other with such obvious resentment, and with it being well known how well-funded Farnham are, it does make them look like prima donnas.
@Dougford9999: A couple of your fans said that tear has been there for a few weeks. Why haven’t you got it repaired? Player safety is important.
@adam24691580: Take a bit of accountability 😂. Your pitch is dangerous enough being 3g and having a massive cut across is an ACL killer. How can you blame the Farnham management staff not wanting to play on that. That’s on you for not noticing a massive cut across your pitch beforehand
@D_Matt84: Embarrassing! Should have been sorted well in advance of the game, end of! So disappointed with how the club is being run and this statement just sums it up. Take responsibility, no accountability or empathy for the fans, players, coaches who’ve had their time wasted tonight.
@shauntippins: Do you have video evidence to back up your claims of Farnham training on the area deemed unsafe? If so this needs sending into the @SouthernLeague1 if not you owe Farnham an apology from that statement!
@shauntippins: “Astonishingly, after this, the Farnham side then prepared to train on the pitch in the same area that they declared was not safe in their opinion.” Several accounts from players and fans saying this is BS. Have you got evidence or do you owe @FarnhamTownFC an apology?
@megg_91: This club statement is almost as embarrassing as the behaviour of your club official (the one in the black school shoes) on the pitch this evening.
@tom_ftfc: your own fans and groundskeeper all seemed well aware of the damage to your pitch. the game should have been postponed earlier to ensure the safety of BOTH teams.
@AlexCallow: I love non-League.
@Sean089: Ridiculous statement. Go on about the kit for the majority which in the end had no bearing. The tear is obviously a health and safety risk but a team can’t declare this and postpone the game only a ref can
@17_Jack_: Both teams blaming it on one another, pure non league this
@Hampton_Lakes: There’s lots of reasons to like non-league football, cheap tickets, old school grounds, having a pint during the game, etc. I always like comical reasons for games being called off & very one sided, bordering on obviously that’s bullshit ‘Offical Statements’.
@Tommyboy2270: As a neutral I find this an embarrassing statement. I doubt that Farnham players would’ve been training on the section with the tear on it but regardless you’re a professional football club and should have facilities sorted. Has the Forrest social media manager moved to H&W?
@dullers1: So the referee deemed it unplayable? Thanks for confirming.
@Binnsphilip: This whole saga is as farcical as it can be. Both clubs come out of it with no credit!
@Farnhamfoghorn: Didnt know i was at a comedy show instead of a football match tonight. This status is a lie on so many levels. Why hide things just hold your hands up and admite things messed up simples. Be more respected if you did by load of fans not just us and your own fans
@alexjhurley: So the officials deemed your pitch unplayable. So maybe, just maybe, that’s on you then. But yeah, just blame someone else. Nobody will notice.
@malcolmbrackley: Could be a feisty rearrange this one! Shame it is the fans of both teams that are those that suffer.
