Football went out the windy: Gray

Barry Gray endorsed referee Evan Boyce’s decision to abandon tonight’s Danske Bank Premiership fixture with Ballymena United on Health and Safety grounds.

With the game tied at 1-1 – Kyle Owens’ deflected strike cancelling out Jude Winchester’s opener for the Reds – the ref took the decision to call a halt to proceedings due to the high winds that, in addition to negating any kind of football being played, endangered the safety of not just the players but also spectators and staff at the fixture.

“I’m generally one for playing on regardless but he’s completely right to call it off,” said Gray.

“Obviously health and safety is important and has to be the top priority but, even in footballing terms, it was a farce – the ball wouldn’t sit still and nobody could pass it, so I think everyone’s happy just to get off the pitch.

“I mean, we could be sitting here an hour down the line talking about somebody making a mistake that costs their team a goal or a point and that could have been down to the weather and nobody wants that or to have those sort of excuses.”

Cliftonville Football Club thanks both sets of supporters for their understanding and, indeed, their assistance and patience when it came to evacuating the stadium and likewise extends gratitude to our groundstaff for their sterling efforts in very difficult conditions this evening.