September 23, (THEWILL) – AFC Wimbledon’s Carabao Cup match against Newcastle United, scheduled for Tuesday night, has been postponed due to severe flooding at the Cherry Red Records Stadium.
The League Two club reported “extensive overnight flooding” of the River Wandle and surrounding areas, which has rendered the pitch unplayable.
Photos shared online showed significant damage to the playing surface, with large sunken patches visible. The pitch, which sits on a sand base, has been badly affected by water logging over the weekend. Several metres-wide areas of grass are churned up, exposing the underlying sand.
The postponement creates scheduling difficulties for both clubs. Wimbledon have upcoming home fixtures, including a match against Accrington Stanley, while Newcastle face interruptions due to an international break next month. Finding a suitable date for rearrangement may prove challenging.
The English Football League (EFL) has options to address the situation. These include moving the game to a neutral venue or, in extreme cases, abandoning the tie and awarding Newcastle a bye to the next round. The match could potentially be rescheduled at St. James’s Park, which would likely disadvantage the lower-league Wimbledon.
Wimbledon officials have closed the stadium until further notice and promised to provide more information about rescheduling the fixture in due course. The club’s statement acknowledged the disappointment of supporters and thanked them for their understanding during this unexpected disruption to the football calendar.
Jude Obafemi is a versatile senior Correspondent at THEWILL Newspapers, excelling in sourcing, researching, and delivering sports news stories for both print and digital publications.
