FOR the second time in a fortnight snow and ice caused the whole of the Gray Hooper Holt LLP Mid Sussex Football League programme to be abandoned.

While in recent seasons the league has suffered an occasional total loss of fixtures due to the weather there is no recollection of it happening twice, and in such close proximity, before Christmas.

Even in 1962/1963, one of the worst seasons ever, snow did not start falling until Boxing Day and, although the programme was on hold for nearly two months after this, the period up to Christmas had been quite normal.

The league, having been faced with a backlog of fixtures in the past two seasons, decided some months ago to implement a full league programme for Bank Holiday Monday, January 3 in lieu of no games on New Year's Day.

Meanwhile, the league's Intermediate Representative Team was able to meet unbeaten Sussex County League Division Three in the Sussex County Football League Intermediate Inter-League Cup.

The match took place on an extremely cold evening at Middle Road, Shoreham last Tuesday.

They went down by the narrowest of margins 1-0 after conceding a penalty in the 43rd minute.

The Mid Sussex League squad for the match was Paul Tubbs, Ed Hall and Brett Johnson (all AFC Ringmer), Matthew McDonald (Lindfield), Richard Clibbens, Craig King and Elliott Wilkins (all Rotherfield), Luke Constable, Gary Russell and Nick Irons (all Roffey), Andy Twinn (Dormansland Rockets), Dan Hassan (Willingdon Athletic), Matt Lloyd and Kane Black (both Barcombe).

Following the match Craig King and Andy Twinn were each awarded a league honours tie following three appearances for the side.

In their next game in the competition Mids are scheduled to meet the Worthing & District League at Woodside Road, Worthing on Wednesday, January 19. Kick off for the match is 7.30 pm.

The Mid Sussex League side is set to make its longest journey ever when it meets the Gloucestershire County League in the preliminary round of the biennial FA Inter League Cup during the Spring.

A win would see the team take to the skies to visit the Jersey Football Combination in a first round tie to be played next Autumn.