A LONG-AWAITED kick-off at Ramsbottom United’s home ground was abandoned following another heavy downpour of rain at the weekend.

United had been looking forward to getting back on home turf for the first match on the pitch since the ground was flooded on Boxing Day.

However, heavy rain and torrential downpours throughout Friday night and Saturday morning forced the match to be postponed.

Club secretary Tony Cunningham said: “It’s just absolutely horrendous I can’t believe how much rain we’ve had.

“It’s been the wettest winter since I can remember.

“The effort from the volunteers to get things back on track has been amazing.

“We’ve had people from not only in Ramsbottom helping out but even people from near Birmingham have travelled to help out.

“If we had to pay the volunteers the minimum rate we would be in the thousands, that’s how much support we’ve had."

Volunteers were praised by a minister for their efforts to clear up the town’s flood damaged sports ground.

Tracey Crouch, Parliamentary Under-Secretary of State for Culture, Media and Sport, praised volunteers for their efforts to clean up Ramsbottom United and also mentioned Ramsbottom Cricket Club.

Bury North MP David Nuttall raised the question of what the department has done to help amateur sports clubs affected by the devastating Boxing Day floods.

Mrs Crouch said: “After the floods became more widespread, Sport England doubled its emergency flood relief fund, which is designed to help finance necessary recovery work for amateur sports clubs that are affected by flooding.

“That is entirely a matter for Sport England, but the Department and I receive regular updates on issues that clubs in affected areas are facing.

“The Football Foundation and the England and Wales Cricket Board are providing additional flood funds to assist clubs that are ineligible for Sport England funds.”

The MP for Chatham and Aylesford said she had read about the "awful damage" at the cricket club and football ground, and added: “It seems that the wider community, sporting and otherwise, has done an incredible job in helping with the immediate clear-up.

“The ECB, the Football Foundation and others have pledged financial support, but if the clubs need assistance with anything else, my honourable friend is welcome to get in touch, and we will try to ensure they receive all the help and advice that can be provided.”

A spokesman for the Football Foundation said: “Ramsbottom United applied to the foundation’s Emergency Flood Relief Fund and we are working with them to see if we can make their facilities safe and fit for purpose again.”