SILSDEN'S scheduled derby at Colne last weekend was postponed – but even if the game had been at home it would have been off, as Minister for Sport Helen Grant's difficulty on the pitch at the Keighley Road ground proved.

The day before the Cobbydalers first team were due to cross the border for their Roses battle, Grant was on an official visit to the facilities the club have worked so hard to upgrade.

Silsden spokesman Jim Rosser said: "We went on the pitch with the Sports Minister on the Friday and she had heels on and kept sinking into the turf.

"It only happened in one area of the pitch, the goalmouth down the bottom, but it was obvious that the surface was very wet.

"I don't think that would have been the footwear of choice if we'd had a referee in for a pitch inspection, but it proved a point.

"She's a very nice woman – and I mean really nice, very genuine. We gave her a bunch of flowers and a cup of coffee.

"She was accompanied by our local MP Kris Hopkins and that was good. We have had two Sports Ministers and Princess Anne down at the ground now.

"Also five helicopters when the Tour de France was on, so our pitch has seen its fair share of the high life.

"I asked if there was any chance of us getting Government funding for a 4G pitch but it fell on deaf ears. You have to speculate to accumulate."