Rochdale Football Club praised for 'great gesture' after derby with Oldham Athletic called off

A football club has been applauded after sending masses of food to a soup kitchen following the postponement today of a much-anticipated derby game.

Rochdale AFC said 'all of the excess food' prepared for fans due to attend the club's National League clash with neighbours Oldham Athletic was being donated to Rochdale Soup Kitchen.

The soup kitchen offers both microwavable and non-microwavable meals to those in need, added the club. "Anything they can't use will be redistributed to local hostels," said a spokesperson, as the club shared images of mounds of food online.

READ MORE: LIVE UK weather: Storm Bert brings snow, wind and rain - latest updates

"Great gesture," wrote one poster on Facebook. "Well done the Dale, nice gesture," added another.

The so-called 'flat cap derby' at Dale's Crown Oil Arena ground was called off due to a waterlogged pitch as Storm Bert lashed Greater Manchester with heavy rain and high winds. The postponement followed two pitch inspections.

The club said frost covers had been in place all week and 'did their job'. The Spotland pitch was 'in a playable condition' when the covers were removed on Friday afternoon, but the club added overnight and morning rain left the surface unplayable.

Co-Chairman Simon Gauge: "I would like to thank both the ground staff and wider staff at the club for all of their efforts this week in the most challenging of weather conditions to try and get the most anticipated derby for quite some time on. Unfortunately, since 5am this morning, the combination of heavy snow and rain has left certain parts of the pitch in an unplayable condition.”

A rearranged date for the game will be confirmed in due course.

In the Championship, Blackburn Rovers' game at home against Portsmouth also fell foul of the weather and was abandoned. Other matches in the National League at Fylde and Halifax Town were also called off because of the conditions.