EFL match postponed just hours before kick-off as statement released

Port Vale have confirmed their clash with Bradford has been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

League One‘s bottom club had been due to host the Bantams at Vale Park on Tuesday night, only for a late pitch inspection to deem the conditions unplayable as Storm Bram continues to wreak havoc.

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The Met Office has warned Brits to expect 90mph winds and heavy rain in parts of the country, with yellow weather warnings for rain and wind being issued for the entire west coast of Britain.

Flood warnings have been issued across England and Wales, while transport is set to be disrupted by the extreme weather.

Worst affected by the storm are Scotland and the north west of England, and the sporting calendar has now fallen victim to this.

Taking to X, Port Vale confirmed that their Tuesday night clash with Bradford had been called off after a pitch inspection of the pitch at Vale Park by referee Benjamin Speedie.

The club wrote: “Following a pitch inspection, the Vale Park playing surface has been deemed unplayable by the match official due to large amounts of standing water.

“This evening’s match against Bradford City has been postponed.”

Following the home side’s announcement, Bradford then relayed the message, and confirmed supporters would be reimbursed if need be,

A statement read: “A new date for the fixture will be announced in due course.

“Supporters will be able to claim a refund for their ticket once a new date has been confirmed, if they are unable to attend the rearranged match.”

The third-tier clash is the first in English to be impacted by Storm Bram, with further pitch inspections to be held across England ahead of midweek games in the Championship, League One and League Two.

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Tottenham are the only English Champions League side playing at home this week – taking on Slavia Prague on Tuesday evening.

Meanwhile, the recent extreme weather has already caused disruption north of the border.

Earlier on Tuesday, Elgin City revealed their game against East Fife in the KDM Evolution Trophy had been postponed due to a waterlogged pitch.

For Port Vale and Bradford, both sides will now have to wait for their next to improve their respective league positions.

The two clubs find themselves in hugely different positions, with the Valiants sitting bottom of League One, having struggled for form after winning promotion from League Two last season.

They are managed by former West Brom boss Darren Moore, and are three points adrift of safety in a tight lower half of the table.

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Meanwhile Bradford, also promoted from League Two last term, are flying high in second after an impressive start to the campaign.

The Yorkshire club have picked up 34 points from their opening 18 matches to give them hope of returning to the second tier for the first time since 2004.

What is the latest on Storm Bram?

As mentioned, yellow weather warnings for rain and wind have been issued for the entire west of England, coming into effect from 10pm on Monday and lasting until 4pm on Tuesday.

Cornwall and Devon have received an amber warning for rain from midnight until 10am, as well as Welsh town Merthyr Tydfil.

Met Office Chief Forecaster, Dan Suri, said of the recent conditions: “Storm Bram will bring a very wet and windy spell of weather, with very strong winds and further heavy rain which, falling over saturated ground, could cause flooding impacts.

“Within the Amber wind warning over northwest Scotland, gusts of up to 90 mph could be recorded.

“More widely, gusts of 50-60mph, and perhaps 70mph in a few spots, are expected across Wales, southwest England and Northern Ireland.”