A relegation-threatened football team are facing allegations they deliberately caused a match to be postponed by soaking their pitch with sprinklers during heavy rainfall. The photos, which were emailed to a number of media outlets by an untraceable email account, show the sprinkler system spraying water onto the grass in Norfolk. CCTV stills appear to show the grass being watered by the sprinkler system near the corner flag during rainfall between 9.55am and 10.38am on February 13. South Shields chairman Geoff Thompson told the BBC: 'We are aware the matter is being investigated by the National League. A National League spokesperson said: 'The National League are aware of the allegations and are conducting an investigation into it.'

Source: Daily Mail February 23, 2026 16:55 UTC