Well, the weather has been dominating most people's lives for the last month, and it has been no different down at Whyteleafe. There has been a paucity of matches since my last article with most of the Christmas and New Year fixture list being wiped out, and of course the associated financial difficulties, with lost gate receipts and bar takings, meaning a pretty tough time for the club.

Following an entertaining game at Leatherhead on Boxing Day, 'Leafe had to wait a further 22 days before taking to the field again, this time in a home game against Godalming in the Ryman League Cup. The game was an entertaining one considering the long lay off, with Godalming snatching a 2-1 win, but the real talking point was the fact that the match went ahead at all bearing in mind that two days previously it had still been covered in thawing snow and water (see above). A lot of credit must go to the work party that was arranged to try and clear the pitch and get it in a fit state for the following week.

All clubs rely on their volunteers to keep things running and Whyteleafe is no exception and it is at times like these that their usually unseen work deserves to be brought to the fore.

Hope now is for a more benign February, and the chance to concentrate on football again. The fixture list throws up home matches against Chipstead on the 6th, Whitstable on the 20th and well-supported Worthing on the 27th. If you haven't paid us a visit yet, February may be a good time to do so and see what all the fuss is about.