Fog obscures view for 690 Notts County fans during FA Cup win at J Davidson Stadium
About 690 Notts County supporters at the J Davidson Stadium could barely see their side's FA Cup first-round tie against Altrincham on Saturday because of thick fog. The match went to a penalty shootout, which Notts County won 3-2 when Rosaire Longelo converted the decisive kick.
Ian Kirke, one of the Magpies fans at the ground, said the fog affected spectators, players, commentators and camera operators and left many relying on sound rather than sight. Kirke said fans had to rely on the cheers - or silence - from the home support during the shootout. "It's the most bonkers festival of football I've ever seen in my life," he added.
The scoring began just before the half-hour mark when Jacob Bedeau gave Notts County the lead. Altrincham, who play in the National League, replied through Lucas Weaver and Lewis Banks to move 2-1 in front before conditions deteriorated. Referee David Rock elected to continue the match despite the worsening visibility, during which the camera often could not pick up the ball. Notts County equalised through Callum Roberts, who scored from the edge of the box to make it 2-2.
Commentators also described severe difficulty following the action. BBC Radio Nottingham commentator Adam Hassell said: "I can just about see the bright white numbers on their shirts, but I am struggling to see what is happening on the far side of the pitch." Former Notts County striker Mark Stallard, who was commentating on BBC Radio Nottingham, said: "We're looking around, and here in the press box no-one knows where the ball is! It's like a spot the ball competition. "We genuinely cannot see the linesman or the players on the far side. It's slightly farcical having to commentate for radio listeners."
Fans positioned in the Notts County end described a marked deterioration in visibility after half-time. Lynda Lally, from Beeston in Nottinghamshire, said the fog got "worse and worse" after the interval and that for the final 45 minutes they could only see action when players briefly emerged from the fog. Kirke, who lives in Berkshire, said the weather at kick-off had been "like any normal match" and added the fog that led to an FA Cup third-round replay between Notts County and Wimbledon being abandoned in 2001 "wasn't as bad" as it was at Altrincham.
The penalty shootout took place at the opposite end of the pitch from many travelling Notts County fans, leaving them unable to follow the kicks visually. Lally said: "Once we found out it wasn't, we were thinking what is going to happen because we can't see anything," and later added: "We heard the silence and we went into a massive roar knowing we had won." Kirke said a friend watching on television texted him updates during the shootout: "The only way we could ascertain what was going on was the reaction of the Altrincham fans." Altrincham missed the target three times in the shootout before Longelo's successful penalty secured the 3-2 victory.
The win sees Notts County progress from the FA Cup first round after a tie heavily affected by fog that impeded visibility for spectators, officials and broadcast staff.