But the weather gods had had other ideas, and pitches had cruel layers of solidly frozen ice under the appealing grass.

As a result, the junior football card was completely wiped out, as was virtually every rugby game in the area.

This meant that Carnoustie Panmure and Broughty Athletic had another unwelcome and unwanted day of rest, as their away games against Arniston Rangers and Lochee Harp, respectively, were called off.

Gowfers

Carnoustie Panmure and their travelling support were again left disappointed on Saturday when Newbyres Park, Gorebridge, failed a 9 a.m. pitch inspection after the playing surface was left frozen solid by a heavy overnight frost.

Indeed, so severe and widespread were the sub-zero temperatures that only two junior games were played in the whole of Scotland.

The local area was also hit badly by the frost and with no suitable grass surface available for training on, Gowfers' manager Ian Gilzean chose instead to put his players through their paces in an impromptu session on Carnoustie Beach.

With the entire East Region programme postponed, region secretary John Reilly has re-scheduled all the matches for this weekend, so tomorrow (Saturday) Carnoustie again hope to be Lothian bound to face Arniston Rangers in the Bukta teamwear.com East Premier League.

With daylight now stretching out, kick-off is at the slightly later time of 2 p.m.

On a happier note, all 160 or so clubs affiliated to the Scottish Junior Football Association are to receive £1,000 from the governing body to help alleviate any financial hardship they may be suffering due to the lack of gate receipts in recent weeks.

The Fed

Broughty Athletic are again scheduled to play Lochee Harp at Beechwood Park tomorrow (Saturday) following Saturday's postponement of the North Division fixture.

Lochee Harp's park was unplayable due to frost.

The postponement was doubly disappointing for Broughty Athletic manager Kenny Cameron, who had planned to utilise the same squad of 18 who were on duty for the previous weekend's win at North End.

Alas, the hoped-for continuity did not happen, and the victory against North End was the interruption in a string of postponements, rather than the start of another good run of victories.

Carnoustie High School FPs

And the Carnoustie High School FP home clash with Alloa also fell victim to the weather, with the High School pitch being declared unplayable.

At time of writing there was no sign of a match for the local rugby side.

There is a backlog of cup-ties which involve all of the FPs' potential opponents, and it may not be possible to arrange a friendly.