FA Cup and Challenge Cup games among fixtures postponed due to freezing conditions

Freezing weather conditions across the United Kingdom have hit the weekend’s sporting programme, with the FA Cup and Challenge Cup among the competitions impacted.

The UK has recorded its coldest night of this winter, along with widespread frost, with more bitterly cold weather expected over the weekend.

Three of Saturday’s FA Cup third round ties have been postponed because of frozen pitches, with the game between League One side Leyton Orient and Derby County of the Championship the latest to fall.

On Friday, the fixtures between Mansfield Town and Wigan Athletic and Charlton Athletic’s trip to Preston North End were both called off.

All three ties will now be played on Tuesday, 14 January (19:45 GMT).

All but one of the scheduled League One games have been postponed, with Bolton’s trip to Rotherham (12:30 GMT) the only fixture remaining.

In League Two, the first game to go was Carlisle United’s home game against MK Dons, followed by Port Vale v Barrow and then Gillingham v Fleetwood.

Grimsby Town’s against Notts County was postponed following a pitch inspection on Saturday morning, while the surface at AFC Wimbledon’s Cherry Red Records Stadium will be checked over at 12:30 GMT.

As it stands, the only other remaining fixtures in the fourth tier are leaders Walsall hosting Tranmere Rovers (12:30 GMT) and Swindon welcoming Crewe Alexandra (15:00 GMT) after the County Ground pitch passed an inspection.

There are also now just three National League games remaining, from the scheduled 10 – at Aldershot, Yeovil and Boston, although there is a pitch inspection at Boston at 12:00 GMT.

The fixtures at AFC Fylde, Altrincham, Barnet, Gateshead, Maidenhead, Oldham Athletic and Southend will all be rearranged.

Elsewhere, the National League North and South programmes have been badly hit with the matches at Brackley, Curzon Ashton, Darlington, Hereford, Hornchurch, King’s Lynn Town, Marine, Peterborough Sports, Radcliffe, Salisbury, Southport and Spennymoor all off.