Bolton Wanderers U18s pre-Christmas schedule has been severely disrupted by the weather following the postponement of their two fixtures against Stoke City and Blackburn Rovers.
The freezing December conditions have meant that Peter Farrell's academy side haven't played in over a fortnight since their 1-0 FA Youth Cup victory against Doncaster Rovers at the end of last month.
The coach admits that the timing has been very unwelcome, just as the scholars head off on their Christmas and New Year break, but he concedes that it is something completely beyond his control.
He said: "Having the two games called-off has been very frustrating for the lads, especially when they have been training and preparing for the matches in the week building up.
"You can't do anything about it; we gave it until the last possible minute before the games were postponed, but if the conditions are too dangerous then you have to think about the lads' safety.
"The disappointing thing is that we want to play another game straight away after that good win against Doncaster to keep the momentum going, but unfortunately we haven't been in a position to do so."
Indeed, the U18s battled through to the fourth round of the FA Youth Cup with a competent display against Doncaster Rovers.
An Aaron Mooy goal was good enough to see them progress, and Farrell is now looking forward to a home clash with Hull City in the next round on Friday 9th January.
He added: "We have played better this season than we did against Doncaster, but it was important to win the game, especially being at home at the Reebok in front of our own staff and crowd because some of them hadn't seen these young players in action.
"By being in the next round of the competition, it gives the lads something to look forward to, which is important for the club.
"They might get the chance to play at great stadiums like the Reebok, Stamford Bridge or Anfield and the longer they stay in the competition then the better chance they have got of doing so.
"I've always said that the further you go in the cup, then there's always a player that stands out and that's what we are hoping for.
"It's at home again and obviously the lads will all be looking forward to that and they'll have the experience of playing at the Reebok after the last round.
"Some of the players were a little bit nervous before the last game, but the more you play at a stadium like the Reebok, then the easier it becomes."
The Hull City tie won't be the only thing on Peter Farrell's mind in the New Year as the decision time draws near on the future intake of scholars for the start of next season, where up to ten 16-year-olds will be given the opportunity to become part of the Academy set-up at Bolton Wanderers.
Farrell admits that this is an exciting part of the job, but it is also one which takes plenty of consideration.
He explained: "We have all got an idea in our mind about what we want, but decisions won't be made until January when we will sit down with Jimmy (Phillips) and go through them all.
"Some of the players have been with us since the ages of nine and ten, so we know what they are all about, but it's the lads who have only been here for a year or two that we have to look at very closely.
"There are plenty of things to consider - is the player still developing? Is he going to get stronger? Is he going to get quicker? You have to look at all the aspects.
"It's a great time of the year and it's something I enjoy because football is about opinions and decisions. Sometimes you make right ones and sometimes you make wrong ones - that's what the game is all about.
"The usual intake of about eight to ten scholars can range from players that come from our Centre of Excellence and some that have been released by other clubs.
"But at the moment there aren't a lot of good players around from other clubs. The players that Manchester United and Liverpool are releasing wouldn't be good enough for us, so that's why it is important to develop your own."
