Quote Originally Posted by outwoodclaret View Post
Your post prompted me to look at games which did go ahead on March 14 including the FA Cup Semi-Final at Villa Park between Swansea and Preston. The match report from that game refers to numerous league games being called off because of torrential rain. Weather was clearly the issue whether rain or snow.
I think you're right about the rain Outwood, I've found these quotes about the semi-finals,

"Both semi-finals were played in quagmire conditions on a day when the majority of league matches were postponed due to the conditions."
"The all-2nd Division clash was also played in swamp-like conditions and both teams found it difficult to adjust in the early going."

There's a photo from Hillsborough of the referee and captains Bobby Moore and Denis Law at the coin toss, they're all peering down trying to spot the coin which has disappeared into the mud. There's a photo of Villa Park where the other semi was played, it looks like Blackpool beach just after the tide's gone out. You could imagine someone in the middle of the pitch with a bucket and spade digging for cockles.