Artificial Pitches

[Harry's Game]

Used to be always against these back in the days of Luton and QPR's ping pong pitches, but with the technology improved so much now there is almost no difference in performance to grass.

I would now be in favour of us having one of these, selfishly it would give us a big advantage at home as we would be more used to the conditions, secondly we could hire the ground out for other uses, thus making a bit of cash without damaging the surface.

Thirdly if we had one this season we wouldn't be going into a last third of the season relegation battle playing twice a week for a month as we are going to be now

 

[Foxy]

Used to be always against these back in the days of Luton and QPR's ping pong pitches, but with the technology improved so much now there is almost no difference in performance to grass.

I would now be in favour of us having one of these, selfishly it would give us a big advantage at home as we would be more used to the conditions, secondly we could hire the ground out for other uses, thus making a bit of cash without damaging the surface.

Thirdly if we had one this season we wouldn't be going into a last third of the season relegation battle playing twice a week for a month as we are going to be now

The best idea would be a Desso pitch, which I know has been looked at previously. They aren't cheap though and you obviously can't change the pitch overnight

 

[sitwell]

Donny have a half synthetic pitch ,its fucking terrible in any weather conditions.

 

[Bergen Blade]

They are very common in Norway, obviously due to the weather conditions. Although they're getting better, they take some getting used to, both for players and watchers.

Spurs, ahead of their Europa league match vs Tromsø in November:



TV highlights from another Tromsø Europa League game:



It used to be like this (Tromsø - Chelsea, November 1997) Roger Nilsen's little brother scores the first goal:

 

[BornOnShorehamStreet]

They are very common in Norway, obviously due to the weather conditions. Although they're getting better, they take some getting used to, both for players and watchers.

Spurs, ahead of their Europa league match vs Tromsø in November:



TV highlights from another Tromsø Europa League game:



It used to be like this (Tromsø - Chelsea, November 1997) Roger Nilsen's little brother scores the first goal:

Wow, English football matches used to be played in snow with the lines cleared - not now, soft sods!

Some great goals from Tromso - and they play in red and white stripes!

 

[Trigger Blade]

Donny have a half synthetic pitch ,its fucking terrible in any weather conditions.

Is that true, or is that a bit of sitter prejudice?

A mate of mine's future son--in-law plays for Maidstone United and they have a 3G synthetic pitch and he reckons it's a good surface in all weathers. There are all sorts of arguments about its acceptability and as it stands, they can't be promoted to the Conference South who don't allow the surface. However, England could play a World Cup qualifier on it.

 

[Silent Blade]

I think I would stop watching football if it is no longer played on grass

 

[Bladesway]

Someone questioned why there are so many Cruciate Ligament injuries and one reply I heard on the radio was because of synthetic grass more players are getting their knees twisted in such a way to cause such an injury.

How many games have we had cancelled in recent years down to unsuitable pitches? It can't be so many as to cause this sort of a re-think.

 

[stannyblade]

Someone questioned why there are so many Cruciate Ligament injuries and one reply I heard on the radio was because of synthetic grass more players are getting their knees twisted in such a way to cause such an injury.

How many games have we had cancelled in recent years down to unsuitable pitches? It can't be so many as to cause this sort of a re-think.

Wasnt it Warnock that questioned the safety of the blade type studs on boots? He claimed it was linked to injuries

 

[GAZBLADE]

Used to be always against these back in the days of Luton and QPR's ping pong pitches, but with the technology improved so much now there is almost no difference in performance to grass.

I would now be in favour of us having one of these, selfishly it would give us a big advantage at home as we would be more used to the conditions, secondly we could hire the ground out for other uses, thus making a bit of cash without damaging the surface.

Thirdly if we had one this season we wouldn't be going into a last third of the season relegation battle playing twice a week for a month as we are going to be now

Used to be always against these back in the days of Luton and QPR's ping pong pitches, but with the technology improved so much now there is almost no difference in performance to grass.

I would now be in favour of us having one of these, selfishly it would give us a big advantage at home as we would be more used to the conditions, secondly we could hire the ground out for other uses, thus making a bit of cash without damaging the surface.

Thirdly if we had one this season we wouldn't be going into a last third of the season relegation battle playing twice a week for a month as we are going to be now

How many games have we had cancelled in recent years down to unsuitable pitches? It can't be so many as to cause this sort of a re-think.
Bladesway, 10 minutes ago Report

I agree.
What do we want???....GRASS!!
When do we want it???....NOW!!!!

 

[SwissBlade]

Donny play on 3G, we play futsal on it in Japan. It's forgiving on the joints compared to AstroTurf.

But it's dull to play on.

Grass, mud and water made the game better on Sunday. So lets look to play more in shitty conditions rather than on fake pitches

 

[sitwell]

Is that true, or is that a bit of sitter prejudice?

A mate of mine's future son--in-law plays for Maidstone United and they have a 3G synthetic pitch and he reckons it's a good surface in all weathers. There are all sorts of arguments about its acceptability and as it stands, they can't be promoted to the Conference South who don't allow the surface. However, England could play a World Cup qualifier on it.

No its true ,Ive played on it ,i think its one synthetic stran in every 3 blades or something like that ,anyway it is awful to play on ,the bounce is not true and carpet burns are a given. The main problem for me is the amount of sand they have to use ,I would like to see a comparison between their and our postponements.
My dislike of Donny has mellowed with age ,that and the departures of Ryan and Odriscoll.

 

[JohnDenver]

I play on the 3G (rubber crumb) pitches at the University, and so long as they're watered they're great. If they're dry the ball grips the surface and it's too unpredictable. Also I went into a sliding block on a frosty night before Chrimbo and my leg is still striped now.

 

[Kentblade]

Is that true, or is that a bit of sitter prejudice?

A mate of mine's future son--in-law plays for Maidstone United and they have a 3G synthetic pitch and he reckons it's a good surface in all weathers. There are all sorts of arguments about its acceptability and as it stands, they can't be promoted to the Conference South who don't allow the surface. However, England could play a World Cup qualifier on it.

I have seen Maidstone play on their pitch and the first time I was surprised at the quality of the game as I recalled the first time I watched a game on an artificial pitch was at QPR, many years ago now, when the ball was like a ping pong ball.
Maidstone use their pitch most days and evenings which is beneficial for a small clubs finances.
Presently being near the top of the league they attract gates of 2000 plus so most of the fans must be happy watching football on this type of surface. They do score a lot of goals. As things stand at present it seems to be a good option for lower league clubs, but at our level and above would a change be beneficial. Then we come back to the winter break brigade.
Artificial pitches always divides opinion but doing well here in Maidstone.
UTB

 

[UnitedBlade]

It's a long time since I've kicked a ball but I understand some of the new astroturf pitches are very good. Undoubtedly on economic grounds, many clubs will consider this in the future. I would prefer grass but we've seen how unreliable the BDTBL pitch is in recent years.

I have actually played on both the Luton and QPR astroturf surfaces. I didn't take the precaution of vaselining the knees for the game at Luton and got an almighty graze. Trousers stuck to my knee for weeks after

I played at QPR just before they replaced it and the pitch was in a terrible state turning up at the sides and gaps. You basically played on solid concrete with a thin layer of carpet underneath. I imagine that would have been terrible on the joints if you played at full tilt for many games.

 

[sitwell]

The pitch at Gosforth school is quite good ,better than Donnys actually ,but I would prefer grass and mud anyday..
My neighbour up the road has it on his garden too ,the lazy bastard ,no good when Mrs Sitwell is a gardener.

 

[Linz]

Have we ruined a perfectly good pitch by closing the Bramall Lane/South Stand corner and not allowing the air to circulate?

The touchline on that side has been shocking in the slightest bit of rain for ages.

 

[highpeakblade]

With our current squad we might be forced into Artificial pitches soon!

About 9 teams in Scotland have all changed to artificial pitches now for obvious reasons. I remember a big ooo-ahh a few years ago regarding how dangerous certain managers up there claimed the pitches to be but they all seem to be getting on with it now and it seems to be the norm.

Heres a quick google article but theres a good few in scotland now playing on fake grass.

http://www.heraldscotland.com/sport/football/turf-wars-a-thing-of-the-past.20587008

 

[Foxy]

About 9 teams in Scotland have all changed to artificial pitches now for obvious reasons. I remember a big ooo-ahh a few years ago regarding how dangerous certain managers up there claimed the pitches to be but they all seem to be getting on with it now and it seems to be the norm.

Heres a quick google article but theres a good few in scotland now playing on fake grass.

Yeah, I was fairly surprised when I wandered into Stenhousemuir as part of my pre-season trip this season and saw the rubber crumb. I'm assuming that Falkirk were doing it too, as there was still construction work going on where the pitch should have been and there's no way it would have been ready for the start of the season without.

Even the seagulls who welcomed me were fooled!

 

[WhiteHawk]

That big, glass office building just off The Moor has got artificial grass on the front of the building, it looks good. The rubber crumb pitches at Pitz are good aswell.

 

[silverfox]

. The rubber crumb pitches at Pitz are good aswell.

We may be there Sunday if anyone wants to check them out!

 

[CarlingBlade]

Grass or AstroTurf?

I can't comment, I've never smoked AstroTurf.

 

[Kenilworth]

There's nothing like the real thing, NOTHING
Played and coached on plenty of the artificial jobbies and they are all bobbar - the bounce is the critical thing

Boobs or Grass - accept nothing artificial - it just won't do
As I stated already - the bounce is the critical things

.

 

[WhiteHawk]

We may be there Sunday if anyone wants to check them out!

Thought you played at Goals? We play on the 7-a-side pitch now. Much better than 5-a-side.

I need to start joining you guys for a game, think I've only ever played with you a couple of times. It's the Sunday morning that puts me off though

 

[silverfox]

Thought you played at Goals? We play on the 7-a-side pitch now. Much better than 5-a-side.

I need to start joining you guys for a game, think I've only ever played with you a couple of times. It's the Sunday morning that puts me off though

We moved to Pitz.....much cheaper and the pitches are now better!

You'd be welcomed back!

 

[WhiteHawk]

We moved to Pitz.....much cheaper and the pitches are now better!

You'd be welcomed back!

Yes it is much cheaper. Do you play on the 5 or 7 a side pitch? It's only £5 more for the 7-a-side!

 

[scouseblade]

Arent artificial pitches banned by the Football Association and Football League?

 

[scouseblade]

I too hate those little bits of plastic that you end up covered in after playing at the Pitz. I remember me days playing in Sheffield at the Pitz and having to get the tram into town to catch train home. Always left tonnes of them on there!!

 

[Selly]

Have we ruined a perfectly good pitch by closing the Bramall Lane/South Stand corner and not allowing the air to circulate?

The touchline on that side has been shocking in the slightest bit of rain for ages.

Not so sure about that. The pitch has, at time, been diabolical for years. There are also plenty of fully enclose stadia in his country that don't have awful pitches...

It's the lack of sun from the behemoth South Stand shadow that is the biggest problem...

 

[Linz]

30 January ~ Yesterday members of the Conference voted against allowing 3G pitches to be used by their clubs. The subject of reintroducing artificial pitches, though of a superior quality to the ones used by QPR, Luton, Oldham and Preston in the 1980s, has been raised by Maidstone United's success in the Isthmian League. The decision, by 21 votes to 11, means the Stones cannot now be promoted with their current 3G pitch, despite it resulting in fewer postponements for them.

From WSC: http://www.wsc.co.uk/wsc-daily/1172...-clubs-vote-against-use-of-artificial-pitches