Will we ever play a home league game again we wonder....
Someone in a senior position within non-league football, or a media outlet like the non-league paper need to start a petition for 3G pitches. Maybe even start a government petition (which may push the government into lobbying the FA). We may not be able to afford a 3G pitch at present, although councils can assist with funding, I can't see how many clubs are going to fulfil their fixtures this season. Plus this was a rearranged fixture already...
There are so many reasons why we'll never see a 3G pitch.
You need a hard surface to lay it on like ashphalt, concrete or paving stones. The cost of that alone would be beyond the club's means. It also causes a drainage problem.
The cost of the actual turf is very high (£15 - £30 per metre), also beyong the club's means.
They probably involve as much maintenance as real grass. I looked into getting some for my son's garden and was put off by the high maintenance. It's easier to get the mower out a few times a year.
They only have a limited life span and would probably need relacing after 8 - 10 years.
The hardness of the pitch causes more joint related injuries and isn't popular with players. Health & Safety are against it.
The ball reacts differently from a normal pitch. It bouces so much higher and travels faster.
EUFA & Fifa have banned them although they are looking at them again.
If it snows, you still have to shift it.
Wikipedia entry reads: -
In 1981, London football club Queens Park Rangers dug up its grass pitch and installed an artificial one. Others followed, and by the mid-1980s there were four artificial surfaces in operation in the English league. They soon became a national joke: the ball pinged round like it was made of rubber, the players kept losing their footing, and anyone who fell over risked carpet burns. Unsurprisingly, fans complained that the football was awful to watch and, one by one, the clubs returned to natural grass.
The only realistic application of it that I could see happening is alongside the pitch where the linos run.
Perhaps it's just as well we're out of the FA Cup/Trophy, can you imagine the fixture congestion we could be facing................
I wouldn't be surprised if someone soon started talking about a winter break or even (god forbid) a smaller league size to help combat this type of congestion problem.
A 3G pitch is all well and good but it doesn't help with frozen terraces/stands which make H&S of the fans a dodgy issue.
This is a repeat of the last 4/5 years and the league need to look at extending the season. A winter break is only any good if covers the period of snow. We have had snow from dec-march in previous years so might be ineffective anyway. Tonight's fixture was postponed in December due to waterlogged pitch so where does it end? All I know is I'd rather have the points in the bag like Salisbury rather than playing catch up like us.
I don't think the season necessarily has to be extended, I do believe however the league needs to look at more games being played in the early part of the season around September/October, when the weather is relatively calm. As for a Winter break, are we not having one now?
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Will we ever play a home league game again we wonder....
Someone in a senior position within non-league football, or a media outlet like the non-league paper need to start a petition for 3G pitches. Maybe even start a government petition (which may push the government into lobbying the FA). We may not be able to afford a 3G pitch at present, although councils can assist with funding, I can't see how many clubs are going to fulfil their fixtures this season. Plus this was a rearranged fixture already...
Maidstone's game on a 3G has been postponed as they cannot move the snow as brushing the pitch affects the fibres. I assume there aren't many trees around. Autumn would be a nightmare!!
Will we ever play a home league game again we wonder....
Someone in a senior position within non-league football, or a media outlet like the non-league paper need to start a petition for 3G pitches. Maybe even start a government petition (which may push the government into lobbying the FA). We may not be able to afford a 3G pitch at present, although councils can assist with funding, I can't see how many clubs are going to fulfil their fixtures this season. Plus this was a rearranged fixture already...
Maidstone's game on a 3G has been postponed as they cannot move the snow as brushing the pitch affects the fibres. I assume there aren't many trees around. Autumn would be a nightmare!!
Are you sure Maidstone's ground isn't run by British Rail
Wrong type of snow on the ground/leaves on the line/pitch.................
I don't think the season necessarily has to be extended, I do believe however the league needs to look at more games being played in the early part of the season around September/October, when the weather is relatively calm. As for a Winter break, are we not having one now?
I completely agree with this. I think that as many midweek league games as possible should be scheduled over the August - October period with no midweek games scheduled in December to February (except Christmas and New Year). This would leave these months clear for the meaningless county cup matches to be played if the weather is OK and any postponements from earlier in the season as well as cup/trophy replays. I am sure most people would rather watch a game on a warm early September evening than a freezing one in the middle of January. The extra early season games would give the clubs additional early season revenue which with prudent budgeting would cover any periods such as now when a number of successive games are called off.
I don't think the season necessarily has to be extended, I do believe however the league needs to look at more games being played in the early part of the season around September/October, when the weather is relatively calm. As for a Winter break, are we not having one now?
I completely agree with this. I think that as many midweek league games as possible should be scheduled over the August - October period with no midweek games scheduled in December to February (except Christmas and New Year). This would leave these months clear for the meaningless county cup matches to be played if the weather is OK and any postponements from earlier in the season as well as cup/trophy replays. I am sure most people would rather watch a game on a warm early September evening than a freezing one in the middle of January. The extra early season games would give the clubs additional early season revenue which with prudent budgeting would cover any periods such as now when a number of successive games are called off.
In reality I agree although this season's Welling team was not as good in August to October as it has been since then.
