Dobba wrote:Apparently the council are looking at adding one to the redevelopment of Hednesford Park. Might come in handy for training on when Keys Park gets frozen over.
... or renting out to a club across the Chase whose pitch is permanently unfit for play....
Are there still restrictions on clubs who have artificial surfaces, i.e. they can't play home matches in certain competitions or progress past a certain level in the pyramid with a pitch of this type?
Perton Pitman wrote:Are there still restrictions on clubs who have artificial surfaces, i.e. they can't play home matches in certain competitions or progress past a certain level in the pyramid with a pitch of this type?
The last I heard they can't be used for FA Cup games (hence the problems Durham City had) - don't know how far up the (English) pyramid you can progress with one - any answers? - but certainly clubs in the Welsh Prem and Scottish League as high as their Second Division (eg Stirling Albion and Stenhousemuir) have them
They have of course been used for World Cup and Champions League games (Russia) but presumably that's not good enough for our administrators..
From a financial perspective it is the right thing to do. As more clubs struggle financially they will go down this route and at some point there will be a tipping point resulting in the authorities taking a more supportive stance
When they go bust after going a month without a game I wonder if those clubs who voted against - and bear in mind the Conf Prem clubs have a vote each, the CN and CS leagues have four votes each - will wish to reconsider?
Decent coverage of this subject in THe Metro yesterday. The point was made that until the FA permits the use of such sufaces in the football league then conference clubs (2 of whom will be in the football league in a few months time) will never vote in favour of this.
I wouldn't criticise clubs for taking this stance, but the FA should take the lead and for the good of the game (especially at our level) give the go ahead for artificial surfaces. That way clubs could make the investment safe in the knowledge that they won't be forced to rip their pitches up a bit further down the line.
The FA is increasingly out of step with other nations - there's a surprise!
Pal of mine helps out behind the scenes at Ashton Town... they've played ONE GAME this year...
I hear even the Bury manager is bleating because they've only played two games since Jan 18th - but then again they do let FCUM rent their pitch hence it's been a bog for about the last four years...
I read earlier that Aberystwyth and Newtown both plan to install 3G pitches. Aber are embarking upon a £13M (!!!) re-development of their ground (hotel, flats, etc)
Perton Pitman wrote:I read earlier that Aberystwyth and Newtown both plan to install 3G pitches. Aber are embarking upon a £13M (!!!) re-development of their ground (hotel, flats, etc)
You sure that isn't the cost of redeveloping the whole of Aber after it was nearly washed away the other month?
Perton Pitman wrote:I read earlier that Aberystwyth and Newtown both plan to install 3G pitches. Aber are embarking upon a £13M (!!!) re-development of their ground (hotel, flats, etc)
You sure that isn't the cost of redeveloping the whole of Aber after it was nearly washed away the other month?
