The Pitch

Just noticed yesterday that our lawns are growing like mad and the grass is almost in need of the first cut of the year. That's way ahead of normal and is presumably because the grass is getting just what it likes: lots of water and relatively warm temperatures. So why isn't it growing at VP?

 

Probably not alot of difference. However at Plymouth we had to dig out a huge amount of soil and put in a completely new irrigation and drainage system, if Bradford have this in place then the cost could be reduced hugely.

 

How much did it cost Plymouth? We have had the drainage done but we have a deep problem under the ground that I understand is hindering the drainage. An old wall I think.

 

The price was around £650k, however the club folded and went into administration so I suspect they only paid around 10% of that. Which in itself is pretty disgusting.

 

We're experts on administrations....

 

http://www.inscapes.org.uk/

 

That's often been mentioned but how can an old wall affect the entire pitch?

 

I overheard a conversation on the train yesterday that an old grandstand is beneath the pitch! Normally when installing a new pitch you dig down, maybe Bradford will have to build up.

 

Ingenious. You could name the square as well like what3words.

 

No but the owner has been put out to grass.

 

We've had every excuse under the sun as to why the grass doesn't grow. Where there's money there's a way.

 

Genuine question.

How deep should the drainage be?

And if ours are deep enough can you suggest why the water isnt draining away in the pipe system that was laid?

This video suggest ours are at least 3ft deep maybe more.

 

The water is draining away there was no surface water yesterday it’s the state of the pitch with no grass that’s the problem

 

There was at 10:30 according to the Ref.

 

Wow, that drain is huge! Did they relay the drains every 6 metres or so? That one in the video is almost on the touchline. We use a contractor called "inscapes" based in Wales

 

A short term measure is that the pitch is being Verti drained at regular intervals

 

Can’t remember the contractor. As he says it is not easy digging. It is really disappointing as we only did all that a couple of years ago.

 

What does that mean?

 

Like most stadiums we have a problem with light even in summer. So the grass doesn’t grow in abundance and we normally have a short summer. We have a light machine but nowhere near big enough.

 

Thats pretty much it, the problem is where there is no grass. The surface drains well because there was no chance that game was going ahead on Friday. Putting a fit for purpose surface down in the summer should cure the problem. Pay the money and do it right, that way at least you have a come back if it does go wrong.