The Pitch…..what can be done about it?

This is our pitch on Boxing Day and it looks superb, a few days later we played Stockport in torrential rain and it’s cost us dearly.

 

Where does the water go though rod? I assume at VP any rainwater that is discharged into the touchlines just finds its way back to the pitch due to whatever lies underneath?

 

Thanks a bunch Rod, but I'll do my best...again!
My boss at the time had a saying "I will give you an explanation, if you don't understand, say so and I'll explain again. If I have to explain a third time I've got the wrong person". In the case of this subject I must have posted answers or clarifications over 10 times on this site or C&B and yet still the same people come up with the same ill informed comments or the same questions already answered. I will leave it to them as to whether they fall into my old boss's category.
First some general points. Bradford is the 7th wettest city in the country, it almost has its own micro climate which is why historically the wool industry thrived here, damp atmosphere helped production just as East Lancashire helped cotton. Turning to last week, on Friday Bradford had the most rain in the Yorkshire and Humber region, Saturdays figures are not out at the time of typing this but going home around 3.00 yesterday roads were torrenting water in Bradford and beyond.
Second general points on the pitch. You are right, in 2018 the drainage was relayed, including punching through the much mentioned retaining wall which had acted as a block to free drainage. This work (as mentioned in another of my posts) was designed and supervised by a former STRI consultant who was responsible for the World Cup pitch preparartion of all the pitches in Russia, I suggest he is not an amatuer, dabbling. One bedded in the work resulted in VP having Highly Commended status for the pitch in Season 21/22 and placed 3rd last season 22/23. Some on here have had the good grace to mention the improvement. These placeings are based on marks from both Refs and visiting Managers. This season, as recent as Boxing Day the pitch got special comment on its condition and playing quality from the Ref and, as above the Barrow Manager said apart from the grass the pitch played very well against Wycombe. They can't all be wrong, A far cry from many years in my life when the pitch was a diamond of soil from October with a green bit in four corners.
3/4/5G pitches are not allowed in England, non runner and both Harrogate and Sutton had to tear theirs up on promotion in favour of grass.
Undersoil heating is for PL Clubs or those who have been in PL at some time. Very expensive and doesn't dry out pitches as some on here seem to believe in some sort of fantasy world.
Pitches these days are hardly ever returfed, exception being some goal mouths at some Clubs. Equally reseeding existing surfaces is not done either. The end of season process is to Korrow the surface to remove existing grass and routes plus any 'rubbish' such as weed, apply new fibre sand, in our case 250/300 tonnes, re-grade and seed. Some on here have suggested the time frame doesn't allow root growth. We are dealing with a specific type of seed here not something in a bag from B&Q. Further, if there is no root growth to anchor the grass can someone explain why the grass is still in place with little wear months into the season, clearly ill informed and nonsense conclusion by some.
Turning to air rollers, we have a type which we got from Manchester City from memory around 2018. The prevoious covers were heavy and needed a team to move. Their weight drew water to the surface as we saw in 2015 (Sunderland at home F.A. Cup). These covers are light, frost protection to -4/-5C and are commonly used, giving some rain protection but not the main function.
Finally, yes there is a balloon type tent protection, not commonly used but it has been researched in the last couple of years. The issue is cost, both capital and running. I am guessing but think the former is around £250 k, don't hold me to it, memory vague.
Finally to the current situation. The pitch was fine up to and including Boxing Day. That morning I called Mick Doyle in fear of the heavy rain and all was fine as we saw, at least those of us who go rather than those who throw stones from their armchair!!. I've heard Mick's comments about the Liverpool game but for me the Stockport game dis the damage with the massive attempt to get the game on using suction rollers and leaving the pitch as we see it now. The pitch played well as it did against Wycombe, just looks bad and will until the grass starts to come back.

I hope that helps but I won't be repaeting any in the future, as my old boss said.......

 

I look forward to your suggestion as to what form that might take Stafford.

 

Man C it’s got rid because the covers didn’t fit the larger pitches

 

Well here in Wibsey its a beautiful start to the day I wonder if they made the decision to not put the coves on until around 5pm tonight and let the sun and wind do its job.

 

I see pictures of the pitch are doing the rounds on the football media and aggregator sites. Bit of a laughing stock really aren't we?

 

The EFL is the clubs and the clubs the EFL so it's maybe time to have serious rethink about artificial pitches. The modern artificial pitches of today are a million miles away from when Preston, Oldham etc had them.
Whether you care to accept it or not, global warming is leading to wetter winters. We've just had the wettest February on record.
The EFL needs to wake up to this and accept it needs to rethink it's policy on artificial pitches.
I know they're expensive to install but due to their durability clubs can train on them during the day. Youth and women's teams can play matches on them and they can be rented out to communities. All of which reduces costs and generates income. At the moment we only use it 25-30 times a season.

 

One way or another this problem needs sorting out. Not a good look for a professional sporting outfit.

 

We're not really a professional sporting outfit though are we....

 

Were warranties and guarantees not offered along with advice on how to maintain any improvements
Looks like to some extent money was wasted
The club looks incapable of finding a solution
VP can't be unique with this problem as @Bigrod has quoted Spennymoor FC have a solution
Maybe a certain "boss" was correct

 

Now that is something I would personally be prepared to chip in for a fans to funded covers/tent, obviously dependant on cost, if it would guarantee we did not have a problem playing with regards the situation we've seen recently, as we know it would not guarantee we didn't have games postponed as the H&S could get involved and say the surrounding area is not safe for fans to walk down.
And yes I agree the wife's been telling me for donkeys years I need my head testing.

 

Move from VP.

Or buy the ground, fix the problem.

 

What if our landlord doesn't want to sell, genuine question you as a very successful business man will know its just not that easy to up sticks and move, even disregarding our emotional ties to Valley Parade, but I'm quite interested in you plans if we were to try that option.

 

As informative and interesting as your post is, I also find it extremely patronising and condescending. Several times you mock what the majority of fans are putting:

“the same people come up with the same ill informed comments”

“some on here seem to believe in some sort of fantasy world”

“Some on here have suggested the time frame doesn't allow root growth. We are dealing with a specific type of seed here not something in a bag from B&Q”

“clearly ill informed and nonsense conclusion by some”

“those who throw stones from their armchair”


An extremely small percentage of football fans know anything whatsoever about grass, soil, etc, and given the club communications to the fans regarding any matters whatsoever - including the issues with the pitch and the plan to remedy it - are as rare as rocking horse shit, then of course people are going to assume aren’t they!

 

Some people just can’t resist taking a pop at every opportunity

 

Each to their own mate, but there’s no way I’d part with a single penny more than I need to, in order to watch the sub standard shite we’ve had to endure for the past 6 years. Especially when we have an owner said to be worth over £100m, and a super successful CEO who not only keeps us self sustainable, but brings in enough sponsorship and marketing deals to make us a modest profit

Not a chance in hell. Any spare cash I have is far too hard earned to donate to this particular cause