The Pitch

Accrington's chairman said earlier this week the only way they sorted their pitch was to do a proper professional job on it, they'd already wasted 10s of thousands on suck it and see repair jobs. The proof of their work is there for all to see, the pitch was still playable and in good condition right after storm Ciara. This needs sorting in the summer, not two or three years down the line. Looking at photos this year of a solitary lighting rig trying to persuade non existing grass to grow on that surface is the epitome of pathetic. Needs doing this summer regardless of cost. Enough pissing about.

 

The fact that the water drained shows that the work on the drainage the other year was worth it but even in August that year there were bald patches on the grass. So yes I agree it is a priority however despite all the fine words when the budget is cut there will still be howls of discontent

 

Well thats not sorted really is it? Ask a professional how much it would cost for the upkeep then budget accordingly. If a club like Accrington can sort their pitch out then so can we. None of this rubbish about 'how bad pitches were in my day', sick of hearing the excuses. Time to move into the 21st century, albeit 20 years late.

 

Completely agree. If its a million quid, so be it. I'd like to thin our owner would underwrite the cost, given the windfalls we've had from McBurnie. But if not, trim the playing budget by 250k for 4 years. The way we spend on garbage signings, it shouldn't be too much of a sacrifice. I'd gladly trade Anderson, Devine, Mellor and Taylor for a decent pitch.

 

I believe Paula Watson aluded to it when asked, saying the club did not go for all the bells and whistles and went for a cheaper option.

 

To ask professional players to play on that pudding is a disgrace and needs sorting in the summer, or even now if we can. However, I would prefer a professional analysis of firstly what is wrong with the pitch that it barely lasts 6 months, and what is required to not only fix the problem but maintain it throughout the year. I couldn’t careless what Rahic did or didn’t do, he is gone thank goodness. I hear we have asked someone to do an underground excavation of the pitch to see what is under the pitch in the summer. I really don’t want to hear from anyone at the club telling fans with wringing hands that we can either have a striker or a pitch that the professionals should expect, another Rahic excuse that appears to have carried forward.
We will have both thanks, if we can literally waste money on players and managers throughout the year, then we can at least invest in our pitch, which really is an investment as the players can play better on grass than mud! Plus we won’t have to reimburse other clubs for traveling then having to cancel. I saw pictures of the pitch on Monday and it had puddles all over it, so the groundsman did a fantastic job to get that ready for last night. I think the process of helping the pitch drain properly is also damaging the pitch, just my view of course. It is balancing act, but the pitch has deteriorated very quickly this year. Rhodes has to take responsibility for this, we have a large squad, but we don’t need all the players regardless of ability, and although it is commendable to back the manager in giving him what he wants, but common sense comes into it. If you have spent liberally in the summer, then those players are not delivering questions need to be asked and caution needs to be employed.

 

Drainage is the problem isn't it? I believe its largely as a result of the old retaining wall down the midland road side. Majority of the cost that's been speculated, relates to getting to that wall to dig/blast it out. So would presumably need to be a summer job.

 

Could be, but I thought the wall was in front of the main stand, but in either event it needs sorting. Enough is enough, no more prevarication.

 

It is baffling how this pitch reputedly years ago won Division 2 pitch of the year in the past under a different groundsman

 

There is also the lack of sunlight in certain areas of the pitch, the main stand is responsible for that. This requires special equipment. The light rig we have is nowhere big enough, we need at least two to cover the pitch rather than patches. Southampton have one, it is enormous several covering the whole pitch and going constantly. Obviously we won’t be able to afford that, not only in buying it, but running it. That is how the prem overcome lack of light on the pitch.

 

I seem to remember that when GR renovated the pitch for the premier league that drainage channels were installed in that retaining wall and were checked as working under the work done pre season, The pitch on the final day of that season was as good as the first game, The drainage now looks very good it is the rest of maintaining a quality pitch we lack

 

I’m no expert but I would have thought laying turf would be a better option than seeding.
Very pricey I would expect but it already has an established root system

 

………...and we have a specialist company right on our doorstep to sort it out - STRI Bingley

 

We do have 2 but they don't stretch right across the pitch even put together. At least 1 of them is sponsored by Shipley Bantams.

 

They were involved in the last renovations I thought.

 

Sounds like somewhere one might venture for treatment of, ahem, 'social diseases'.