The Pitch

They have already advised us what needs to be done. Obviously it is too expensive for us to complete the work, and they don’t fancy sponsoring us.

 

What's Rhodes getting paid for? This is exactly what he should be doing. Whether Rupp will stump up is another question. If Rhodes isn't asking these questions to the owner what is his role in the club?

 

We're brilliant at nearly doing good things tbf.

 

Not trawled through every post on this thread, so forgive me if this has already been said, but we’ve well and truly had our pants pulled down with regards to the pitch. Didn’t we supposedly spend £250k-ish only a couple of years ago, and the company doing it said it would give us at least 5 years or so?? If that’s the case then they need hauling back and put it right at their own cost

 

Also what happened to those grow lamps on wheels we had!

 

I can't disagree with that but unfortunately Stefan Rupp might, we have discussed this situation many times, we would hope he invests to make Bradford City a better long term proposition if he is open to offers, or he does the least he can with regards investment and we fall even lower from where we were when they purchased the club.
As I replied to @Faithful Bantam IMO this closed season will give us an insight to how much he is genuine and is prepared to back McCall on the pitch and get the likes of the pitch sorted, I hope he's as good as his word.

 

I know they have been involved before in an advisory capacity I was only asking the question would they be prepared to take it a step further, help to finance a proper job doing (and I accept they have far bigger fish to fry than Bradford City) but what better way of advertising than showing the past and present state of our playing surface.

 

And you have to ask knowing the problem going forward why didn't the owners bite the bullet and do the deep routed problem sorted, I thought it was more than £250k but in reality is that a lot of money with regards a decent playing surface, I'd say not ?.

 

I would hope so but I can't say for definite no more than anyone can say he hasn't, as long as we have an owner who has little interest in his investment to get the best return eventually whoever the CEO is they can only offer their opinion based on past experience, Stefan holds the purse strings.

 

Look around, grass has bee'n growing everywhere, local parks, in your gardens, local sport pitches, fields, it's even growing up through paths. But it won't grow at Valley Parade will it, it really is one of the worlds great mystery's The club should have open days so coach parties could come and witness this great phenomenon. I know it's hard to get grass to grow out of concrete, wood and plastic but an old chap told me if you use good soil and the right seed you will be ok. The same old chap was amazed how a pitch could not drain on a pitch that was situated on sloping land

 

what are you trying to say Stuart??

 

After all the rain we had I think the pitch is draining better it’s the general state of the pitch that is the problem even after the work was first done there were patches with no grass. The pitch needs relaying completely which will be a very expensive job. But money will have to found from somewhere probably at the expense of the playing budget

 

Don't know but it must be important as he joined especially today to post it, don't worry @Stuart hallam were here all day.

 

Went to the game yesterday. As a former Groundsman at Plymouth Argyle (now living in Yorkshire) I always take an interest in the pitch. I'm pleased that no one is the blaming the groundstaff. We got loads of grief at Plymouth, all of it unjustified. We had major issues and then the club decided to hold concerts, which was the death nail for the pitch. The club budgeted around £600k for a fibre-lastic pitch. That was 10 years ago so add at least 10% to that now. You get what you pay for, buy cheap buy twice. Good luck!

 

I personally think you should take the best advice given to you. If the cost is prohibitive, but you still need/want the best then you make plans. You can either raise the money from outside the income of the club, or you explain to the fans how much it will cost and explain you will need to put it on the cost of the ST. Of course the owner could give us a low cost loan and have the work done. Failing any of those options we sit wringing our hands indefinitely, and continue asking our ground staff to perform miracles through the winter ad infinitum. What I do not want to here from anyone at the club is either we do the pitch or short change the manager in the quality of the players he brings in.

 

http://www.fibrelasticturf.com/fibrelastic.html

 

It will continue to be a problem for many many years. Patch up here, relaying here and their.

But the fundamentals of the pitch won't change as we are a basement league club with similar aspiration.

Talk all you want about turf specialists etc but it's been a problem for donkey years. It will continue in the same vein with the fundamentals of the drainage system and the lack of investment from the man who is culpable for our demise to the basement league.

 

What's the cost to the average sized football pitch @Stuart hallam.

 

It will continue to be a problem while we don't own the stadium.

We need better negotiating on the lease if we are to stay at VP as maintenance is a massive problem for us.

The pitch is a disgrace and will unfortunately continue to be so as we are a buy cheap, buy twice club.