SOLUTION FOR THE FUTURE OF ENGLISH FOOTBALL - PART TWO

"PLASTIC" PITCHES

Artificial surfaces have come along way since Luton Town, Queens Park Rangers, Preston North End and Oldham Athletic had them installed in the 1980's. The first surfaces were far harder than grass and the ball pinged around too much with player's far more prone to injury with carpet burns a favourite.

In 2012 the development of the alternative to grass has moved on with 3G pitches installed using sand or rubber infills. UEFA and FIFA games have been played on them including the Russia v England on 17th October 2007.

Old school fans of muddy uneven pitches will complain and these will be missed if some clubs are allowed to go ahead with installing artificial surfaces. SI believes that at a time of when Football League and Non-League clubs are losing money hand over fist it makes sense commercially for some clubs to have these surfaces.

How many times a year is a standard League Two pitch used?  23 home league games, a few league and FA Cup games, reserve games, ladies games, maybe a few youth games and local cup finals. I would say that's about 50-60 times every 365 days with percentage wise works out at about 16%. That's only 16% of the year when a ground/pitch is used. With artificial surfaces local schools, local clubs, 5/6/7 a-side tournaments and a whole number of uses could be had from the pitch every day of the year without the fear of over-use would ruin the pitch....granted they do need some upkeep but not half as much as standard turf/grass. The revenue gained from the hire of the pitch and in turn bar and food takings would go up would mean clubs receiving a much needed cash injection.

Ryman League Division One (South) Maidstone United fans have cause for lots of celebration this year as the new club formed (after the financial collapse of the old Maidstone United) as Maidstone Invicta in 1992 move back to the Kent town the original club left in 1988. The Gallagher Stadium will have a 'field turf' surface so as things stand the club will not be able to progress beyond the Ryman Premier and will have to play any home fixtures in the FA Cup somewhere else. The club are currently lobbying the FA and the Conference in an attempt to get them to accept 3/4G surfaces. The argument being if they are good enough for Internationals and are allowed in the majority of leagues in Northern Europe, surely it's only a matter of time before the FA and Conference have a change of heart and accept them. If Maidstone stay in the Ryman South for the 2012/13 season they could theoretically play local rivals Sittingbourne in the league at home one week, then could be drawn against the same side the week after in the FA Cup and have to play the game elsewhere....Does that make sense?

The money The Stones will earn from the pitch far out way the negative aspects plus with most of the non-league/lower league games wiped out this snowy weekend most 3G pitches would be playable!

Are Maidstone United and teams such as Durham City, Woodley Sports and Sutton Coldfield Town of the Evo Stik Northern League ahead of the game on this subject. On a day when, as stated, most games were wiped out in the lower leagues due to the snow Durham City and Sutton Coldfield Town both played games. Woodley's home game versus Curzon Ashton didn't make it but two out of three is a good return with most other games off!