It has got to change!

[coach et 64]

On Monday night,in freezing conditions our Hullbridge XI played Harold Wood on a nice 3G artificial pitch.It was perfectly playable and there was no need to do anything apart getting the match balls out and play.I would like to know why our octagerian FA doesn't allow non-league clubs to play on 3G's artificial pitches?They do in Scandinavian countries,Italy and other parts of the world so why not in non-league football over here??The latest generation of artificial pitches are great:you can play and train on them 24/7 with little maintenance required.In Italy as long as your pitch complies with FIFA standards you can play football up to Conference level. :coffee (2):

Edited January 8, 2010 by coach et 64

[theboss]

Have to agree the 3g pitches are now superb and offer a far better all round performance than the old style 'greengrocer pitches' like Luton QPR and Preston used to have.

Non league teams are struggling to attract and income streams and having a 3g surface would allow the club to train at their own home pitch as well as able to offer local teams the chance to use the pitch to train and play games on. After the initial lay out which could be offset by FA grants the lack of constant maintainence would also save clubs money.

Its a winner all round must be looked into by the FA otherwise as all so often happens the lower league clubs in this country will be left to struggle and fend for themselves.

 

Finally a good playing surface would surely benefit the national game as a whole as it would offer the chance for players to actually 'Play' rather being forced to play direct as it so often happens at our level during the winter months when the pitches rip up.

[Ian_W]

Why should different playing rules apply to one FIFA member than to another.

[coach et 64]

Why should different playing rules apply to one FIFA member than to another.

 

Because every association, rightly or wrongly not down to me to say,wants to keep a bit of autonomy in making decisions.Flipping hell it's Northern Europe the same as Sweden,Norway and Danmark!If it's good enough for them.....after all we are not the Maldives!!!

[coupwotcoup]

Woodley Sports and Durham of the UniBond both play on 3G pitches.

[coach et 64]

Woodley Sports and Durham of the UniBond both play on 3G pitches.

 

So that means that is left to local leagues to accept it or not?It reminds me of medieval times....So why is ok for the Unibond and not for the rest?

[Silencer]

Artificial pitches are ok, but we played a few friendlies pre-season over at playfootball.....its not the same as grass. Tackling, bounce and movement is all too different imho.

 

Yeah, in theory it would be great but our elements (Wind, rain, heat, greasey surfaces) are all part of the game and make great levellers on occasions

 

Times like this, then the idea of 3G would be good....but this is by far the worst winter in ages. We dont usually lose too many games each season. The big problem in recent years is games being called off on pitches when 5 years ago the match would have been played.

[Lightweight]

We have been down the plastic route before. Plastic is plastic, Non organic, sterile, artificial. Everything that football isn't.

 

JJ is right It's grass, mud, the wet, the cold, the wind. Football is a live organic experience. Carry on like this and people will be asking for a cheering crowd recording next.

[coupwotcoup]

We have been down the plastic route before. Plastic is plastic, Non organic, sterile, artificial. Everything that football isn't.

 

JJ is right It's grass, mud, the wet, the cold, the wind. Football is a live organic experience. Carry on like this and people will be asking for a cheering crowd recording next.

 

Well that sums up Southend Manor perfectly....

[theabbeyabbott]

We have been down the plastic route before. Plastic is plastic, Non organic, sterile, artificial. Everything that football isn't.

 

JJ is right It's grass, mud, the wet, the cold, the wind. Football is a live organic experience. Carry on like this and people will be asking for a cheering crowd recording next.

 

Well that sums up Southend Manor perfectly....

 

 

Is that their pitch on the advert on TV? used to be the Abbey in the 70's and 80's!

[coach et 64]

That explains a lot of things..... Football is art,creativity,skills played in a nice warm envinronment and on a perfect pitch.The more skillful teams have always won 80% of World Cups that are played in the summer and usually in good weather......but that's another story! Back to the burgers,chill weather and muddy pitches Flipping hell....it's snowing again!