Bateman's view of SYCOB's pitch

[chris sliski]

Pitch Inspection will be a late call today ..gary is trying to get a ref to inspect the ground...now at 11am

 

will advise asap ...rgds chris

[Matt]

This is a debate that needs having - with today's impending postponement, we are heading for a pile-up. Bear in mind FIVE teams play at HP. I'm not sure this would be the case elsewhere. When will the HP pitch have time to recover?

[GarySTFC]

Incidentally on that point, there's not been a game on it since last Saturday!

[readingrebel]

Incidentally on that point, there's not been a game on it since last Saturday!

 

 

Obviously been ruined to b#ggery and will need a lot longer than a week to recover!

 

Also the pitch needs some proper attention to it and a couple of 60+ part timer so called groundsmen who cannot attent to the pitch if it's muddy is not good enough.

[Staines-upon-Thames Rebel]

So the "investment" in the cabbage patch has payed off with todays game called off.

 

As this is a new pitch it will only firm up and let even less water drain away as it matures.

 

Money well spent.

[Tom]

B/SYCOBs pitch needs time to get established, and probably a lot more work.

 

It's already had a lot of work, how much of an opportunity do you give them.

 

- 2 seasons ago we started the season with bits of the pitch without any grass on it, including the goal mouths where it seemed someone had lobbed weed killer on random parts of the pitch.

- The pitch turned into a dust bowl by the end of the season and wasn't flat.

- The pitch in the summer had to be done TWICE because of incompetence on SYCOB's front with them forgetting to water it when the person attending it went on holiday, this led to the postponement of the Crystal Palace friendly.

- We played for a few weeks were the grass was clearly too long to play on because no one could seemly be bothered to cut it.

 

It's all well and good saying SYCOB have a couple of elderly volunteers looking after the pitch, and that's appreciated, but I'm pretty sure at times various members of Slough's fan base (as with numerous times throughout the year, i.e. pre-season working parties) have offered to help but it's been turned down.

 

On top of that you have 5 teams playing on it regularly as well as SYCOB training on the pitch. That is far too many teams playing/training on a single pitch and it maybe a case come the end of the season it's that factor that blocks a further season at SYCOB anyway forcing alternatives to be sought.

 

If I was a tenant renting a house, I wouldn't put up with a leaking roof and would demand it to be fixed. Why shouldn't Slough as tenants where the overriding factor is the pitch, expect it to be of a good standard.

[Staines-upon-Thames Rebel]

Tom dont upset the SYCOB as we should be greatful to them, considering they dont need the income from Slough as they are wealthy enough to cope on their own.

 

The same was true of Windsor - they did not need our money and look how strong finacially they are now.

[chris sliski]

game off water logged pitch

 

rgds chris s

[chris sliski]

Lads ... please this is getting personal ...and I am affraid a few of you have no idea about the real things ...

 

You really need to speak to people to understand a lots of things that go on in and around a football club !

 

Things are not as easy as you might think , every body is chasing their tails , and we had similar problems when we were at Wexham Park , the days when we had our own

 

pitch ! Its takes thousands upon thousands of pounds to maintain a pitch and to ensure its looked after ..and also to have to right equipment for the job , then you have to

 

find someone to do it and pay them too... its not as easy as black and white...if you want to have a discussion off this messageboard I would be very happy to give

 

you an insight to things...

 

cheers chris s

 

 

 

 

[Woody SUFC]

Are there any grounds with Two clubs on it that have a decent pitch? SYCOBS was poor before you joined so not sure why you are susprised. Windsor's pitch was excellent when Gould was getting paid but after time the wear and tear took it from that high light. Whilst its not your ground you would be amazed what 10 or so people forking a pitch would do. We managed to clear a pitch under 3 inches of snow all over on the thursday and get a game on once. Sure the pitch wasnt great but it was on!

 

As for the manager complaining it doesnt take much to realise the pitches are going to suffer and if he forms a side that cannot adapt to this then he is the one to blame at this level.

[Ian]

True we don't know all the behind the scenes discussions. However, I thought part of our reasoning for extending our stay at Beaconsfield was that we would get a much improved playing surface.

 

Well if this pitch is what we signed up to then someone's made an almighty mistake!! I don't believe for one minute that when we signed the deal to stay that we expceted it to be like this. It's no better than it was before so on that basis it does seem we've been a bit short changed. If the condition is due to circumstances like poor drainage, no ability to water it properly, not enough ongoing maintenance etc then all of those things should have been known and taken into consideration.

 

There's no point laying an amazing surface then not giving it the care and attention it needs. What did people think would happen?!

[HEAVY TRUCKER]

the best pitch we have played on by far is that of st leonards , could double for a bowling green.

[chris sliski]

chesham and cambridge city both off today ! and again fanastic playing surfaces..

[Ian]

Not sure why you're trying to defend it, Chris. The pitch is a disgrace and any money spent seems to have been wasted.

[brighton_rebel]

Few things

We should have more games being played at the beginning of the season, its madness to have free Tuesday nights when the weather is a lot more agreeable.

Beaconsfield, just like so many other lower league clubs, struggle financially. Their main asset is the pitch and i can see why they want to use as much as possible. Which brings us back to artificial pitches again. The FA need to change their stance on these or alternatively there should be a large pot of cash to help small clubs be able to install the same pitches as Arsenal and Wembley have.

Or we could all just relocate to somewhere where the winter isn't so [censored].

 

 

 

[Staines-upon-Thames Rebel]

Brighton Rebel is right - get games in early as you never know when the bad weather will hit.

 

This year it was snow in December, Rain in February.

 

Last year it was snow and ice in January.

 

This unpredictability rules out a winter break, as who is to know when best to have the 4-6 week break?

 

Also we all like to have the Boxing day and new years day games - weather permitting!

 

Time the leauge used some common sence - but when did they ever do that?

[chris sliski]

Having watched the football last night on the tele , did you see how many other grounds were suffering...

 

Wolves ...for one a premier league team and it was horrendous too..

 

and they have the money and resources and played half the game thats been on the Beaconsfield pitch ...so it does not work all the time !

 

Lets accept it's been a bad winter ..and we have to get on with what we have...

 

chris s

[Ian]

Lets accept it's been a bad winter ..and we have to get on with what we have...

 

chris s

 

 

It isn't the winter that's the problem though, Chris. The pitch started the season too long, it isn't flat and it was boggy long before the postponements started. As I said, if I'd have paid money for an improved surface I'd be a bit miffed that we haven't got one and that's been the case since August.

[chris sliski]

I am not aware that the club paid any extra money , I believe the owner promised to get it flatter and install a water irrigation system at the bequeath of Slough.

 

Yes I believe its a bit flatter , but to achieve this most of the good drainage earth was removed..have a look in the bottom field and you will see what I mean...

 

To get that pitch up to a good standard will cost thousands and maybe out of reach for a non league club that attracts less than a 100 to its matches.

 

and even a rent from Slough will not be enough ...to do this...

 

chris s personally

[Staines-upon-Thames Rebel]

Regardless of whom paid what to who and who failed to look after the pitch after however many teams have played on it, there is only one important question - when will we get our own ground and have our own fate in our own hands?

 

The last update on the ground on 12th Feb 2011 stated the club would "be in a position to provide another update following next weeks meeting" - no update.

 

The original timetable quoted that if all went well, was that the ground would be open in 2011, if there were delays the target would move to early 2012.

 

Does anyone have a realistic update on these dates and what season is it anticipated we might start playing at the new ground?

 

Personally if we are only putting in the planning application now I cannot see us in the new ground before the 2013/2014 season.

 

That means we need to squat for at least another 2 more seasons - not something I am looking forward to either with the state of Sycob's pitch or at the flee pit called stag meadow.