3G pitch debate

[OldTowner]

Some reports seem to suggest the The FA will sanction the use of 3G at all league levels.

If true, Clubs like Maidstone would be allowed promotion.

 

What's your view ?

[andyetfc]

With the advent of modern technology and changes made in the development of these pitches, I for one would welcome them.

 

Income streams would significantly increase and assist clubs, even ours.

[Steph]

There is no doubt that grass pitches add to the excitement of the game and the skills of the players.

 

On Tuesday there was a time when a high ball landed straight down on to a muddy patch in front of me. There was absolutely no bounce and the ball stopped dead. The skilful players will react to that whereas the players with less ability will not recognise the difference in bounce.

 

A team that finishes top of the league has proved their worth over all types of conditions from bone hard pitches to mud baths to greasy surfaces. That team deserves their place. If we are to play on synthetic pitches the players have merely had to play in the same circumstances everytime. It is the difference between rallying and formula 1.

 

There is also the point that there are claims that we are going through climate change. If those claims are true, and I have my doubts, synthetic pitches will add to the carbon footprint which we are told is so important.

[thecoldend]

No debate in my book. If a club wants a 3g pitch let them do it. Can be used every night of the week and raise money for club.

 

Drive down White Hart Lane from the A10 and you see Coles Park (Haringey Borough) which hasn't hardly been used in the last couple of months due to problems with pitch..a little further down is the 3g pitch at the WHL sports centre which is used all the time by youth teams, schools, men's teams and ladie's teams.

[littlehampton]

Agree with the comments posted. Think the FA will eventually agree to 3G pitches at all levels. Maidstone have definitely done the right thing at their new stadium, and it is already paying dividends. If we are able to submit a successful funding application, to cover the cost involved, think it is a strong consideration for the QE2 stadium. 

[OldTowner]

Agree.

Time moves on.

Whilst the initial costs are high there are a number of interesting articles on the web regarding investment, costs and potential returns.

Some indicate that with the correct form of funding, a profit per year can be achieved.

Food for thought.

Must be worth some in depth investigation.

[behind-the-goal]

Totally agree that a thoughtful and insightful approach to the debate à la Steph should be ignored: far better that an ignorant and dumbed-down view should be considered. Let’s all ensure that what’s happened to politics, the health system and education also happens to football.

[thevoiceofreason]

What is almost as dreadful as the anti football on these pitches is the attitude of those in favour of them. If you point out, quite reasonably, the loss of the need to adapt when playing on anti football pitches, you get called a dinosaur and worse. If you suggest that these pitches offer an unfair familiarity advantage to the home team, more name calling exists. If you wonder how many league games Maidstone have lost at home this season, the answer is not a subjective one. It is all very well playing the revenue card, but if people like watching proper football, rather than tippy tap, they will go elsewhere to do so.

 

Scandanavia, Russia and the Faroes have a different climate to Britain. Even the eco whingers don't forecast they will merge as one overnight, so the " they have them, so we should" argument seems weak.

 

Proper football involves different skills to tippy tap. If people prefer the latter, that is their choice, but trying to impose it on those who don't like it or want it is arrogant...in my opinion at least.

[Stone Cold]

All this talk about Maidstone having an unfair advantage is ridiculous just because of the playing surface they have. Yes they might have won the majority of games at home but then if you want to argue it is due to their pitch then the flip side would be why do they also win quite a lot of their away games? Surely this would then be a disadvantage to Maidstone if they are having an advantage of playing home games on a different surface? 

 

Having a 3g pitch is a no brainer, yes it may take away the fun and unpredictable element of playing on a mud bath of a pitch but when was the last time games were played on a mud bath? nowadays if there is any remote chance of a pitch unplayable due to one tiny puddle then the game is off. This could be a great way to keep many non league clubs from going under as they would generate secondary income through outsourcing the pitch to other parties and also attendances would be maintained within expected budgets due to Saturday games going ahead rather than being postponed, rearranged for a midweek and seeing attendances drop by quite some way.

[thevoiceofreason]

...they win, maybe, because they play tippy tap at home every other week and therefore have the momentum when it comes to playing football away from home. They may also be a good team, but they play on a surface that is anti football. I hate these abominations and only watch tippy tap on them to have the right to an opinion. Money? Well it might make financial sense to sell your soul/ grandmother too, it doesn't necessarily make it right, though.

 

I would never tell anyone they don't have a right to watch and enjoy tippy tap, if they want to....but go to a leisure centre, not to a real football stadium, which is for real football. ( or not, if it is bad weather.) Bad weather is no reason to ditch a principle... or change rules that everyone signed up to at the start of the season for that matter, either.

[7oaks]

As a newbie, having come across this chat by accident, I am not sure whether the voice of reason is for real. Do not groundsmen try to get their pitch in as good a condition as possible? Can one not play "real football" on good pitches, or is it only possible to play tippy tappy on pitches such as The Emirates or the Etihad? In what category would the voice of reason place Wembley with its semi artificial pitch? Does the "lottery" of playing on a poor surface trump the ability to display skill and speed on the best surfaces?

I daresay Bashley and others wish that they had the revenues from their games lost to the conditions.

Artificial pitches are already in use in Britain for professional football, notably in Scotland and Wales. Maidstone's pitch is FIFA recommended and inspected annually and approved for all levels of competitive football, I think, to maintain FIFA's highest level benchmarked against natural grass in ideal condition.

I believe that the benefits of maintaining fixture lists and other financial advantages will see more and more clubs switch to 3G in the coming years.

[andyetfc]

Tennis is played on hard courts, grass courts, clay courts, bitumen courts, etc, etc. do you see the players moan about the different surfaces they play on? No.

 

If 3G pitches can be funded, and the FA agree to them, then I for one would like to see football played on them. May take a while for the game to be sold to all, but if they help generate interest and finances, then it can't be all that bad.

[thevoiceofreason]

I am entirely for real and take exception to the suggestion I am not. ( Because I don't agree with tippy tap fans?) If you are so desperate to watch this kind of stuff, the opportunity is there for you to do so, You might need to get a victim mentality if you choose the likes of Maidstone, but you have a choice. The red herring of tennis is barely worth acknowledging, but if needs be, you might find that tennis and football are different, despite attempts by the tippy tap mafia to dismiss anything that calls into question their ghastly brave new world vision.

[andyetfc]

I am entirely for real and take exception to the suggestion I am not. ( Because I don't agree with tippy tap fans?) If you are so desperate to watch this kind of stuff, the opportunity is there for you to do so, You might need to get a victim mentality if you choose the likes of Maidstone, but you have a choice. The red herring of tennis is barely worth acknowledging, but if needs be, you might find that tennis and football are different, despite attempts by the tippy tap mafia to dismiss anything that calls into question their ghastly brave new world vision.

I have a feeling you are not in favour of 3G pitches.

[MbrunoB]

Tennis is played on hard courts, grass courts, clay courts, bitumen courts, etc, etc. do you see the players moan about the different surfaces they play on? No.

 

If 3G pitches can be funded, and the FA agree to them, then I for one would like to see football played on them. May take a while for the game to be sold to all, but if they help generate interest and finances, then it can't be all that bad.

They always complain they don't like this surface or that one or even that they prefer a different surface.

[Steph]

If plastic pitches become the norm - the financial advantage will be very limited. Here is a point that has not been raised, if there are more plastic pitches one can expect more games and more football. It may be that we may generate more skillful players.

 

As you know, however, I am not in favour of plastic pitches I just try to see both sides of the argument and the pros have not raised the issue of the level of skill that may be generated.

 

Over to you the pro-plastics.

[thevoiceofreason]

Careful...reasoned argument doesn't go down well with the synthetic sycophants!

[andyetfc]

If plastic pitches become the norm - the financial advantage will be very limited. Here is a point that has not been raised, if there are more plastic pitches one can expect more games and more football. It may be that we may generate more skillful players.

 

As you know, however, I am not in favour of plastic pitches I just try to see both sides of the argument and the pros have not raised the issue of the level of skill that may be generated.

 

Over to you the pro-plastics.

It's interesting to note that a lot of football venues which provide all year round 'plastic' pitches seem to turn over a healthy profit. I know they tend to be five a side facilities, but it's worth noting.

 

Also, the full size pitches at Southbury Leisure Centre are used extensively over the week and someone must be benefitting from them.

 

It's good to discuss these matters as it could have an effect on our team in the future.

[7oaks]

Steph. I did indeed refer to skill and speed in my earlier response. Does it not stand to reason that playing on a high quality surface is likely to encourage players with greater skills and enable those skills to develop further. There is nothing in the rules to say that pitches should be muddy and uneven, is there? Is it not generally the case that the higher the standard of play the better the pitch? Most Premier League clubs will want the best possible playing surface, and spend a lot of money maintaining the pitch. Few if any non league clubs have grass surfaces that consistently meet such standards.

 

Comparisons between the top level of FIFA recommended pitches should not be casually made with plastic pitches at leisure centres. To retain the necessary 2 star rating requires regular maintenance and FIFA inspection.

[7oaks]

Apologies to the voice of reason if I offended you. I was unsure whether your posts might be with tongue in cheek.