Reading Rebel Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 Looking at the non league paper I came across a bit of news on Sutton United who are going to have a 3G installed in their ground. I must admit that I thought 3G was 3G and that was it but it seems there are different types. Sutton are having a company called FieldTurf install a 3G 'Shock pad' system that has been proven to help protect players from injuries that can occur on 3G pitches. Also, 3G pitches will have to perform to FIFA 2-star performance standards. Just thought this was a useful bit of information when we get round to deciding on a 3G pitch for our new ground. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Smudge Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 Carshalton Ath will also be installing 3g next year.If the teams that have installed 3g are anything to go by i.e Maidstone Utd and Whyteleafe promoted last year,in Ryman South play offs this year,crowds up,revenues up,ground hire up,even given the honour of hosting the Ryman League Cup Final.The possibilities are endless. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Windsor_Sec Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 RR, there are indeed many types of 3G surfaces depending on type and proposed frequency of usage coupled with budgetary considerations. There are also a number of variations in the base materials used under the carpet itself so it can be a bit of a minefield if you don't get the experts involved which I'm sure your chairman will have done [or will do]. One major misconception is people who talk about 4G which doesn't actually exist ! Depending on the exact type of surface you go for there are also ongoing maintenance fees to set aside which can be up to £20k per year and you also need to budget for replacing the surface eventually as they have a 'shelf-life' which again all depends on how often it's used. On the plus side you don't need weed killer, fertiliser, mowers and all the other associated costs that come with looking after grass and of course you can effectively use it 24/7 without any ill effects. Maidenhead Utd are supposed to be installing one at York Road during the close-season and Windsor will go the same way eventually but as usual it's all about securing the funding first. There is no doubt that 3G is the way forward for football and in particular for non-league clubs who can then utilise their surfaces to generate much needed income all year round. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HorshamRebel Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 The one that Merhyr has is different to the other ones I've seen, where it hasn't got those tiny plastic balls on the surface (that get absolutely everywhere). The groundsman told me that they still have them, but they are in the under layer, which they said provides a better "sponge area" under the surface and gives a more natural bounce. It also has the benefit of not getting any footwear etc. full of those tiny balls. As Windsor_Sec says, there are quite a few variations on the theme now. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staines_rebel_Jr Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 The installation of a 3G pitch would cost close to £500,000 including making sure the ground is flat and drainage. Almost all 3G pitches available at the moment have shock pads built into them and most have the rubber granules. maintenance for 3G pitches include using a dragmat once per week to even out the level of rubber granules so that they don't build up in certain areas, removal of all rubbish including leaves and any weeds (week killer can be needed). Annual maintenance usually costs around £15,000 but can be more expensive. this includes checking that the pitch is in a good state and isn't being ripped anywhere, checking moss and weeds aren't growing and finally re spreading the rubber granules and topping them up (especially in places such as penalty spot and 6 yard box). Every 5 years the pitch need rejuvenating which costs approximately £35,000 After 10 years the pitch will need relaying which costs around £180,000-200,000 at the moment but could be around £250,000 in 10 year time. so the first 10 years including installation will cost approx just under £1,000,000. However if the pitch is rented out regularly during the week (say 40-60 hours) then it is reasonably easy to make £100,000 a year from it. this doesn't take into consideration any electricity used to run floodlights or anything else. 3G pitches will pay for themselves as long as they are rented out enough. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlenSTFC Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 Big numbers there if accurate, surely the idea though is to make money (not break even) as that's probably the main reason clubs install them. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
staines_rebel_Jr Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 Big numbers there if accurate, surely the idea though is to make money (not break even) as that's probably the main reason clubs install them. it is the initial £500,000 installation cost which is the main reason that it costs so much in the first 10 years. You would start to make significant profit after 10 years as long as you can consistently get people to hire out the pitch. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Brighton on holiday Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 Add in hardly any games postponed Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HEAVY TRUCKER Posted April 17, 2015 Share Posted April 17, 2015 remebering that this 3g pitch will be council owned as the ground is a community facility, how this will affect our earning potential for this i am not able to answer but on the positive side it should cut out the initial costs though i am sure that the club will be involved somehow. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlenSTFC Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 No info given yet but you'd have to presume this new ground will be mostly council funded plus any grants we can get. Based on that what extra revenues would we actually receive aside from the obvious ones we currently get? Hopefully we can strike a deal with our council supporters so the club earns a slice of bar and catering revenue. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HorshamRebel Posted April 18, 2015 Share Posted April 18, 2015 As you say Glen, no info yet so no one knows what is going to happen apart from all the powers to be on each side that will be discussing this at the correct time in the process. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reading Rebel Posted April 18, 2015 Author Share Posted April 18, 2015 No info given yet but you'd have to presume this new ground will be mostly council funded plus any grants we can get. Based on that what extra revenues would we actually receive aside from the obvious ones we currently get? Hopefully we can strike a deal with our council supporters so the club earns a slice of bar and catering revenue. As a minimum I'd say we should get the food and bar takings on match days and events set up by the club. As far as a share events organised by other people other than Slough Town FC I'd very much doubt it but we'll have to see. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reading Rebel Posted May 1, 2015 Author Share Posted May 1, 2015 Just read that the Vanarama Conference National have changed their stance and have now banned 3G pitches for next season. This has made promoted clubs like Bromley scrap their plans to change to 3G. No guarantee that they will change their minds at a later date and could have a major effect on ambitious clubs who currently have 3G i.e. Maidstone and Merthyr and clubs like ourselves if we want to get back into the Conference National. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlenSTFC Posted May 1, 2015 Share Posted May 1, 2015 Very strange they've made this u-turn which is a real kick in the teeth for any club in the leagues below who have or are putting 3G's in. Wonder if the league will respond as to why? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Cornish Rebel Posted May 1, 2015 Share Posted May 1, 2015 Go to pitchcare website there is an interesting article about 3g pitches and they have started a petition up to basically spend more time maintaining proper grass pitches.Dont know if this has anything to do with this but it seems a bit of a coincedence.Also it does make a lot of valid points www.pitchcare.com Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
RebelDelaney Posted May 1, 2015 Share Posted May 1, 2015 On the Bromley website it says that the rule change was agreed by the Football Authorities is this the long winded way of saying the Bl**dy F A. These people are still living in the past these 3G Pitches will enhance the survival of non league clubs in many ways in years to come. There needs to be a Kerry Packer style breakaway. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
Reading Rebel Posted May 1, 2015 Author Share Posted May 1, 2015 Probably don't give a toss about the smaller clubs. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
HEAVY TRUCKER Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 well they might have to if the majority of feeder clubs have 3g that win promotion they might have to make yet another u turn Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
epicrebel Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 It's called looking after your own. Imagine if to many of the so called part time team get into their monopoly and change things. Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
GlenSTFC Posted May 2, 2015 Share Posted May 2, 2015 Well if nearly every club in the Conf South and North have 3G then they'll have no choice but to accept them? Link to comment Share on other sites More sharing options...
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