Arbour park pitch

[tbox]

Just see the photo of Dunn leg and was wondering if there is sprinkler system on the pitch or is it down to just rain water to stop getting injures like that or to help cut them down

[Neil Baker]

This is something that we have discussed and hoping may get sorted come the second phase, however as it is, there is no water supply with  enough power that would enable us to get any sprinklers on the pitch at this stage.

 

So rain will help the pitch and probably the pace of the game, but would not help the crowds....

[tbox]

Thanks for the info Neil

[HEAVY TRUCKER]

looking at the weather forecast for saturday i don't think this is going to be a problem.

[REBEL MATTERS]

I know the management team go on about 3G pitches, but this is / was my concern. Too much like the old QPR and Luton plastic pitches.

 

Although its not 'plastic' as in the old QPR and Luton pitches, looking at Dunn's knee's not far off right?

 

Can't beat old fashioned grass for me...

[Neil Baker]

To be fair though CR Dunny could have got that on a dry hard pitch in a sliding tackle at this stage of the season! I know myself from playing that I used to get a number of those types of burns/grazes!!

Obviously we would prefer it wetter as quicker and more suited to how we want to play!

[staines_rebel_Jr]

It is very different to the Astro turf pitches which QPR had. Theirs had very short grass filled with sand. Our 3G pitch is much more forgiving (though as seen by Dunn can cause burns), if Simon Dunn had made slide tackles like that on the old Astro turf pitches he would have lost a lot more skin and blood.

 

 

3G pitches will never be the same as grass pitches and will never be a perfect replacement for grass pitches but what they do offer is continuity throughout the year. Once 3G pitches have been "worn in" they will always play the same year round unlike grass pitches will will be rock solid with big bounces in the summer and very boggy in the winter months. They also virtually guarentee being playable all year round meaning no cancellations. (Can happen on rare occasions like at Merthyr last season). They also allow several teams to play on them without becoming damaged or changed over time which means teams can have their senior and junior teams play on the same pitch rather than have to hire/borrow other pitches.

 

 

Are they better than grass. No

But they have their advantages, particularly for teams like Slough in the lower less financially well off leagues of football.

[epicrebel]

It is very different to the Astro turf pitches which QPR had. Theirs had very short grass filled with sand. Our 3G pitch is much more forgiving (though as seen by Dunn can cause burns), if Simon Dunn had made slide tackles like that on the old Astro turf pitches he would have lost a lot more skin and blood.

 

 

3G pitches will never be the same as grass pitches and will never be a perfect replacement for grass pitches but what they do offer is continuity throughout the year. Once 3G pitches have been "worn in" they will always play the same year round unlike grass pitches will will be rock solid with big bounces in the summer and very boggy in the winter months. They also virtually guarentee being playable all year round meaning no cancellations. (Can happen on rare occasions like at Merthyr last season). They also allow several teams to play on them without becoming damaged or changed over time which means teams can have their senior and junior teams play on the same pitch rather than have to hire/borrow other pitches.

 

 

Are they better than grass. No

But they have their advantages, particularly for teams like Slough in the lower less financially well off leagues of football.

SNOW

[staines_rebel_Jr]

SNOW

 

Messes up grass pitches even more.

 

 

As long as it isn't a thick layer of snow it can easily be brushed off the pitch without damaging the pitch and thus making it playable again.

[epicrebel]

Messes up grass pitches even more.

 

 

As long as it isn't a thick layer of snow it can easily be brushed off the pitch without damaging the pitch and thus making it playable again.

along with the snow the rubber balls so I'd think that'll be a no to brushing.

[staines_rebel_Jr]

along with the snow the rubber balls so I'd think that'll be a no to brushing.

 

only a few of the rubber balls would be moved. The same as when the pitch is normally brushed over using the mighty fine "tractor brush".

 

 

 

"In terms of snowfall, we recommend that if there's just a relatively light dusting, the best way to try to clear the surface is actually to play on it," suggests Bill Pomfret. But what constitutes a light dusting of snow? 0.5 cm according to TigerTurf's Matt Magee; with the caveat that the surface can be played on as long as the line markings are clearly visible. He does, however, recommend that users take extra care during periods of adverse weather.

 

If you do have snowfall greater than a light dusting, what's the best way to remove it? The Sports and Play Construction Association (SAPCA) Code of Practice for the Maintenance of Synthetic Sports Surfaces suggests the use of brushes or wooden scrapers, advising against the use of metal shovels or scrapers as they may damage the surface. Realistically, any sharp edged scraper, irrespective of the material it is made from, will pose a potential risk to damaging seams or the carpet itself.  

 

 

As an experienced practitioner of groundsmanship, Mark Freeman, who is the Head Groundsman at Loughborough University, has a wealth of knowledge and expertise. As he is responsible for the sports surfaces at a sporting university with elite level athletes, he has to keep the surfaces in play as often as possible, mindful of player safety. Mark points out; "Removal of infill during snow clearing has often been cited as a potential problem, but this is minimal compared to the amount of infill on the surface and has little effect on the carpet. In fact, if the snow is pushed to the fence, most of it can be redistributed by brush once the snow has melted."  

 

 

https://www.pitchcare.com/magazine/artificial-surfaces-they-are-not-all-weather.html