'Space age' pitch?

[Guest]

Guys.

Remember Fulham! What a day that was. Remember Tottenham hotspur att 14500.Personally I dont because im 25 but many of you probably do.

Recently- Cardiff (ok at dover) Leyton Orient aswell. Ive played on Hartsdown and its like a carpet anyway. Easilly Hp was the best pitch in kent even though it had a slope it wasn't bobly.

Credit can only be given to Ray Baker. Yes we'll get publicity but the new ground is only temporary remember. We may not get the hotel and commercial aspect and we may have to relocate. Whats the point at this moment in time guys. Maybe when the future is clearer for our beloved club.

[Cookie]

But at this moment,without full consent from the F.A we will not be able to progress up the leagues as well as not being able to play home F.A.cup matches.

We may not have that many F.A. cup games thats true, but when we get to those rounds where the big boys come into it, then THATS when it would have been all worthwhile.

Just that ONE F.A.cup tie at home,against a big league club would bring in more coverage of the club than 3 years just playing league games.

Home at Hartsdown, Home at F.A.cup matches thats what I say.

[P.W.]

[color:"blue"]I thought that it was a 'hybrid' pit - grass interwoven with artificial fibres.

Also, as far as the FA Cup is concerned the FA are always slow to react to new technology, if it's approved by UEFA and/or FIFA they'll have to tow the line soon anyway.

I'm sure the advantages will outnumber the disadvantages. CK has changed our playing style, we don't play route one, we are a ball playing side. He's already made one alteration to the plans for the pitch (as was explained by KP at the last MISA open meeting) requesting a wider surface which will be implemented. If we have a well manicured surface all season (rather than just August & September) we'll benifit from good football.

I think you can gather I like the idea.

[Guest]

And let's be clear, if the commercial development doesn't get the go ahead, this could be the saviour of our club.

[michael]

Very very good point wellsie

[Cookie]

And if the commercial dosent go-ahead we (the club) have to pay back the loan so the opposite could be said. Because of that fear it is vital that overspending isnt made. Remember Hornchurch!

Just seeing it from the other side as well.

[margateshot]

The idea of the pitch not being used for the FA cup is ludicrous. How can it be approved by UEFA, FIFA and the FA but not to be used in the FA Cup. Does that count for all the other countries national cups? I agree in principal to the pitch and can see the advantages, but in answer to those people who say that we do not get many FA cup matches anyway, I would ask if you would have sacrificed the excitement of the Fulham match. Also who is to say we won't be playing more matches in the FA Cup 1st and 2nd rounds with CKs record. The recent dissapointments have been mainly due to the problems with playing away from Hartsdown. If it means sacrificing that then it has to be no.

[Guest]

Financially we can't lose from a plastic pitch. Say we did get to the Third Round of the FA Cup and drew Man Utd at home – that would mean switching to Old Trafford! Ironic when the FA have clamped down on non-league sides giving up home advantage. Though, the point an earlier poster made about the FA having to come into line with UEFA is no doubt true.

We would be able to hire out the pitch for concerts, boot fairs and markets. It could be used for local football finals and schools matches. Soccer schools could be held on it in the school holidays. There are many possibilities.

[Edinburgh Exile]

See below re Dunfermline's plastic ptich.

 

http://news.bbc.co.uk/sport1/hi/football/scot_prem/4334291.stm

 

Like everybody else grass would always be the preferred option, but maybe now is the time to move on. I'm sure we train on plastic in any event.

 

Apart from the football politics the Dunfermline articles refers to the cost of a grass pitch and lost revenue, I suspect the cost would not be so great for us, although still considerable, but that the lost revenue may be greater.

 

Enjoy.

[Guest]

Lifted from Dunfermline's official website...

 

DAFC Lays New Generation Pitch

03 March 2005 

 

On 17th March 2005, Dunfermline Athletic Football Club will be revealing its new artificial pitch, which represents a new breed of ultra smart, ultra safe synthetic surfaces created with the very latest technologies to optimise footballing performance and offer impressive safety, community and commercial benefits. The new surface, called XL Turf, is specifically designed to maximise playing characteristics, absorption from impacts and ankle stability throughout play. It is guaranteed to be both softer and less abrasive than the previous artificial surface at Dunfermline and offer the Pars and their opponents increased grip and improved traction.

 

Jim Leishman, Director of Football at DAFC, says: “There have been a lot of sceptics concerning our old artificial pitch. However, with the technological advances of artificial pitches, I can guarantee that the new pitch is a great improvement. I firmly believe that the role of artificial pitches will be significant in football’s future - especially in countries with an unpredictable climate like Scotland’s.

 

Contrary to popular opinion we opted for an artificial pitch for footballing reasons as well as financial ones. These new pitches – as our figures prove - are actually safer and we can train our players for longer due to the decreased need for pitch maintenance.

“Our artificial pitch has opened up the club to local people and made East End Park a real community focal point in a way no other SPL club can be. Youth groups, church groups, local businesses and schools all come here regularly to play and our records show that one in five of people in the local area use the club –such strong links mean we will hopefully build a strong fan base amongst the next generation, creating the Pars fans of the future and ensuring the future of the club.”

 

Paul Atkinson, Physiotherapist for the Pars says: “All the talk of artificial surface causing injury is totally unfounded. UEFA has compiled a report comparing instances of injury at DAFC. For every 1000 hours of playing or training on grass, there were 2.4 ligament injuries. There have been only 1.3 ligament injuries on the artificial pitch in the same time frame. Muscular injuries were 5.2 per 1000 hours of usage on grass, but this has dropped to 1.9 per 1000 hours on the XL surface.

“Out of six players injured for a significant period during the 2003 – 2004 season, four sustained their injuries on grass, while only two were injured on an artificial surface. Our figures show that there is actually less risk of injury on the artificial surface.”

 

The new pitch will be in place by 17th March. The first game on it will be Dunfermline against Hibs on the 19th.

[Ian D]

No FA Cup games(at Hartsdown) would be a loss to the supporters, an extended cup run could be a blow to the club financially and in terms of profile for the ground. This is assuming that the odd high profile cup game is drawn at home!

 

However, the ground can be used 52 weeks of the year and if the club have got their thinking heads on, events and concerts could be held at the stadium during off season and indeed during the season.

 

Leasing of the ground to other sporting clubs and associations becomes possible. Dare I say Thanet Wanderers or even the new rugby league team may need a stadium to play a high profile fixture.

 

The business advantages of (which would need to be the main focus of a commercial development)outweigh the, one club, 25 to 35 league and cup games scenario. 35 games a season leaves the ground unused for for over 330 days a year, not good business (there may also eventually be reserves, youth and womens football). I also realise that many other stadia remain empty for many days of the year and that a multi use stadium isn't used every day!

 

Finally, is it right that the new pitch is a high percentage of grass/turf, with plastic fibres interwoven?

 

Bit of a ramble, but I hope it makes sense!

[jc]

Quote:

Anonymous said:
Financially we can't lose from a plastic pitch. Say we did get to the Third Round of the FA Cup and drew Man Utd at home – that would mean switching to Old Trafford!

Er, or it might just be switched to a neutral venue a la Yeading v Newcastle.

[Guest]

But it would still be a bigger crowd than could fit into Hartsdown.

[David Holden]

Quote:

Anonymous said:
But it would still be a bigger crowd than could fit into Hartsdown.

Not relevant!

Under the rules as they stand, if you switch the tie to a bigger venue, the excess money goes straight to the FA.

[Hornet]

Excellent points made by Ian Day but sacrificing home FA cup ties-it's a double edged sword. If it makes a financial difference to have an artificial pitch then this must be concidered but then again it's those one off special cup days that is what being a supporter is all about. Perhaps we need a pros and cons list.

Although if it is plastic interwoven with grass as has been mentioned this is allowed by the FA as Watford have exactly that as their pitch is used all the time as Saracens Rugby club play at Vicarage Road as well, and the pitch is always pretty good.

Another good MFC situation to debate though.

[Guest]

But FA Cup match venue rules are not that simple. I thought that on ploice advice the game couldn't be held at Yeading so it went to a suitable alternative venue in a "neighbouring" area - QPR. So they were not allowed to switch it to St James Park. If memory serves, the FA have been tightening up on venue selection over a number of years now. But, if you can't stage the game because of FA rulks on on pitches, would we be given more flexibility? Would Priestfield be an option? And even if forced to switch to the opponents venue, the revenues are still split. I think the response to the FA Cup (and Trophy) issue is an emotional one only. But I don't see any quantifiable financial downside given the uncertainty about achieving a "big pay day" in the FA Cup. So at "some point" in the future we "might" not earn as much "unbudgeted" cash from a cup run involving an as yet un-named league side ...... perhaps!

[Cookie]

We mustn't forget "any" objections by local residents here. We have had a torrid time with them just getting a normal ground back. What will their objections be now should the ground be available for use all the year round. We had better tread carefully here or things could all go tits up. Lets face it they were shown plans on the basis of a return to Hartsdown with maybe 1 or two games a week. Can you really see them sitting back and just accepting this change. Could cost us in more delays and that really would be it!

[Guest]

Thats right cookie. As some of you may be aware im a local resident and i was at the locals meeting at the football club when we were told about the plans. We should be cautious. Some of the old biddies stuck in their ways and affraid of change will probably have something to say about it. I think we should concentrate on getting back to hartsdown and try not to complicate matters too much. Remember that SE only needs one piece of ammo to slow our return down again. Remember his ultimate aim seems to put MFC out of business.

[michael]

Interesting and very important point about possibly less injury risk.

Very important factor with a small squad.

 

Also possibly overall means one or twoless players so wage bill is also less