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View Full Version : How bad is that pitch ? (Merged threads)



EasterRoad4Ever
30-01-2010, 06:19 PM
The ER pitch is nothing short of a disgrace. Both teams struggled to control the ball and it made some players just look silly. St M had the right idea, get the ball forward quickly and into the box as often as possible - usually causing chaos. Hibs on the other hand continued to try play though the m/f and more often than not over/under hit passes or the target couldn't control the ball. Most Hibs players just don't have the required skills to play that type of football on a pitch as bad as that.

I know we had a few of bad weather but that's no excuse. Do we have a groundsman ?

down-the-slope
30-01-2010, 06:21 PM
The ER pitch is nothing short of a disgrace. Both teams struggled to control the ball and it made some players just look silly. St M had the right idea, get the ball forward quickly and into the box as often as possible - usually causing chaos. Hibs on the other hand continued to try play though the m/f and more often than not over/under hit passes or the target couldn't control the ball. Most Hibs players just don't have the required skills to play that type of football on a pitch as bad as that.

I know we had a few of bad weather but that's no excuse. Do we have a groundsman ?

Pitch was sub contracted out to private company last season...I reckon its been varying types of Keek ever since

Ritchie
30-01-2010, 06:21 PM
pitch saved us & hindered us on occassions today.

needs sorted pronto!

Gus
30-01-2010, 06:24 PM
Up there with fir park IMO, needs sorted (more than we need a gk)

Woody1985
30-01-2010, 06:25 PM
The pitch is bad and I think that's why we resorted to punting it for a spell. Stringing quick passes together was becoming difficult.

givescotlandfreedom
30-01-2010, 06:26 PM
The pitch is awful and will cost us points this season.

Westie1875
30-01-2010, 06:27 PM
Up there with fir park IMO, needs sorted (more than we need a gk)

It is in some state but come on, fir park barely has any green bits left. :greengrin

Seriously though, needs sorted pronto as it will hinder us.

woody47
30-01-2010, 06:30 PM
How about running a steam roller over it just to get the lumps and bumps out. Don't know how many misplaced passes today were purely down to horrific bawbles.
I was actually watching the couple of guys at half time with their forks and thought at the time, what a waste of time. you would need the whole crowd out there with forks to do something. Now there's a thought. :idea: How about ER giving everyone a fork at half time to help flatten the pitch again :greengrin

Gus
30-01-2010, 06:34 PM
It is in some state but come on, fir park barely has any green bits left. :greengrin

Seriously though, needs sorted pronto as it will hinder us.

Your right just trying to get my point across

monktonharp
30-01-2010, 06:48 PM
Up there with fir park IMO, needs sorted (more than we need a gk)no pitch is as bad as Fir Park,although Tannadice tries to be at times. still,at least the Buddies got a guid run out,for Tuesday:wink:

Gus
30-01-2010, 06:52 PM
no pitch is as bad as Fir Park,although Tannadice tries to be at times. still,at least the Buddies got a guid run out,for Tuesday:wink:

Aha a ulterior motive....very clever

BT58
30-01-2010, 06:57 PM
considering we have several training pitches[plus artificial] at east mains
the pitch was an absolute DISGRACE
bring back tam
hb
ps mind you yon stmidden player was right through when it hit a clump
so maybe we have a secret weapon :wink::wink::wink:

Winston Ingram
30-01-2010, 07:03 PM
pitch saved us & hindered us on occassions today.

needs sorted pronto!

If the pitch was decent we would have murdered that mob.

We've played 6 games on it in the last 2 months.

I know the weather hasn't been the greatest but that's no excuse.

Today was the worst I'd seen it in years. Last week was bad but what on earth has happened in the last week to get it in the state it was today:confused:

shamo9
30-01-2010, 07:11 PM
The first thought in my mind as I took my seat today was, "Ugh, it looks dead."

NORTHERNHIBBY
30-01-2010, 07:39 PM
It's a real shame that we did not draw Montrose away in the cup because that pitch needs a real rest, if it is not going to be re-laid before the season end. You would think that the company that sells and maintains[?] the under soil heating system would work in tandem with the firm that the grass comes from just to make sure that it is not harming it.

Bishop Hibee
30-01-2010, 07:49 PM
Until the snow before Christmas, I thought the pitch was in the best nick it had been in since the Elton John concert ruined it. Since then it has deteriorated rapidly and was brutal today. Can anything be done before the end of the season to improve it?

Greenblood70
30-01-2010, 08:05 PM
There is absolutely no point in us training on bowling greens all week only to turn up at ER to find a ploughed field waiting for us.

If the pitch maintenance was contracted out to a private company we should be looking to withold money as that midden is guaranteed to cost us points as the season goes on.

Its simply not good enough and whoever is responsible should be getting their p45.

greenginger
30-01-2010, 08:45 PM
There is absolutely no point in us training on bowling greens all week only to turn up at ER to find a ploughed field waiting for us.

If the pitch maintenance was contracted out to a private company we should be looking to withold money as that midden is guaranteed to cost us points as the season goes on.

Its simply not good enough and whoever is responsible should be getting their p45.


I think the company went bust a few weeks ago and Hibs bought them.
They are now an associated company and should have their ar*ses booted big time.
The pitch was in better nick when there was three games a week and training on it. It might have been pretty bare but at least it was flat and drained.

BT58
30-01-2010, 08:49 PM
so is tam macourt now greenkeeper at east mains then?????????
get him bacvk
hb

Ants
30-01-2010, 09:02 PM
It has been proven over the last ten years in IT, do not outsource.
The flatrate cost is cheaper, but deviate in any little matter from the contract was signed, you will be financially punished.

The same goes for subcontracting the greenkeeping.

Pay the extra dosh for an unaccountable failure in the turf OR have a shi'ite pitch.

Very low price initially.... Tam McCourt, youre luck Hibs never emptied you when you became redundant/obsolete...Cos the pitch needs you back.

Any change to the contract, the only penalty is COST.

Tam had pride in his work.... sub contractors could not give a monkey's.

BRING BACK TAMS TEAM.

Alot of companies are now resorting back to Insourcing.... wonder why?

Jonnyboy
30-01-2010, 09:15 PM
It has been proven over the last ten years in IT, do not outsource.
The flatrate cost is cheaper, but deviate in any little matter from the contract was signed, you will be financially punished.

The same goes for subcontracting the greenkeeping.

Pay the extra dosh for an unaccountable failure in the turf OR have a shi'ite pitch.

Very low price initially.... Tam McCourt, youre luck Hibs never emptied you when you became redundant/obsolete...Cos the pitch needs you back.

Any change to the contract, the only penalty is COST.

Tam had pride in his work.... sub contractors could not give a monkey's.

BRING BACK TAMS TEAM.

Alot of companies are now resorting back to Insourcing.... wonder why?

Agree 100%

When Tam and his few assistants looked after the pitch it was in great nick but now it's just awful so pretty please to Mr. Petrie - dump the contractors and give the job back to someone that cares

hibsbollah
30-01-2010, 11:25 PM
Why don't Hibs have a dedicated professional whose sole responsiblity is making sure the pitch is in a decent state? Do other clubs still have them or are we the only ones to think you can run a football club without a groundsman:confused:?

Maybe make one of these our next big signing...
http://blog.sport.co.uk/Football/399/Top_Ten_Groundsmen_in_Football.aspx

The Harp Awakes
30-01-2010, 11:30 PM
Not an expert on this but have to say the pitch looked crap today. Hardly any rain in the last few weeks but the surface was shocking. Not good for the way we play and we are really asking for trouble in the games ahead unless we sort it out.

Riordans Boots
30-01-2010, 11:32 PM
Why don't Hibs have a dedicated professional whose sole responsiblity is making sure the pitch is in a decent state? Do other clubs still have them or are we the only ones to think you can run a football club without a groundsman:confused:?

My hubbys dad was a groundsman for hibs (Need to check the dates but around 1980s+) and he to this day is a perfectionist when it comes to grass :agree:

On another note, my friends hubby is a groundsman at Swiney :jamboak: and hasn't been payed since October :bitchy: :agree:

blackpoolhibs
30-01-2010, 11:32 PM
Before we buy a right back or a Centre half, the first thing we should purchase is a new pitch. That today was a disgrace., every player needed two touches to get control, and the amount of bad passes that were entirely down to that pitch was disgraceful.

We are trying to win football games through playing football, teams that are not as good as us, will be able to shut down our players easily with our players needing so many touches to get the ball under control.

Whoever is in charge of preparing that pitch should be sacked now.

Iggy Pope
30-01-2010, 11:36 PM
David Moyes on BBC earlier moaning about the pitch at Wigan! And it's got green bits and everything.
Loooking at ER just now is like looking out the back windae!
In fact I've played on better backgreens.

Yogi looks distracted about it as well - he keeps encroaching to flatten divots in front of the dug-outs.

Bain were the contractor who carried out the landscape works at East Mains and in turn they were given the maintenance deal at ER.
I believe they have gone into liquidation so that probably accounts for recent problems if there is to be some transition.

But don't lets get misty-eyed about how good it was when Tam McCourt loooked after it. It was ***** then and it's ***** now.
He's been the kitman for a good while now (and his Mrs does the Laundry) and I don't think the shorts look too sparkly while we're at it.

blackpoolhibs
30-01-2010, 11:40 PM
Whoever is in charge of that should be sacked now.:bitchy:

Seveno
30-01-2010, 11:45 PM
Wouldn't be so bad if this was an unusual situation but it's been bad for years.

Franck is God
30-01-2010, 11:50 PM
I think that there is a team of ground staff that are responsible for the pitch at ER and the pitches at the training centre.

It certainly had a bad effect on the game, both sides looked to try and play along the ground but it was hard going all afternoon.

Quite concerned that we have another two matches to play on it in the next 10 days.

If we needed yet another reason for summer football our pitch today is it. The weather is Scotland is simply not good enough or predictable enough to give us a good pitch for 25-30 games every year. I think that a serious look at the new artificial grass pitches would be worth while, if its good enough for the Champions League then it should be allowed in the SPL.

Iggy Pope
30-01-2010, 11:50 PM
Whoever is in charge of that should be sacked now.:bitchy:

I believe that the the Stadium Manager is also Club Secretary and therefore Board Member. Unlikely to be sacked. Maybe needs to scrutinise the big nearly-green bit in front of the comfy seats?

lucky
30-01-2010, 11:51 PM
The pitch is in a terrible state. It was like a ploughed field down by west stand towards the dunbar ens. absoulte joke. Even at half time two guys come on with pitch forks and mad no diffecnce.

bring back TAM

hstn747
30-01-2010, 11:52 PM
The pitch has been shot for a few seasons now.

With the cost of a new pitch they may as well wait for the building work to be done. No point damaging a new pitch that is supposed to last for several years. I think the pitch will also be made larger once the new stand in built.

Iggy Pope
30-01-2010, 11:54 PM
I think that there is a team of ground staff that are responsible for the pitch at ER and the pitches at the training centre.

It certainly had a bad effect on the game, both sides looked to try and play along the ground but it was hard going all afternoon.

Quite concerned that we have another two matches to play on it in the next 10 days.

If we needed yet another reason for summer football our pitch today is it. The weather is Scotland is simply not good enough or predictable enough to give us a good pitch for 25-30 games every year. I think that a serious look at the new artificial grass pitches would be worth while, if its good enough for the Champions League then it should be allowed in the SPL.

Sorry, but bollox.
Investment in the surface is all that is required. EPL clubs appear to manage very well with equally bad if not worse weather than we experience iin Edinburgh.
Summer football is a ***** idea. And so are synthetic surfaces.
IMH opine of course.

hibby4ever
31-01-2010, 12:05 AM
I feel this guy either has to go or has to fix out the rest of his ground staff team and get them to get there fingers out the pitch is a total disgrace. All I ever see tam McCourt do is sit in the dug out and prance about like he owns hibs this is a major problem and needs urgent attention. Wats everyones thoughts on this

Iggy Pope
31-01-2010, 12:06 AM
I feel this guy either has to go or has to fix out the rest of his ground staff team and get them to get there fingers out the pitch is a total disgrace. All I ever see tam McCourt do is sit in the dug out and prance about like he owns hibs this is a major problem and needs urgent attention. Wats everyones thoughts on this

Disnae own the Hibs.
But he does own the bibs.

givescotlandfreedom
31-01-2010, 01:02 AM
I feel this guy either has to go or has to fix out the rest of his ground staff team and get them to get there fingers out the pitch is a total disgrace. All I ever see tam McCourt do is sit in the dug out and prance about like he owns hibs this is a major problem and needs urgent attention. Wats everyones thoughts on this

He's not groundsman anymore which may explain the state of the pitch. I think you're need a to relax a bit if Tam McCourt's behaviour upsets you.

HibbyKeith
31-01-2010, 01:13 AM
How much cost is there in renewing the pitch? and how long does a new pitch need to bed itself before u can play on it?

Pitch today was shocking, and does nothing to help the style of play yogi wants from the team, if at all possible a new one down a.s.a.p is a must.

Was at the game on wednesday and celtic's pitch looked like a bowling green compared to ours today, same country, same weather (possibly worse weather in the west over the last 2 months) yet huge difference in surfaces.

I dont get it :confused:

CMac1988
31-01-2010, 01:25 AM
We need some of this stuff!!!

http://www.dessosports.com/en/desso-grassmaster/what-is-desso-grassmaster/ (http://www.dessosports.com/en/desso-grassmaster/what-is-desso-grassmaster/)

That Link providing the top 10 greenkeepers/groundsmen is pure class. I work IT in an agricultural college (greenkeepers also work on the college's golf course) so have a little understanding of the techniques involved, but before this I'd have never thought that it was taken so seriously. Kudos.

gogs_t
31-01-2010, 01:28 AM
I feel this guy either has to go or has to fix out the rest of his ground staff team and get them to get there fingers out the pitch is a total disgrace. All I ever see tam McCourt do is sit in the dug out and prance about like he owns hibs this is a major problem and needs urgent attention. Wats everyones thoughts on this

My thought is you need to chill a bit :cool2:

The guy is a bit of a character and I know for a fact is popular with the players and coaching staff and is doing a job he's paid to do - which doesn't include looking after the pitch.

I can never understand why his name comes up on this board every so often when he's done nothing that could possibly upset people :bitchy:

Have we run out of players to criticise :dunno:

hibsbollah
31-01-2010, 08:04 AM
We need some of this stuff!!!

http://www.dessosports.com/en/desso-grassmaster/what-is-desso-grassmaster/ (http://www.dessosports.com/en/desso-grassmaster/what-is-desso-grassmaster/)

That Link providing the top 10 greenkeepers/groundsmen is pure class. I work IT in an agricultural college (greenkeepers also work on the college's golf course) so have a little understanding of the techniques involved, but before this I'd have never thought that it was taken so seriously. Kudos.

Its good isnt it? This is the bit I found interesting;

groundsmen also have a role to play on match day. In La Liga, team captains are expected to relay information to them as the pre-match warm-up ends as to what kind of conditions are required for the game. At half-time, the groundsmen are expected in the home dressing room to provide up to-the-minute local weather forecasts based on satellite information, and convene with the captain and a member of the coaching staff to decide how much watering – if any – is required during the interval. Interesting, eh? Read on to discover more about Europe's ten best groundsmen.

I understand theres a lot of new technology around sand based soil which improves drainage. Thats what the Arsenal guy uses, who's the Lionel messi of the groundsmen world:greengrin

Wat Dabney
31-01-2010, 08:58 AM
Most of the teams in the EPL use artificial lighting rigs to promote grass growth.

http://www.sglconcept.com/en/mobile.htm

When we build the new East Stand there will be even less natural light getting to the pitch surface. How bad will it be then??

weeman96
31-01-2010, 09:29 AM
Yeah I noticed in the second half when Iain Murray had the ball played through, it jumped up due to a chunk of turf taken out. Ended up going out for a throw in. :boo hoo:

down-the-slope
31-01-2010, 09:41 AM
Here is the mob that got East Mains...and I think ER contract. There was a winding up petition from Custons & Excise in July last year for them


Green is the colour for Hibernian

http://www.deere.co.uk/en_GB/images/library/newsroom/press_room/2008/sept/Hibs-B.jpg Brian Clough famously said: “If God had meant football to be played in the air he would have put grass in the sky.” Down at ground level at Hibernian FC’s new training centre near Ormiston in East Lothian, there’s plenty of perfectly manicured green stuff in evidence, and plenty of John Deere green to keep it all maintained to top professional standards.

Following completion of all the ground work, pitch construction and hard and soft landscaping, local business Alan J Bain Contractors Ltd won a five year contract to carry out the grass and grounds maintenance at the centre, which is used by the club’s professional and academy players.

Set up in January 1981, AJB now employs 24 people full-time and specialises in playing field construction and maintenance throughout the UK, with five or six sites on the go at any one time. For Hibernian, the company built the training centre’s pitches from scratch, with construction starting in February 2007.


http://www.deere.co.uk/en_GB/images/library/newsroom/press_room/2008/sept/Hibs-C.jpg The centre was officially opened last December, and now boasts five grass pitches, each the same size as the main Easter Road ground’s, a goalkeeper’s training area, and both indoor and outdoor FIFA Two Star rated Polytan artificial pitches – the indoor pitch is actually in a converted farm research centre building where Dolly the sheep was originally cloned.

The developed site covers 36 acres, and there are plans to build five more natural turf football pitches and a show pitch on an additional 26 acres. Hibernian FC is also working very closely with East Lothian Council and the local community to provide future access to the facilities for youth football in the area.

“This whole development has been very much the vision of club chairman Rod Petrie,” explains Alan Bain. “Hibs used to train at various sites around the city, and the club had been looking for its own facility for 10 years before it found this site.


http://www.deere.co.uk/en_GB/images/library/newsroom/press_room/2008/sept/Hibs-D.jpg “When we build sports pitches anywhere in the country, we usually have to cut the grass for one year after completion as part of the contract. We have been using John Deere mowers for the last 10 years now, all bought from local dealer Thomas Sherriff & Co at Haddington, who are always very helpful if we have any problems or we want advice on the best type of mower to use in different situations. “On new pitches we tend to use rotary mowers for the first cuts, as the grass is getting established, as we find they don’t pull at the grass quite so much as cylinder mowers,” says Alan. “We also run a number of John Deere tractors, as we have a policy of one operator per machine to get the best out of both.”

The mower line-up at Hibernian’s training centre includes a 3235C five-gang cylinder mower equipped with collection boxes, a 1565 front rotary mower with V-Flex articulated deck and an X300R lawn tractor with rear grass collector.

Large 6310SE 100hp and 6420S 120hp tractors are used for drainage operations – nine miles of pipe drainage has already been put in, and to finish it off 60,000 linear metres of sand slitting is being carried out across the whole grass site. The tractor fleet is completed by a 4520 52hp compact tractor, fitted with a 400CX front loader and ComfortGard quiet cab.

Additional equipment includes a Pro Gator heavy-duty utility vehicle with TD100 top dresser, which did the original seeding with a homemade grass seeder. This diesel powered machine can also be fitted with a load bed for work as a general transporter, in addition to the 4x2 petrol Turf Gator, which is in use all day every day.

sairheid
31-01-2010, 11:38 AM
How anyone can criticise any player yesterday is beyond me. They were playing on a turnip field.

The problem seems to be the undersoil heating (?) Everytime it needs to be on for a sustained period the pitch goes to pieces. But yesterday was the worst I can remember by far.

blackpoolhibs
31-01-2010, 11:43 AM
How anyone can criticise any player yesterday is beyond me. They were playing on a turnip field.

The problem seems to be the undersoil heating (?) Everytime it needs to be on for a sustained period the pitch goes to pieces. But yesterday was the worst I can remember by far.

Spot on, but they did keep on trying to play, and their efforts were rightly rewarded at the end. :thumbsup:

Winston Ingram
31-01-2010, 11:58 AM
I don't care who does it as long as it's someone who knows what they are doing cos clearly the current one hasn't a scooby.

WHUHibs
31-01-2010, 12:43 PM
Many people are mentioning a new East Stand but in my opinion a new pitch is a priority.

The game yesterday was awful and the pitch had a lot to do with it.

My company makes pitches for Liverpool, City of Manchester, Emitates and Real Madrid as well as a number for the world cup...

Even though its not my division I spoke to TG during last year and invited Hibs to meet the people at the City of Mnachester and have a tour of the pitch and how it was done. They did not feel it was something they wanted to do...

http://www.dessosports.com/en/sports/football/football-projects/arsenal-fc/
http://www.dessosports.com/en/sports/football/football-projects/liverpool-fc/#c1572

If Hibs lose points due to the quality of the pitch then it could be difference between the europe or not then it could prove a costly mistake.

Anyone that goes and sees football at the pitches we do at any time of the year they are like a bowling green,,,

If anyone in the know can exert influence about relooking at this issue I am sure it could be a good solution to football played oin the deck!

Arch Stanton
31-01-2010, 12:50 PM
Is that what you call a sales pitch then?

The Hamilton pitch was also bobbly and there was speculation on the radio that the undersoil heating had done enough to let the game go ahead but that the top surface had hardened after they had turned the heating off as they were obliged to do.

WHUHibs
31-01-2010, 12:54 PM
Is that what you call a sales pitch then?

The Hamilton pitch was also bobbly and there was speculation on the radio that the undersoil heating had done enough to let the game go ahead but that the top surface had hardened after they had turned the heating off as they were obliged to do.


Nah I run another division and dont pay any attention to sports systems unless it affects my club....the mixture of nylon and grass gives it lots of strength....yesterday the ball was hitting alsorts of divots,,perhaps that helped Rankin but didnt help McBride..

Often the undersoil heating doesnt reach the surface quickly enough and if turned off too quickly it re freezes..correct..

MeAndMyBoys
31-01-2010, 01:15 PM
Apparently, the pitch will get looked at when the east stand is done... Or so i was informed a few weeks ago by Mr Hughes...

Golden Bear
31-01-2010, 01:17 PM
At this time of year most, clubs have playing surfaces that are not up to standard.

From my distant schooldays I recollect that grass will not grow unless the temperature exceeds 6 degrees - we've barely reached that temperature for a few weeks now.

I would think that undersoil heating will do absolutely nothing to promote growth so the best we can hope for is a fairly level playing surface.

When the turf starts to cut up during the course of a game then that's when the difficulties arise.

I remember a couple of seasons ago that Falkirk installed a new souper douper playing surface with all the latest technology to improve irrigation and drainage. However from the TV pictures of a couple of weeks ago it now looks equally as bad as ER and a lot of other grounds. (including Man United's)

I'm not sure what the answer is but I suspect poor playing surfaces go hand in hand with football at this time of year.

--------
31-01-2010, 01:17 PM
The previous Hamilton pitch played true in all weathers - it was a synthetic, and a very good one.

When they were promoted Accies took it up and relaid a grass pitch - which is inferior in most (all?) respects.

In Scotland we don't know what the weather's going to be from one weekend to the next - rain, snow, frost, sunshine, drought, all of the above....

The quality of synthetic pitches these days, that's the way I think we should be going. Hamilton played on one for four years, no problems.

reversep
31-01-2010, 01:19 PM
The pitch has been shot for a few seasons now.

With the cost of a new pitch they may as well wait for the building work to be done. No point damaging a new pitch that is supposed to last for several years. I think the pitch will also be made larger once the new stand in built.
The pitch will be completly relaid when the East stand is built and it will be wider.

Mikey_1875
31-01-2010, 01:21 PM
Never been the same since that bloody Elton John concert :grr: :wink:

reversep
31-01-2010, 01:23 PM
Completly relaid wider pitch when the East gets built 100percent fact.

blackpoolhibs
31-01-2010, 01:41 PM
At this time of year most, clubs have playing surfaces that are not up to standard.


I'm not sure what the answer is but I suspect poor playing surfaces go hand in hand with football at this time of year.

I'd imagine the Manchester city stadium has had roughly the same weather as us, but thats playing like a bowling green at the moment. It must be how the ground is looked after surely?:confused:

Golden Bear
31-01-2010, 02:02 PM
I'd imagine the Manchester city stadium has had roughly the same weather as us, but thats playing like a bowling green at the moment. It must be how the ground is looked after surely?:confused:

Difficult to disagree!

I sometimes think that clubs can be unlucky if they have a couple of home fixtures when games are played on an already heavy pitch and the problem is compounded if there is further rain, sleet etc. during the game.

Man United's ground didn't look very clever on Wednesday night and I'd imagine that they will have at their disposal the very best of ground maintenance expertise, equipment etc.

blackpoolhibs
31-01-2010, 02:12 PM
Difficult to disagree!

I sometimes think that clubs can be unlucky if they have a couple of home fixtures when games are played on an already heavy pitch and the problem is compounded if there is further rain, sleet etc. during the game.

Man United's ground didn't look very clever on Wednesday night and I'd imagine that they will have at their disposal the very best of ground maintenance expertise, equipment etc.

Aye you could be right, although i dont think i have ever seen a pitch at top flight football in such a bad state as yesterday for many years. I walk past Blackpools ground most days, and you can see the pitch from the road, and thats perfect, like a bowling green. :confused:

greenlex
31-01-2010, 02:26 PM
I am sure most top flight clubs down south use lights to stimulate grass growth on areas that need it. I imagine this is quite expensive and not an option up here. The pitch will be redone when the East Stand is up as it is being extended width wise in any case. I just hope that because we now have the maintenance back in house as it were it will hold up better. Undersoil heating also has a bearing on how it shapes up.

blackpoolhibs
31-01-2010, 02:30 PM
I am sure most top flight clubs down south use lights to stimulate grass growth on areas that need it. I imagine this is quite expensive and not an option up here. The pitch will be redone when the East Stand is up as it is being extended width wise in any case. I just hope that because we now have the maintenance back in house as it were it will hold up better. Undersoil heating also has a bearing on how it shapes up.

I have seen this on the telly, although as i said earlier, Blackpools is like a bowling green, and they certainly don't have any of them. In fact they begged the fans to pay for a cover for the pitch earlier this season.

greenlex
31-01-2010, 02:33 PM
I have seen this on the telly, although as i said earlier, Blackpools is like a bowling green, and they certainly don't have any of them. In fact they begged the fans to pay for a cover for the pitch earlier this season.
Maybe its because they are further south and on the West coast. Gulf stream and all that so dont have as much frost and therefore undersoil heating is less of a problem?:dunno:
Could be as simple as they have someone who knows what they are doing.:greengrin

blackpoolhibs
31-01-2010, 02:35 PM
Maybe its because they are further south and on the West coast. Gulf stream and all that so dont have as much frost and therefore undersoil heating is less of a problem?:dunno:
Could be as simple as they have someone who knows what they are doing.:greengrin

Yip, you could be right. I have no idea why our pitch is so bad. I just hope we get it fixed, as that certainly imho is not acceptable.

silverhibee
31-01-2010, 02:55 PM
Apparently, the pitch will get looked at when the east stand is done... Or so i was informed a few weeks ago by Mr Hughes...

This is the same as i was told yesterday, nothing will be done to the pitch until the new east stand is built, club do not want to waste money on relaying pitch if work starts soon it would just cause more damage, Dont think Yogi is to happy about pitch, but just has to get on with things.

blackpoolhibs
31-01-2010, 02:57 PM
I'm no expert on it, but would a heavy roller do any damage, as thats what it seems to need?

Ed De Gramo
31-01-2010, 03:32 PM
If the pitch was decent we would have murdered that mob.

We've played 6 games on it in the last 2 months.

I know the weather hasn't been the greatest but that's no excuse.

Today was the worst I'd seen it in years. Last week was bad but what on earth has happened in the last week to get it in the state it was today:confused:

:top marks

It's got another 2 coming up in the next week and a half as well...

The fixtures are causing the pitches to be ******...with the consecutive Home games

hibsbollah
31-01-2010, 05:17 PM
I'm no expert on it, but would a heavy roller do any damage, as thats what it seems to need?

I'm no expert either, but I think that would stop the water draining through the soil, just making it worse:confused: You cant put grass seed down where its patchy either because it doesnt grow in the winter. I guess the only solution is to relay it (expensive) or wait till the weather improves and risk further damage and bad performances.

Kojock
31-01-2010, 05:41 PM
Basically the company who laid the pitch made a botch of it. Seemingly there is a layer of iron between the pitch and the undersoil heating. The layer of iron was not laid deep enough and is damaging the roots of the grass. Hibs only discovered the problem after the guarantee run out. Hibs were trying to obtain compensation but the company has since gone to the wall (not suprised)

As previously mentioned once the East Stand is built the pitch will be moved slightly and relaid.

blackpoolhibs
31-01-2010, 05:45 PM
Basically the company who laid the pitch made a botch of it. Seemingly there is a layer of iron between the pitch and the undersoil heating. The layer of iron was not laid deep enough and is damaging the roots of the grass. Hibs only discovered the problem after the guarantee run out. Hibs were trying to obtain compensation but the company has since gone to the wall (not suprised)

As previously mentioned once the East Stand is built the pitch will be moved slightly and relaid.

Ah, so we will just have to grin and bare it.