Kilmarnock Back to Grass

[CentreLine]

BBC reporting that Kilmarnock intend to revert to a grass pitch for season 25/26.
Not sure why the wait but at least they plan to do so. If Livi slide down to the Championship we may get back to having all grass pitches in the Premiership. Surely that presents the opportunity for the SPFL to rule that only grass will be acceptable in our top flight.
I do feel they should but need to go a little further in demanding a quality in that surface. Top flight football needs to be played on grass, not a paddy field.

[EastStandGates]

They'll have a training centre built by then.

No idea who Bowie is, but good to see he's investing in Killie - we sure as hell need it up here with.

[CentreLine]

They'll have a training centre built by then.

No idea who Bowie is, but good to see he's investing in Killie - we sure as hell need it up here with.

Owns a large haulage company. Big yellow and red lorries, along the lines of Eddie Stobart in terms of company size it seems.

[Baader]

They'll have a training centre built by then.

No idea who Bowie is, but good to see he's investing in Killie - we sure as hell need it up here with.

It's No Game playing on that Moss Garden surface, must be like running in Quicksand. Ch-ch-ch-ch Changes afoot with Bowie then...

[The Veteran]

It's No Game playing on that Moss Garden surface, must be like running in Quicksand. Ch-ch-ch-ch Changes afoot with Bowie then...

Oh! very good. :not worth

[1875Sean]

They will only change from the plastic pitch once the training ground is up and running, the sooner the better but wouldn’t surprised if it gets delayed, get Livy out of the league and no plastic pitches in the top flight

[HoboHarry]

It's No Game playing on that Moss Garden surface, must be like running in Quicksand. Ch-ch-ch-ch Changes afoot with Bowie then...
Must have been Under Pressure.

[Since452]

Though this thread was about McInnes for a second

[Hibbyradge]

Must have been Under Pressure.

It'll probably take them about 5 years though.

[hhibs]

Did they not announce this a few years ago and nothing happened or am I havering ?

[CMac1988]

They will only change from the plastic pitch once the training ground is up and running, the sooner the better but wouldn’t surprised if it gets delayed, get Livy out of the league and no plastic pitches in the top flight

And with that mandate grass pitches in the top flight. I'm sure they can set a minimum level regarding hybrids and can find money somewhere to help teams coming up who don't have grass pitches. They have their place but they shouldn't be used at the top level of our professional game.

[King Cosell]

Fun fact: Stirling Albion were the first club in Scotland to get an artificial pitch, now they're the only club in League 1 without one.

[Bridge hibs]

Did they not announce this a few years ago and nothing happened or am I havering ?

They said this

Kilmarnock chairman, Billy Bowie, has revealed plans to rip up their plastic pitch.

But the move won't happen until at least 2024.
Bowie has handed manager, Derek Mcinnes, the biggest transfer budget in their 153-year history and, looking further ahead, he wants to boost their prospects by returning to grass.

"We can't do anything about it until plans for a new training ground are submitted, which should be done by the end of next month," he said.
It'll cost around £2-million to build it and to replace the playing surface.

[JimBHibees]

Was watching sportscene yesterday from Saturdays games and Iwelumo was outlining Killies very good home record and poor away record. Never once mentioned the plastic pitch as possibly being a factor. Interesting Doidge in the longbangers interview said Killie thought it was a definite advantage as much about other teams not fancying it.

[CentreLine]

They said this

Kilmarnock chairman, Billy Bowie, has revealed plans to rip up their plastic pitch.

But the move won't happen until at least 2024.
Bowie has handed manager, Derek Mcinnes, the biggest transfer budget in their 153-year history and, looking further ahead, he wants to boost their prospects by returning to grass.

"We can't do anything about it until plans for a new training ground are submitted, which should be done by the end of next month," he said.
It'll cost around £2-million to build it and to replace the playing surface.

Only £2m to build training facility and replace their pitch? That doesn’t sound like their plans have been too well thought out??

[lyonhibs]

BBC reporting that Kilmarnock intend to revert to a grass pitch for season 25/26.
Not sure why the wait but at least they plan to do so. If Livi slide down to the Championship we may get back to having all grass pitches in the Premiership. Surely that presents the opportunity for the SPFL to rule that only grass will be acceptable in our top flight.
I do feel they should but need to go a little further in demanding a quality in that surface. Top flight football needs to be played on grass, not a paddy field.

With the fine Scottish weather, it's still entirely possible for a pure grass pitch to end up like a ploughed field. Agree in principal though, hybrid pitches should become the norm, though a costly one.

[Bridge hibs]

Only £2m to build training facility and replace their pitch? That doesn’t sound like their plans have been too well thought out??£1.5m for all this which includes a stand

Billy Bowie’s commitment to Kilmarnock Football Club has never been in question, but recently
revealed plans for a state of the art training facility on the outskirts of the town is further proof – if it
was needed – that the club’s owner and majority shareholder is determined to lift Killie to a new level.

The Bowie Park Training Facility which will initially cost around £1.5 million will enable the first team, youth academy and ladies’ teams to be housed together under one roof.

An added bonus will be the part it will play in attracting senior players to the club, therefore, further strengthening the squad.

The groundworks on the development are due to commence in August and the Facility comprises four pitches (two full-size and two five-a-side) and a stand. There will be a two-storey training facility housing a gym, dressing rooms, canteen, café, seminar room, offices and a players’ lounge. In addition there will be a large laundry to meet the demands of keeping training gear and strips in pristine condition.