Pitch fininaly starts in Oriel Park

[eamoss]

Work started today on Dundalk new pitch :eek: [Thank fcuk]

http://img142.imageshack.us/my.php?image=image0059td.jpg

http://img142.imageshack.us/my.php?image=image0065wt.jpg

For more photos go to dundalkfc.com (http://www.dundalkfc.com/news/050726_OrielBlog.html)

[Anto McC]

Thats all right because i thought they were going to start landing planes on it :D

[hamish]

Thats all right because i thought they were going to start landing planes on it :D

Gonna say the same thing.

Set up looks great though. Good luck Dundalk.

[thejollyrodger]

great to see it going ahead but Im not sure if Astro turf is a good substitute for grass. Are many top clubs in Europe going to be using it ? I suppose all the russian clubs will be

[eamoss]

According to our CEO Milan and other top clubs are waiting to see how we get on with it.

From dundalkfc.com (http://www.dundalkfc.com/news/050512_CEO.html)


There is simply no comparison between the Dunfermline pitch and the one Dundalk is laying. The key difference is that the Dunfermline pitch has no infill – the key ingredient that allows the artificial surface to behave exactly like grass. The Scottish pitch is a technology that has long since been left behind. It was a carpet laid on a hard base that created a pitch that players hated. It is worth noting that there is at least one other artificial surface in regular use in Scotland that has never been the subject of criticism. The CSKA surface has been used for their home games and European games for the last year or so, without any problems or complaints. That pitch is an earlier generation of the one Oriel Park is to have. It is a FieldTurf product from the same company that is doing ours.

The surface at Oriel Park will be the latest available. It will meet the latest FIFA/UEFA standards, 2 star, which are due for publication next week. We will be the first in Europe certainly and possibly in the world to get the surface. The next European club to get it will be AC Milan who intend to lay it in the Italian close season. Isn’t it nice to show the way to potential European Champions!

[Réiteoir]

The stuff they are installing is very different to the Astroturf that you know of.

It basically looks like and acts like natural grass - but it isn't


It's used mainly in Scandinavian countries - basically most clubs in Norway have an artifical pitch in addition to natural grass pitches.

Ålesund played the club I follow in Norway yesterday, Vålerenga on the new surface - and have to say it played like any other game...

http://gfx.dagbladet.no/pub/artikkel/4/44/440/440107/iver_sak.jpg

[thejollyrodger]

can players wear ordinary football boots? i just have a mental picture of astro turf which is plastic tough and rock hard surface

[superfrank]

According to our CEO Milan and other top clubs are waiting to see how we get on with it.

From dundalkfc.com (http://www.dundalkfc.com/news/050512_CEO.html)
That reminds me of Devo once comparing us to AC Milan!!

[ollie]

can players wear ordinary football boots? i just have a mental picture of astro turf which is plastic tough and rock hard surface


there is something like it in glanmire.its grand and soft.the cork footballers were training there during the winter also.the only thing is that you can burn your legs off it.will the Dundalk pitch be like it?

[Bald Student]

I don't know if it's the same stuff as in Dundalk but I played during the week on both the new UCD astro pitch and in Belfield Park. They're similar enough surfaces. You can wear boots on the astro and it's not much different from playing on grass.

[eamoss]

Ment to be notting like it in the World, But id say there is. I Saw the Dundalk team training out in the new JJB soccer dome & that surface you can burn ur legs on it but it will not cut you open like on them dam astoturf pitchs just leave a red mark & will be gone by the next day. And Dundalk new pitch has to be watered an hour before a game!

Was up there today and this is some of the photos & videos i took:
http://img356.imageshack.us/my.php?image=image0072ki.jpg
http://img357.imageshack.us/my.php?image=image0024tr.jpg
Click here to watch video00116 (http://www.putfile.com/media.php?n=video00116)

[Kingdom]

A club called Larkview Boys in Kimmage have that surface, I've played on it and it is beautiful. I appreciate that you can get leg burns but a bit of lube can sort that out.

The moulded boots work fine on this surface, don't know about free studs.

[student]

the kinda surface involved here is outstanding. it will be a great addition to EL and teams will love playin on it.

comparing the new surface to astorturf is like comparing jessica simpson to dawm french.....

[Slash/ED]

If/When this proves a success for Dundalk every club in the league should look at getting it done.

[patsh]

It looks very good from the photos o the site, looks just like grass.

Hope it works out well for Dundalk.

[Dyl10]

Was it not used in the bernebeau last year?

[eamoss]

One of my mates was up there today and he said that work going on all over the place pitch, new terracing, new wall going up behind the carrick road end of the ground & tarmacing the area around the perimeter of the pitch.

And I am now working on the pitch tonight from 6 till 10.

[thejollyrodger]

Was it not used in the bernebeau last year?

are you sure ? Top teams like that just usually rip out the old pitch and put in a brand new one (like Man U do) even if its only for 1/2 a season

[Roverstillidie]

tallaght stadium has it i believe.

[bigmac]

I'va played on a few of those pitches here in Norway and they're amazingly close to grass. I've even played rugby on one of them! The burn problem is not really a problem as you can get just as much of a burn off a hard grass pitch in the summer. It'll be a great addition to the league and will really benefit the teams who want to play proper football.


The watering system helps avoid the burns associated with sand on the old astroturf pitches as well. These pitches are much more grass-like whereas the astro turf hockey pitches are more carpet like.

[anto eile]

tallaght stadium has it i believe.
no.its just plain old fashioned grass

[BohsFans]

I see the Shed has been knocked down. What are they replacing it with?

[eamoss]

With that dam 4 step terrace. They hope to turn it into a stand. :mad:


Im working tomorrow on the pitch at 8am :eek: I have not been up so early since school ended a few months back but it will get be back into getting up at that time again when school starts again soon.

[eamoss]

9 hour shift today & 4 hours tomorrow. Pitch is almost done all that has to be done is the lines on the pitch & a bit of grass has to be but in behind that.

Cut my hand open with one of the clamps not nice blood all over the place.

Have to say Oriel looks very well.


From dundalkfc.com
FAI GIVE ORIEL GREEN LIGHT
The FAI have approved Oriel Park for use for next weeks FAI Cup match with Drogheda United depending on the completion of the pitch by next Monday. The Gardai have also approved Oriel Park for the match.

[gael353]

ok so your pitch is nearly done and well done to ye but even with your spanking new pitch and nice new little terrace ye still wont get much away support due to the Thursday night ****e! Ye've changed yer pitch well done now change yer match day please and give some of us the oppertunity of supporting our team away in Dundalk.

[harpskid]

Eamo, fair play for your efforts for your club!

Looking forward to taking in a few games in Oriel when I get back up next month :)

[eamoss]

The reason behind Thursday nights is because of people having 21st in Oriel on Friday & Saturday. Club need money and will try every way to get it.


Yeah saw you up in Oriel last season(was not hard young person wearing Finn Harps gear).


Judt looked up there I have been at 10 away("home") games this season.

10days and counting till our 1st home game!! :eek: :D

[paudie]

Cut my hand open with one of the clamps not nice blood all over the place.




You should sue the club for every penny they have :D





On second thoughts that kind of defeats the purpose of helping out on the pitch in the first place.

Fairs dues for the work you're doing. Something to tell the grandkids about when you bring them to Champions League games at Oriel.
Will try to watch some of the drogheda game on TV.

[OneRedArmy]

Eamo, fair play for your efforts for your club!

Looking forward to taking in a few games in Oriel when I get back up next month :)
Shouldn't that read "when we go back down in November"? :D