QuoteTime to reform the old fanzine...Originally Posted by eoinh
I dont think anyone in the eL has the money or the need to install a plastic pitch, except maybe Shels who could do with avoiding flooding again!
The league decided tonight that Plastic Pitchs can be used in Eircom League matchs if they are up to UEFA standard.
Time to reform the old fanzine...
I dont think anyone in the eL has the money or the need to install a plastic pitch, except maybe Shels who could do with avoiding flooding again!
Oh no not them again
dundalk fc have approached the eircom league and have circulated all clubs with a view to installing the first artificial pitch in the eircom league in the near future
I think there's grants available for those willing to experiment with the pitches.
Upwards to the vanguard where the pressure is too high.
From who ... FAI or other ??
The SFAI are the governing body for grassroots football in Ireland, not the FAI. Its success or the lack of is all down to them.
Not too sure, UEFA/FAI possibly, that's just something I heard I'm not definite about it
Upwards to the vanguard where the pressure is too high.
It is either the plastic pitch or a new stand for us.
Imagine the squad you could put together for the cost of a plastic pitch
Something I heard, but wasn't definite about. There's a thread on the Town forum with links... It's UEFA that were giving grants anyway - to pilot whether they are no acceptable (hence Dumfermline getting them).
If you attack me with stupidity, I'll be forced to defend myself with sarcasm.
We would be getting it through a grant or something so dont think we would be paying for it, although if we had the money we would be trying to pay our current players their wages and keep them at the club first before getting new ones..
Totally against this idea. UEFA are muppets letting clubs do this. Hopefully clubs here wont go ahead with this as generally with summer soccer pitches are in decent enough shape.
Speaking of Dunfermline they had to play their UEFA Cup game in Perth cos the opposition refused to play on their artificial pitch. Cant help but feel this contributed to their defeat.
KOH
Well that and that they're muck since the two Jimmy's went north.
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Plenty of teams have had games called off in the summer season, including us. UEFA are actually encouraging this, not letting clubs do it. For small clubs (i.e. our entire league) it could be a great benefit - No rental of training facilities, no rental of pitches for underage teams, rental income from the pitch during the week/ close season - and associated income from Bars etc.
Torquay said that although one would cost £300,000, they would not hesitate. "We could dispense with renting our training pitches and turn an under-used ground into a thriving centre for the local community," said chairman Michael Bateson. "Multi-usage would give us a return of something like £50,000 a year."UEFA have now passed them for European competition - so no team can have a complaint.
If you attack me with stupidity, I'll be forced to defend myself with sarcasm.
Even new plastic pitches would probably be a disaster in an exposed windy area like Flancare.
The technology has fairly moved on as well since the 80s when Luton had theirs and it was like watching a game being played on tarmac. Its not playing on the local Astro. These pitches have synthetic grass but the bounce and feel of the pitch is very similar to the real thing. Most wealthy clubs already have synthetic grass mixed in with real grass on their pitches. Not sure it provides as much of a benefit as it used to.
"It's impossible to make a man understand something when his livelihood depends on him not understanding" Upton Sinclair
Don't see why it would be anymore of a problem than being exposed and getting the worst of the wind and rain on a grass pitch. Anyway, Town aren't considering it (putting money into the drainage this close season), and we there is an arguement that because we hold training sessions in both Longford and Dublin that we wouldn't see the full benefit (I disagree though, as it would mean it was available for hire more often).
If you attack me with stupidity, I'll be forced to defend myself with sarcasm.
Whilst that maybe true (and I assume why the pitch was part of pilot - maybe it'll be removed from the list of approved pitches?), of course opposition teams/managers are going to use that as an excuse. But then that's no different from people complaining about the state of grass pitches either really.
If you attack me with stupidity, I'll be forced to defend myself with sarcasm.
We have opened four small astro pitches lately, same surface as used by Ac Milan on their training pitches. They are an absolute joy to play on. Really easy on the legs when you slide in to take some ones legs from under them. Id love to see Monaghan make their main pitch a plastic one. its the one part of the ground we always seem to have problems with.
CRC
I was reading an article about the new plastic pitches. Apparently they're not like the Astroturf that we all know about. You don't get injured (more than normally) and the bouce and give in the surface is designed to replicate grass.
On the cost issue, this is potential manna from heaven for small clubs (like our entire league) - there will be fewer groundsmen to pay, no need for separate training facilities, and much more potential for the ground to be used for other events: concerts, exhibitions, 5-a-side rental, as the pitch doesn't get damaged by being used every day, like regular grass.
The article finished by saying that a plastic will never be better than a really good real grass pitch, but its a hundered times better than a bad real grass pitch (which is a hell of a lot more common than a really good grass pitch).
I have played on some of the pitches UEFA were using to test the new surfaces and I must say there is f all difference. They are rubber based but the slide tackle is done at your own risk (it will only skin your knee unlike the old stuff, which would skin you and your family)
The bounce is slightly slower but that is about it.
It's only just begun...............
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