Plastic football pitches...

[karldew]

Not sure what to think of this?

Plastic football pitches could be introduced into the Football League as early as 2019.

A series of meetings are planned throughout the country to look at adopting artificial pitches, which would lessen the chances of winter postponements.

EFL clubs will vote in June next year whether to have artificial surfaces back for the first time in 25 years.

If the Football League refuses to accept artificial surfaces,  Sutton from the National League  who already have a artificial pitch will be denied entry into the EFL, but they could then face relegation to National League South if they Don't change their pitch back to grass.

Maidstone United and Bromley also play on 3G pitches and would face the same scenario.

[drfchound]

I remember playing on the Oldham Boundary Park pitch many years ago and the bounce of the ball was ridiculously high and the skin burns that day were awful.

Having recently played on the artificial pitches in the cages at the KMS I have to say that they are massively better and in reality I could see them being used in the EFL.

[drfc1951]

Can you play rugby on a 3g pitch?

[anne honemous]

It's been working quite well in Scotland for at least the last 10 years and even some games in the Champions League are played on artificial pitches.

If clubs did go for it then they'd also be able to make extra revenue from renting the pitch out to groups/teams/individuals on weekday evenings and non matchday weekends.

That extra money could make a huge difference at clubs like Morecambe, Accrington, Barnet, Stevenage, etc, who traditionally get low gates and have to look after every penny.

[RoversAlias]

I used to be dead against this but really does it make a great deal of difference? I might be wrong but these modern artificial pitches are a lot closer to the "real thing" than the infamous ones of the 80's that a few teams had (Luton? It was before my time) and indeed, our own pitch isn't even fully authentic anymore is it?

[1879Rovers]

The pitches are so much better now than they were when Luton, QPR, Oldham and Preston had them.

I have no problem with clubs installing them.

[casperjebba]

Can you play rugby on a 3g pitch?

Rugby league - yes.

Widnes is an example. Guess not for union though as the fat lads and their long studs can't do as much cuddling and mauling as they can on grass.

[Nudga]

Not very good for ankle and knee joints.

[GazLaz]

Not very good for ankle and knee joints.

They can’t be as hard as the Keepmoat pitch has been over the last 10 years.

[DaveDRFC]

Saracens have an artificial pitch in rugby union and they seem to do alright.

[DMnumber4]

Saracens have an artificial pitch in rugby union and they seem to do alright.

Ealing Trailfinders, who play in Doncaster Knights' division, likewise.

[Dr Fundlekrotch]

There is a fabulous artificial pitch indoors at St Georges Park that is authorised for use in UEFA top level matches if required

[graingrover]

I imagine that the speed of the ball off the surface , the height of the bounce and firmness of the surface would privilege ball skills over physicality .. Remember what the blood and thunder games used to be before the tippy tappy touch and go era .

[since-1969]

Goal line technology, diving referred to reviewed by  referee panels  ,  so will plastic pitches  no more rearranged games due to bad weather its all part of making games accessible to the minions who want football on demand . Fans paying subscriptions to tv companies . How many of us are already season ticket holders with clubs but  have subscriptions to Sky or Bt tv or Nowtv on top what is the cost£. Rule changes are excepted without argument, look at the cup competitions and how they are involving their  second string teams . We are all being dragged into a new generation of supporter who places bets on games and pays Direct Debits to various companies just to watch other teams play . There soon won’t be loyalty to a team only addiction to gambling on sport.

[anne honemous]

I think artificial pitches would favour teams who adopt a direct style, which is another reason why a lot of pros might be even more against it.

I'd be amazed if this didn't get voted in though when the EFL do the vote at their summer AGM.

Something what hasn't been mentioned is artificial pitches actually pose a fire hazard.

Fans still bring flares into grounds in this country and if lit and aimed towards the pitch, there's a much greater chance that it will ignite and cause a fire compared to the same occurrence on a grass pitch.

Look at the Hyde v Mk Dons cup tie as an example.

[since-1969]

If there is anything we don’t need then it’s plastic pitches . i Watched a game a few ago where someone threw a flair and set fire to the pitch . You can see this being a problem as our idiots just be some of the biggest offenders.  Never mind the players glowing in the dark with all that static flying about .

[anne honemous]

If there is anything we don’t need then it’s plastic pitches . i Watched a game a few ago where someone threw a flair and set fire to the pitch . You can see this being a problem as our idiots just be some of the biggest offenders.  Never mind the players glowing in the dark with all that static flying about .

The exact same thing happened with Rangers a few years ago when they were working their way back through the leagues.

Imagine the chaos that could potentially be caused if more than one flare was lobbed onto a plastic pitch at the same time.

The end result would either be stricter sanctions on away fans, which is an iron fist to solve isolated problems, or netting infront of as many away sections as possible to stop flares getting anywhere near the pitch.

[JonWallsend]

Not very good for ankle and knee joints.

Absolutely.

Also, I think the artificial pitches don't actually suit the better passing teams in terms of creating chances.  Certainly in terms of possession the more technical teams will dominate, however the playing surface is that quick, that anything not into feet runs away from you and it allows teams to set up with 11 behind the ball, and play deep because it is very difficult to get in behind a team, due to how fast a through ball can travel.

On the flip side, individual skill and players who can run and dribble will be at an advantage.

Having watched games played recently on the ones at Sunderland, Newcastle and Middlesborough academies, there is a definite difference between  these games, and ones contested between the same sides on a grass pitch.

Not for me, but ultimately finance will decide and the rental income capacity, certainly in the lower leagues will be very attractive.

[Donnywolf]

Did I miss something ? Artificial pitches will lessen the number of Postponements - yes !

However they wont make a snowbound Stadium "safe" for Spectators will they - nor the roads around the Stadium both of which cause significant postponements and are sometimes the exclusive cause of a game being "off" as host Clubs often have had their Pitches covered up

Having said that it is probably the future - and I am not poo pooing it for the sake of it

[RedJ]

Not very good for ankle and knee joints.

Absolutely.

Also, I think the artificial pitches don't actually suit the better passing teams in terms of creating chances.  Certainly in terms of possession the more technical teams will dominate, however the playing surface is that quick, that anything not into feet runs away from you and it allows teams to set up with 11 behind the ball, and play deep because it is very difficult to get in behind a team, due to how fast a through ball can travel.

On the flip side, individual skill and players who can run and dribble will be at an advantage.

Having watched games played recently on the ones at Sunderland, Newcastle and Middlesborough academies, there is a definite difference between  these games, and ones contested between the same sides on a grass pitch.

Not for me, but ultimately finance will decide and the rental income capacity, certainly in the lower leagues will be very attractive.

Thierry Henry despised the artificial pitches in MLS and it's fair to say he was skillful.