3G Pitches in the Football League Structure

[The People's Hero]

Where do you stand on this?

The reason I mention it is that Maidstone United again top their league - and are filling their ground (circa 2,000) week in week out. I firmly believe that with the right ticket prices and in a higher division, they could attract many many more. The foundations for a conference/perhaps league 2 side are there and it is not unrealistic to look to achieve this over the coming years. You have to have something to aim for, afterall.

 

Currently there are rules preventing use of a 3G pitch at a certain level of the football pyramid. There are rumours this may be changed, since 3g pitches are simply easier to look after, cheaper over the period of their life to maintain, tend not to freeze and if laid well, flat and properly, give a fantastic playing surface which can be used every day of the week (Maidstone's is) with no ill effect. Youth teams and women's teams play there as well as it being rented out to the public for football on other days.

 

I'm a part time Maidstone fan - and this debate has caught my interest somewhat. I regularly stand watching a few yards from the pitch (with a beer - one of the benefits of non-league) and its abundantly clear from there it isn't a real pitch. I much prefer a real pitch... but, having watched football at that level and a little lower in recent years, its fair to say the pitches do not tend to be very good to begin with or very well maintained. These clubs do tend to play a lot of football. In this respect, its probably the best surface these teams play on in their league campaign...

 

But what do you think?

[jonthefox]

I'm not entirely sure what a 3G pitch is, but i'm guessing its the best there is and thus the most expensive?.

Teams like Maidstone et al struggle with day to day bills and cannot afford such luxuries.

 

 

Ps,Maidstone were a league 2 side when we played them in 90/91, so yes the potentials there.

[The Year Of The Fox]

Newbridge school near us has had one installed over the sunmer. It looks fantastic. I'm not quite sure what they are either but I had to go and put an outside tap in so they can water it which seems strange.

[The People's Hero]

Copy and pasted from wikipedia but this is a decent summary.

 

3G Artificial Pitch[edit]

Rather than the traditional choice of grass, Maidstone were the first English team to build a stadium with third generation artificial turf.^[4] The surface has attained a FIFA two star rating, the highest possible grading which puts it on a par with top tier artificial pitches such as the Luzhniki Stadium in Moscow.^[5]

The reasons for going with the synthetic turf were threefold, the first being to eliminate match postponements caused by waterlogging and freezing conditions, the second so that the pitch can be hired out, bringing in vital funds (around £120,000 to £150,000 profit per year^[6]), and thirdly so that the stadium can be a hub for all the club's youth and community teams. The pitch currently hosts the home matches of the club's first team, ladies, reserves, under 18s and under 16s, is used for training among a large number of the club's teams, and in addition is hired out to a local disability league, a six-a-side league and other organisations for wider community use.^[7]

A major downside of the 3G pitch is that so far the club has only gained permission to use the pitch in the Isthmian League the FA Trophy and the qualifying round of the FA Cup. The club have yet to receive permission to use the pitch for matches in the Football Conference (Conference National / North & South) and the FA Cup proper (1st round onwards). As a result of this, promotion to the Football Conference will not be possible until permission is granted from the league or the 3G turf is replaced with grass. In a bid to overcome these hurdles, Maidstone United head up a group of professional clubs looking to promote the merits of 3G surfaces called '3G4US'.^[8]

Reaction[edit]

Upon seeing his side play on the surface, Brighton & Hove Albion manager Gus Poyet described the pitch as "magnificent" and "perfection".^[9] After taking part in a Charity match at the stadium, West Ham United legend Tony Cottee described the 3G facility as a "great idea", citing that the surface's ability to deal with adverse weather conditions meant it could be the way forward for non-league clubs.^[6]

[The People's Hero]

The FA Cup thing is no longer an issue this season, since they were knocked out yesterday.

 

They currently top their league though and are playing some great stuff and could be extremely well supported (even currently at £10 a head at that level). Hence I think the concern is looking toward the Conference South...

[KFS]

Just a word on Maidstone, my grandad reckons the same. He took me down there a few weeks back when I was home from Uni, it's a cracking little club and I think they'll go far. Again.

[The People's Hero]

For what its worth, I much prefer grass - and would be horrified I think if Leicester went for a 3g pitch, but that said - I can see the benefits and I think if it is allowed at a high enough level, many in league two even might change over.

 

Just interested in what people think really. 

 

Having been on the pitch and regularly watched football on it, I can confirm it really is good, the bounce is realistic, its hardwearing, players are not reluctant to go to ground on it and it seems to be a superb playing surface.

[The People's Hero]

Just a word on Maidstone, my grandad reckons the same. He took me down there a few weeks back when I was home from Uni, it's a cracking little club and I think they'll go far. Again.

 

After this season there is to be more building work. I can't remember the specifics but saw the signed off plans and I believe the permissions mean they have to 'start' the work before the end of 2013. Could just be a shovel in the ground of course, but I think they are extending the main stand further along that side and potentially putting in another bar somewhere? 

 

There are big plans for the next 5 or so years - but of course its all dependent on results on the pitch. So far so good.

 

The left back has always impressed me and I rate the new goalkeeper too.

[Aus Fox]

Again another that doesn't really understand what a 3G pitch is. Could anyone outline any negatives of the pitch? From what I have read it all seems very positive and as a result I can not see why they wouldn't be used where teams such as Maidstone with limited funds could increase revenue and more importantly ensure match went ahead across winter as scheduled. So what's the down side?

[jonthefox]

What would our pitch be classed as then?.PS, i know its fairly old.

 

 

http://www.thisisleicestershire.co.uk/Leicester-City-invest-new-pitch/story-12703901-detail/story.html#axzz2haZ0zTwN

[Corky]

I play on a 3G pitch every week and it's fantastic. Too much rain will make it very slippery but generally the surface encourages good football and you won't get issues with mud and surface water etc.

 

Also, given the bad weather and the amount of games postponed in the low levels, it would make sense to use this. Obviously you'd still get snow and ice but waterlogged pitches wouldn't occur and more games would be played during winter.

[Guest ttfn]

Is this one of those pitches with the little black pellets? Still get some nasty burns from going to ground on them

[The People's Hero]

I play on a 3G pitch every week and it's fantastic. Too much rain will make it very slippery but generally the surface encourages good football and you won't get issues with mud and surface water etc.

Also, given the bad weather and the amount of games postponed in the low levels, it would make sense to use this. Obviously you'd still get snow and ice but waterlogged pitches wouldn't occur and more games would be played during winter.

Had snow last season and fans cleared the pitch really quickly. Think it was the only game at that level to go ahead.

[notnow john]

I'm gonna wait for the 4G.

[The People's Hero]

Is this one of those pitches with the little black pellets? Still get some nasty burns from going to ground on them

It does have the black rubber stuff. One of my mates from school was a regular plAyer last season and claims going to ground is fine. I've watched a lot of football there and never noticed a reluctance to go to ground

You have to remember I think that this apparently is an absolutely top class 3G pitch. It's probably quite different to what is generally put in for public use or whatever. That's not to criticise other pitches, just what I've heard.

[SystonFox]

I play on one week in week out and it encourages good football at a low level. Too many Sunday teams tend to use hoofball tactics whereas the 3G encourages a passing game.

With regards to going to ground, yes you do get the odd graze, and it will probably ruin your base layer shorts if your diving in every 5 mins.

Great surfaces.

Probably required at league two and below

[Narborough_fox]

The one at Brockington is nice to play on, and as long as it's wet then you don't really get any grazes (well I don't anyway). They're allowed to use them for Champions League matches, so why not League 1 and League 2?

 

As someone else pointed out, they also encourage good football so I don't see any harm in it personally. 

[anotherharboroughfox]

can never see it being used at the top levels of the game. 

 

One slide on it and you get some nice friction burns.

 

For training and having a kickabout, brilliant.

 

For a high level competitive match, no.

[SystonFox]

can never see it being used at the top levels of the game.

One slide on it and you get some nice friction burns.

For training and having a kickabout, brilliant.

For a high level competitive match, no.

This. Innit

[The People's Hero]

can never see it being used at the top levels of the game.

One slide on it and you get some nice friction burns.

For training and having a kickabout, brilliant.

For a high level competitive match, no.

Once again I think you're thinking of the quality of 3G pitches the likes of 'goals' might have. This is one of the most advanced in the world with a 2 star rating from FIFA.

Does the one you play on have a 2 star rating from FIFA? I've regularly see players slide in on this, in fact last weeks game against Loughborough was feisty with a number of challenges of this sort. No ill effects noted.

[The People's Hero]

Here is a comment stolen from another forum:

I played on two artificial pitches in Spain on a tour there. The proper ones are really, really good. They don't hurt when you slide any more than normal grass, the feel nicer under foot, the weather doesn't effect them as much, they play much smoother with less random bobbles etc, but it didn't make the bounces ridiculously quick or anything like that. I loved playing on them.

It also looks just like normal grass, so I'm not really sure what people mean by it taking away tradition - you wouldn't notice a difference at all! (E.G. the Luzniki Stadium)

[Strokes]

Its great that maidstone have seized an opportunity to maximise revenue from their ground. I hope the bureaucrats at the fa dont try to strangle clubs that show a bit of business nouse.

[emmo1987]

I watched a game at Burleigh college on a 3g pitch it just looked like a training session. Was very weird. You cant beat rocking up to a game where the pitch hasn't much grass on and very muddy. That shows the proper footballers! Big slide tackles and stuff.

[Manwell Pablo]

Newbridge school near us has had one installed over the sunmer. It looks fantastic. I'm not quite sure what they are either but I had to go and put an outside tap in so they can water it which seems strange.

 

My Saturday side started playing there this week, first game on it. It's a great surface no bobbles and you can slide around on it like it was a grass pitch, brilliant to play on. The only downer is the wires going across the top of the pitch when the ball hits it but I'd guess at a higher level they could easily be removed.

[Bayfox]

If you're talking about a really top quality 3g pitch not the rubbish down goals, then I think for L1 downwards it could be a godsend, I don't know what the cost of getting one laid is but against the upkeep of a grass pitch at that level I can't imagine it would be long before you saw a return on the investment (sorry groundsmen).

Take into account the savings made by being able to get a game on in winter, not postponing left, right and centre, plus take my 2nd club Torquay for example, you have the option of using it to train on etc, instead of running up another cost at your training ground or leisure centre etc.

Plus as mentioned by the original poster, you have the option to rent it out on non matchdays maybe even run a goals style league at your club.

I think there are massive benefits for smaller clubs, it's not like we are talking luton's hockey pitch.

The only issue I can see arising is from promotions/relegations between L1 and championship, for example Yeovil this year or Posh every 2 years as they seem to yo-yo.