PITCH MANAGEMENT
IN SEARCH OF THE PERFECT TURF PITCH
We are all fully aware from either personal observation
or from watching televised matches that the
appearance and performance of modern day top tier
winter sports pitches bears little or no resemblance to
the divot strewn surfaces and mudbaths that were
commonplace in the 60’s and 70’s.
T
his fact was clearly brought of the top tier clubs.
home to me by a recent However, sand dominant rootzones by
newspaper photograph which their very nature produce harder surfaces
showed Geoff Hurst scoring the than soil rootzones, fibre reinforced sand soil based pitch in good condition. nutrient provision and disease
winning goal in the 1966 World Cup dominant rootzones even more so. The Subsequently, the first two main suppression properties of green
Final at Wembley - the surface was development of maintenance techniques, stadium Fibrelastic pitches for Bristol compost and partly to recognise the
unbelievably cut-up with numerous particularly Verti-draining and other City F.C., and Newcastle Utd. F.C., environmental barriers that are building
large divots strewn all over the surface. forms of solid-line aeration, has been respectively were a resounding success up in obtaining adequate supplies of
The marked overall improvement in very important, therefore, in enabling the during the 2007/8 season and these good quality natural topsoil. Both
surfaces probably really started in the late grounds staff to exercise control over the pitches are now starting their second pitches have now been in full use for
70’s and early 80’s, with the introduction somewhat conflicting requirements of season after minimal end of season six weeks and are proving very popular
of sand dominant rootzones following hardness v stability. renovation during May. The extremely with both players and grounds staff.
extensive research work carried out In order to keep making progress positive feedback from players and In a repeat of last season, STRI have
principally by the STRI. The use of faster and particularly in order to address the groundstaff at both clubs justifies the been commissioned to monitor all
draining rootzones with minimal mud- hardness v stability situation, claim that Fibreplastic pitches are Fibrelastic pitches, with four visits per
forming tendencies was not without its Fibresand U.K. in 2007, after a two more player friendly in that they pitch during the season, so it will be
problems, for example lack of surface year research programme at the STRI, require less post match attention to the very interesting to again compare their
stability particularly in high wear areas, introduced a new dual fibre reinforced surface. Two further main-stadium test results with the playing
however, it did represent a very major rootzone termed Fibrelastic. pitches have now been installed firstly, performance of each pitch and the
step forward in the all round condition The aim of the product was threefold:- at Ibrox for Glasgow Rangers F.C. and feedback from the clubs.
and performance of winter sports pitches. Firstly, a reduction in surface secondly, at the new Llanelli Scarlet The search for the perfect turf pitch
In the early 90’s the development of hardness = less jarring of limbs and R.U.F.C. stadium which will host its goes on but based on the first season
various fibre reinforcement techniques in lower risk of player injury. first rugby match in early November. performance of the Fibrelastic pitches
sand-dominant rootzones represented the Secondly, an increase in surface In addition, Newcastle Utd. have at both Bristol City and Newcastle and
next significant step forward in tackling resilience = more energy feedback to demonstrated their satisfaction with particularly the feedback from both
the basic lack of stability inherent in such players feet, therefore, a less tiring their St. James Park pitch by installing clubs there can be no doubt that
rootzones. Two such techniques firstly, surface. two Fibrelastic pitches at their training Fibrelastic technology does represent a
the Fibreturf system of random fibre Thirdly, a further increase in ground and these are now in full use. further significant step forward and, as
orientation and secondly, the DESSO rootzone cohesion = increased traction, The two Newcastle training pitches such, can correctly be described as the
Grassmaster system of ‘stitched fibres’, therefore, less surface disturbance. are also interesting from another second generation of fibre-reinforced
are now relatively commonplace and, as The overall result of these three viewpoint in that the soil content has sand dominant rootzone pitches. FSA
such, fibre reinforced 80/20 or 90/10 factors is a surface which has all the been replaced totally by PAS100
sand/soil rootzones are to be found in attributes of a typical fibre-reinforced accredited green compost. This soil Mansfield Sand Co. Ltd
most top-class pitches and also on the sand dominant surface but which feels replacement has been made partly in Tel: 01623 622441
numerous training and academy pitches considerably softer and more akin to a order to take advantage of the long term www.mansfieldsand.co.uk
September/October 2008 | FOOTBALL & SPORTS ARENA | 37
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