New pitch

[CalverleyBoy]

Just read they are laying a synthetic pitch at ER in time for the next home game, seems Tottenham have enabled it t happen quickly and will cost 300k - probably as well as I reckon we were in line for a fine if it had not been sorted


https://www.dailymail.co.uk/sport/fo...-000-turf.html

[UbiqueLUFC33]

If the Brighton game is anything to go by it's about time.

[WTF11]

Will be interesting to see how it performs.

It was intended for the Spurs pitch, which was going to be used for NFL games, where a LOT of foot "purchase" is required, especially at line of scrimmage etc. so even if it is synthetic, it might fit our game better, providing good support underfoot, short "grass" etc (just hope they don't drown it as a synthetic surface wont need the regular dowsing Bielsa seems so fond of).

[Billyni]

So is it grass or not grass?

[WTF11]

So is it grass or not grass?

This is what they will be laying;

https://en.wikipedia.org/wiki/FieldTurf

but unlike the Spurs pitch (which was completed for the 2019 games and intended to be "refreshed" for 2020, but wasn't because of Covid);

https://talksport.com/sport/us-sport...-london-games/


the pitch at ER will be just the "NFL turf".

Interesting safety stuff from the Wiki information. Seems that the artificial turf is no more dangerous than normal turf for MCL, but knee strains and ACL injuries are more prevalent, probably due to the type of play that you get in the NFL, unlikely in professional football this side of the pond (we hope!). At seasons end its supposed to "hasta la vista" NFL turf and a whole new real grass pitch laid. This ought to allay some of the concerns around the safety of the artificial playing surface?

[CalverleyBoy]

I layed some fake grass in the summer at the daughters. I was sceptical about it at first but was surprised how good it is. Grandson was throwing himself around on like an Aston villa striker and doing dives liked he'd scored the winner at Wembley, I thought he would burn his knees and elbows but nope and it won't be the same quality, I hope, that is going down at ER

[Billyni]

Always thought they were horrible things but maybe technology has improved them.
Can’t beat the green green grass of home.

[Sniffer999]

Hybrid pitches are everywhere these days. It won’t make any difference to playing on an all grass pitch. It does feel slightly different but not in a bad way, it’s not quite as soft as natural turf.
It’s a relief after last 2 matches and will enable us to play our style of football again. So long as the pitch as been put down correctly!

[hopelesslyoptimistic]

Hybrid pitches are everywhere these days. It won’t make any difference to playing on an all grass pitch. It does feel slightly different but not in a bad way, it’s not quite as soft as natural turf.
It’s a relief after last 2 matches and will enable us to play our style of football again. So long as the pitch as been put down correctly!

A number of professional rugby teams use them - Sarries and Ealing for example.

Supposed to be faster to run on than grass too.

[spaldy]

I have played on it. Will be good for Leeds and their passing quality. It plays very true. I hate it because I am a garbage goal striker. Drains well.

It’s harder on joints as you can, and do, cut much harder and much easier to get a head of steam up.