Last nights pitch condition

[Rambo1872 4,065]

Anyone else agree the pitch is not the best? I seen Windass plugging a hole fs with a bit of turf any slidetackles it was breaking up. 

[LegendofCoop 17,273]

It's not long re-grown so will take a while to bed in.

[Rambo1872 4,065]

I take it that it will still be the same next thursday though?

[Malvern 11,329]

The heat might be a wee bit at fault here. FFS man we are getting fuck all rain and probably using the sprinklers out the arse, the groundsman isn't used to no rain in July so has no clue what to do.

[plumbGER 24,518]

6 minutes ago, Malvern said:

The heat might be a wee bit at fault here. FFS man we are getting fuck all rain and probably using the sprinklers out the arse, the groundsman isn't used to no rain in July so has no clue what to do.

Plus the church have asked us to stop using all their water cos the rates have went up

[Malvern 11,329]

1 minute ago, plumbGER said:

Plus the church have asked us to stop using all their water cos the rates have went up

The bheasts can use the tears of all the children abused by their religion to water their tip.

[plumbGER 24,518]

3 minutes ago, Malvern said:

The bheasts can use the tears of all the children abused by their religion to water their tip.

The tip of whati think you will find they have done that plenty.

[wearethepeople1 3,897]

It’s  a new pitch, no even finished the grow in period and zero rain. It will be fine ffs

[laudrupno1 3,932]

Was cutting up a good bit way the Bury goalie just warming up.

[Cedrick 8,048]

Maybe been over watered due to the heat so to soft underfoot , the ball wasn’t bouncing right at times ether , I’m no groundsman but I never understand why we lift a perfectly good surface at the end of every season , any small problems there is will be sorted in the 6/7 weeks rest , bit of a waste of money tbh , the new wee yellow marks all round the pitch to obviously indicate where the lines in the grass should be cut annoyed me to , daft small thing I know but it’s cringey to look at hopefully just a temporary thing as every other pitch in the planet can be cut without them bar fucking ours 

[BlueBearz1990 570]

1 hour ago, Malvern said:

The bheasts can use the tears of all the children abused by their religion to water their tip.

Haha, would probably turn their stadium into sea world.

[gersandy 594]

7 hours ago, Rambo1872 said:

Anyone else agree the pitch is not the best? I seen Windass plugging a hole fs with a bit of turf any slidetackles it was breaking up. 

The turf shrinks and dries up in this hot weather. Once we get some rain in the next few weeks the ground staff will sort it out.

[Camshy 812]

Think the main problem is it's probably been watered way too much, with the great weather and lack of rain they are likely just being cautious and generous with it.

Sure it will be fine when it knots together.

[islandblue 366]

I take it that because of the weather the pitch had to be heavily watered. It will be fine

[Zappa6995 3,645]

Too many excuses floating about. The pitch wasnt right.

[Courtyard Bear 41,357]

Pitch is brand new and needs time to settle, actually thought it stood up well considering the weather and how new it is. 

[Courtyard Bear 41,357]

So what are the advantages of pitch preparation rather than repair?  When should it start and how is it achieved?

A consultant or the groundsman should either prepare a specification or discuss with a reputable contractor the work that is required and when it can commence. The specification will include a bill of quantities which will outline to the contractor what he is expected to supply and what the club may wish to supply themselves. As a contractor, I feel it's important that the groundsmen choose materials that they want to work with, as when we've finished and left the site, it is they who are responsible for seeing the pitch through to the end of the season.

Materials should be ordered and provision made to store them safely away from the elements as required. Bulk materials such as Fibresand or Fibrelastic need to be ordered in advance and a delivery time and date agreed.

As soon as the club's corporate department has finished with the pitch and all coverings are removed, the contractor should be on site ready to commence work.

The existing pitch surface should be stripped using a Koro TopMaker, a superb piece of equipment that has revolutionized the way pitches are renovated. The Koro strips the entire surface, removing all organic accumulations leaving a clean, debris-free rootzone which can then be worked with to produce the desired playing surface.

Initial cultivation can then commence to break up any pans or layering which may be present within the top looms of the pitch profile. This work also serves as the ultimate form of aeration as it redistributes particles around the profile and allows any anaerobic conditions to become oxygenated. Should any soil conditioners, such as seaweed or granulated lime stone and fertilizers be required, they should be applied at this stage to ensure they are thoroughly incorporated in to the vital top 100mm of rootzone.

Once initial cultivations are complete and dependent upon the specification, it would be normal practice to apply new rootzone material, which is often Fibresand or Fibrelastic. This is intended to replenish any material lost during the removal of the surface with the Koro TopMaker. It's important to use a specially adapted drop spreader, such as the Raycam Speedresser, which is capable of handling this type of material without bridging or blocking as work progresses.

The evenly spread material can then be integrated in to the top looms by further cultivation, normally with a rotary harrow. At this stage visual inspection will dictate how many passes with the cultivator is required to produce an evenly blended rootzone. The final pass will be made and levels trimmed to be consistent with those of the original construction.

Consolidation will be required next. This is a vital aspect of the works and should be carried out evenly and accurately all over the pitch to achieve consistent results. As work progresses it may be necessary to irrigate at this stage to maintain a degree of moisture in the immediate surface, preventing the separation of fibres. Fines in the rootzone can also find there way onto the surface as a dusty residue if irrigation is not available, causing problems later in the season by impeding surface drainage.

Fine finishing is a vital aspect of achieving the end result. This work should be undertaken by skilled operators using specialist machinery and equipment. When surface levels are seen to be satisfactory the next stage of the works can commence.

The pitch should be over-seeded with a seeder designed specifically for sowing a pitch from scratch. Usually two passes will be made with this type of machine, but more may be required if the groundsman or consultant dictate otherwise. Finally, the pitch should be flat rolled to seal in the seed and produce the finished level.

The first stage of pitch preparation is then complete. It is then up to the groundsman to use his skill and the relevant technology available to him to produce and maintain the new sward.

He can carry out this work in the knowledge that he has a completely refreshed rootzone, free from any layering and its associated problems. Drainage rates will be increased considerably preventing waterlogging during the wetter winter months. The sward will be made up of new grass plants all establishing seminal roots which will form the basis of a strong root mass, essential for durability. The weedgrass Poa annul will be largely eradicated to the point when it is no longer a problem and the whole pitch will be in better condition than it would have been if it was a pitch renovated from the previous season.

The work I've described is more expensive than standard renovation but not so high that it should not be within the budget of any professional football club. Those with very limited budgets could achieve an acceptable result by fraize mowing to clean out the vegetation and overfeeding, enabling them to begin each season with a new sward.

To get the very best from the playing surface, new pitch preparation should be carried out each year. In reality, budgetary constraints and other issues, such as restricted timescale, may prevent it. From my experience of working across the UK and in Europe, it should be a major consideration for any club who want to maximise both pitch performance and profitability.

 

Why we replace each season. 

[Billythebear77 10,386]

12 hours ago, Cedrick said:

Maybe been over watered due to the heat so to soft underfoot , the ball wasn’t bouncing right at times ether , I’m no groundsman but I never understand why we lift a perfectly good surface at the end of every season , any small problems there is will be sorted in the 6/7 weeks rest , bit of a waste of money tbh , the new wee yellow marks all round the pitch to obviously indicate where the lines in the grass should be cut annoyed me to , daft small thing I know but it’s cringey to look at hopefully just a temporary thing as every other pitch in the planet can be cut without them bar fucking ours 

Calm doon Charlie Dimmock ffs 

[Albertzz 975]

13 hours ago, Malvern said:

The bheasts can use the tears of all the children abused by their religion to water their tip.

 

13 hours ago, plumbGER said:

The tip of whati think you will find they have done that plenty.

?

[Cedrick 8,048]

3 minutes ago, Billythebear77 said:

Calm doon Charlie Dimmock ffs 

???????

[Cedrick 8,048]

7 minutes ago, Billythebear77 said:

Calm doon Charlie Dimmock ffs 

I love our stadium but I think whoever the decision maker is at the club regarding the stadium makes so many low standard bad ones that no supporter would make , eg that big hellish looking bit of Astro before the pitch starts bill struth stand side , done the tour start last the season , the then current sky blue walls in the player areas corridors and above the wood panelling in the dressing room was in the process of being redecorated white , I thought thats a good sign ,bit of badly needed freshness , done the charity sleepover few months later at Xmas time where you get a bit of access downstairs due to toilets etc , they’d done some of the place the new white and just left other parts of the corridors and away dressing room the old sky blue with the old marks and scores still over the walls ,things like this as sad as it may be does my nut in with Rangers , just fucking do it all the same , ibrox should be spot on , upstairs still is but down needs a complete overhaul , again back to the current standards within the club 

[Drunk and disorderly. 14,418]

It's a newly  laid pitch. That is the issue.

We are in a heatwave just now so good time to lay a pitch. Wee sprinkle of water and it will grow by your ankles in a week.  It shouldn't be an issue by Thursday.

[ronniescu 2,970]

Where is Ally's gardening expertise when you need it?

[kaiser1041 9,088]

I’m really upset about this