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With so many games being called off this weekend is it time for clubs, especially in the lower leagues, to switch to synthetic pitches?

Financially it is a no-brainer as they would save money by not having to call off matches and make money by being able to hire the pitch out.

So, should more lower league clubs be encouraged to switch to 'plastic' pitches?

Several clubs tried it - I remember Oldham and QPR - but at the end of the day it proved an unpopular surface and never caught on. I think Oldham had to rip it up when they joined the PL, but even so I dont think it was cost effective or popular (grazed legs, bounce etc).

Technology should be a lot better now though.

john@staustell wrote:Several clubs tried it - I remember Oldham and QPR - but at the end of the day it proved an unpopular surface and never caught on. I think Oldham had to rip it up when they joined the PL, but even so I dont think it was cost effective or popular (grazed legs, bounce etc).

Technology should be a lot better now though.

Exactly why I think it's worth re-visiting.

I played (and scored!) on Preston's plastic pitch and it was bloody awful but they are supposed to be much better now.

I don't mind training on these types of pitches but nothing beats grass. These pitches also freeze when it's really cold and are just as dangerous.

I think the 3g and 4g pitches are also bad on the old limbs and I have seen more knee injuries since the introduction of this surface than back in the day training on muddy grass pitches.

I play at Platt Lane on the artificial pitch there, I don't know what type it is (I remember something about rubber crumb?) but it can freeze during the winter, and you can still lose a layer of skin attempting to slide tackle on it.

Can't beat grass IMO.

Well there are many great synthetic pitches here in switzerland. A good discussion topic as the uk sits in an early winter cold spell
There are some great artificial pitches and the there's the old types referred to at oldham etc the only problam in the summer is that the top pitches need to be damp to allow for slide tackles etc

Nobody now has a weather excuse in my team to skip training and we go through winter so. Even in -15C temps.

Despite all this grass is better !

Oh and we're under the snow cosh right now !

At least i can see my black schnauzer running across the snow covered forest and fields in the night !

There would still be the problem of conditions around the grounds being unsafe, so it's probably not worth the expense in the lower leagues, just for the odd game.

1 Irish League game has not been called off this weekend, the one game is at Cliftonvilles ground, which is 3G

HeyMark wrote:1 Irish League game has not been called off this weekend, the one game is at Cliftonvilles ground, which is 3G

They have a league in Ireland?