At Marine having a 3G pitch has made a big difference financially, it can be hired out every day and the reliability of not having any postponements at home has been great too. However we wouldn't have been able to afford it without our FA Cup run, the money from that paid for it so for most clubs at this level it won't be financially viable I imagine. For me the positives far outweigh any negatives, especially as the chance of us reaching the EFL any time soon is basically zero so no risk of having to rip it up again.
It certainly helps with income on a regular basis no doubt, clubs have certainly suffered over the past few months. My question is though, the pitches have a certain lifetime don't they, what happens when they need replacing because I know that isn't cheap either?
I don't know much about the lifespan/cost of replacing the pitch but can only assume the money gained from hiring it out goes a significant way to covering the costs, otherwise it wouldn't have been the best way to invest the cup run money. Added factor possibly that attendances increased significantly after the cup run too, so we have more income generally to afford things we couldn't before.
I know Maidstone Utd are replacing theirs this summer, but would have struggled to raise the finance without the current FA Cup run. I would hope clubs keep money aside from the hire, different kettle of fish I know from the National League to Step 3 in terms of outlay on a season.
I'm not against 3G surfaces, they have a great purpose for the game and many of us would have been sat at home on Saturday afternoon instead of watching some football!
The other issue is I understand the toll on playing on 3G for the home players and why some clubs with it have a higher injury rate. As for playing on grass, (not that we would want to back) but I remember when by this time of the year the only grass at Underhill was a small patch around each corner flag, those were the days.
I’m becoming more of a fan given the amount of last minute called off announcements on grass. I wouldn’t want to see grass go at Championship or PL level but am not sure it makes sense for lower league teams to stick with grass.
Is that more because clubs deem it unimportant to invest money into their surface and what is underneath it? The call off announcements are a separate blog on it's own, that needs it's own set of rules!
I think we all prefer grass, but the advantages of 3G/4G over grass to non league clubs is immense. It gives a 7 day a week money maker, no postponed matches and if you listen to Chesterfield supporters an advantage of making you play like the famous 1970 Brazil team.
I'd like to see how much via some research that if the same amount of money was spent on grass surfaces and not just the top layer which is not the only important part , whether it would provide a season on grass? If you look at a lot of clubs they have just as many sides playing on their surface through the season, just less of a hire out during the day.
The advantage stops though Rob when the EFL comes calling, something Bromley will have to deal with potentially in 2 months time, it's certainly cost Sutton Utd a heck of a lot of money for their promotion however.
At Marine having a 3G pitch has made a big difference financially, it can be hired out every day and the reliability of not having any postponements at home has been great too. However we wouldn't have been able to afford it without our FA Cup run, the money from that paid for it so for most clubs at this level it won't be financially viable I imagine. For me the positives far outweigh any negatives, especially as the chance of us reaching the EFL any time soon is basically zero so no risk of having to rip it up again.
It certainly helps with income on a regular basis no doubt, clubs have certainly suffered over the past few months. My question is though, the pitches have a certain lifetime don't they, what happens when they need replacing because I know that isn't cheap either?
I don't know much about the lifespan/cost of replacing the pitch but can only assume the money gained from hiring it out goes a significant way to covering the costs, otherwise it wouldn't have been the best way to invest the cup run money. Added factor possibly that attendances increased significantly after the cup run too, so we have more income generally to afford things we couldn't before.
I know Maidstone Utd are replacing theirs this summer, but would have struggled to raise the finance without the current FA Cup run. I would hope clubs keep money aside from the hire, different kettle of fish I know from the National League to Step 3 in terms of outlay on a season.
I'm not against 3G surfaces, they have a great purpose for the game and many of us would have been sat at home on Saturday afternoon instead of watching some football!
The other issue is I understand the toll on playing on 3G for the home players and why some clubs with it have a higher injury rate. As for playing on grass, (not that we would want to back) but I remember when by this time of the year the only grass at Underhill was a small patch around each corner flag, those were the days.
There certainly are some players who have to be managed when it comes to 3G surfaces, we know only too well at Barnet.
I’m becoming more of a fan given the amount of last minute called off announcements on grass. I wouldn’t want to see grass go at Championship or PL level but am not sure it makes sense for lower league teams to stick with grass.
Is that more because clubs deem it unimportant to invest money into their surface and what is underneath it? The call off announcements are a separate blog on it's own, that needs it's own set of rules!
This website reckons it costs £5500 a year to maintain a 3g pitch. I must add that personally I don’t like them.
I wonder how that compares to the cost of maintaining a grass pitch over the course of a season added to the summer work done.
https://www.bookteq.com/3g-pitch-maintenance-essentials-and-expenses/
I think we all prefer grass, but the advantages of 3G/4G over grass to non league clubs is immense. It gives a 7 day a week money maker, no postponed matches and if you listen to Chesterfield supporters an advantage of making you play like the famous 1970 Brazil team.
I'd like to see how much via some research that if the same amount of money was spent on grass surfaces and not just the top layer which is not the only important part , whether it would provide a season on grass? If you look at a lot of clubs they have just as many sides playing on their surface through the season, just less of a hire out during the day.
The advantage stops though Rob when the EFL comes calling, something Bromley will have to deal with potentially in 2 months time, it's certainly cost Sutton Utd a heck of a lot of money for their promotion however.
Agree!!