The dreaded plastic tablecloths

[old git]

Just reading an article about these abominations in Spain, where even at fairly low levels of competition the referee has to inspect when the air temperature is expected to be above 30c with a gadget to make sure enough water has been applied, and has to postpone if not, as they are considered dangerous in that heat. …... meanwhile in England very few clubs that have these money making excuses for pitches have more than a garden hosepipe

[Noggin]

I read somewhere the other day that the RFU were wary of the effects of heat on poor quality pitches and steering clubs towards using astro....

[old git]

I read somewhere the other day that the RFU were wary of the effects of heat on poor quality pitches and steering clubs towards using astro....

[old git]

I read somewhere the other day that the RFU were wary of the effects of heat on poor quality pitches and steering clubs towards using astro....

I guarantee that in years to come when they are finally outlawed because of health reasons people will read about it and say “ how did they not see the dangers” … a bit like we look back on asbestos and say “ how did they not see the dangers “

[andy]

Just reading an article about these abominations in Spain, where even at fairly low levels of competition the referee has to inspect when the air temperature is expected to be above 30c with a gadget to make sure enough water has been applied, and has to postpone if not, as they are considered dangerous in that heat. …... meanwhile in England very few clubs that have these money making excuses for pitches have more than a garden hosepipe

Well the probably most reliable forecast (met office) are saying 33 degrees for Northampton area on Saturday. Sliding tackles on melting plastic, lovely....

[El Seano]

Just reading an article about these abominations in Spain, where even at fairly low levels of competition the referee has to inspect when the air temperature is expected to be above 30c with a gadget to make sure enough water has been applied, and has to postpone if not, as they are considered dangerous in that heat. …... meanwhile in England very few clubs that have these money making excuses for pitches have more than a garden hosepipe

In Spain, outside the top 2-3 divisions, most clubs use municipal stadiums with artificial pitches that are also used by the local community.

The (good quality 4G) pitch at my local club's stadium is used at least 6 hours pretty much every day.

Here artificial pitches are the norm and without them a lot of "grassroots" (pun intended) clubs would struggle to survive.

I guess it's a case of plastic football is better than no football, and perhaps the same is happening in England as clubs look for community based facilities with more revenue streams and lower long term maintenance costs?

Hopefully Harborough have more than a hosepipe for tomorrow, and are allowed to use it!!

[andy]

Added to the plastic tablecloth tomorrow has anyone else looked at their ground? In all the pics I've seen there are 2 tiny stands about 12 or so seats long. In this year's squad pic it looks like they've now pushed them together. They must be on wheels like the goals! Aside from that no other cover from the sun at all by the looks of it. The rest of the ground looks like a typical community ground in a cage like Khalsa. 33 degrees in a cage with no cover to watch football on a plastic pitch. Having second thoughts....