Kettykat wrote:
Another interesting fact that I gleaned from BLM at the shirt launch and was chatting about how the new pitch is 95% grass with a plastic underlay and nothing like the Widnes one , he said some players had real issues with that type of pitch with choking on those little black pellets that were part of the make up of those pitches. It wouldn’t be an issue with other sport as they don’t spend as much time on the floor , apart part from footballers milking the penalties . Joking apart I’d never thought of that as a problem , only the scuffs n scrapes from the plastic grass
Being an obsessive, the moment I heard we were getting a new pitch I read up on the subject.
So...
4G
PROS: You can't compare the 4G pitch we were looking at with the 3G pitch at Widnes. The technology at Widnes is ancient by todays standards. IMHO the players would have been OK on a 4G pitch. The pitch itself would have been maintenance free and almost unlimited in use.
CONS: Still not a grass pitch however you view it.
HYBRID
PROS: You have to view Hybrid pitches as a system, rather than just a harder wearing form of grass. The surface itself is only part of it. The mesh and the twined plastic grass adds strength and reduced scuffs and divots to virtually nil. However this is partly due to the fact that the underground drainage never allows the pitch to become heavy or waterlogged. Obviously in winter there is a limit with heavy rains, but it still should not cut up too badly. Like wise the computer controlled under pitch sprinkles never allow the pitch to dry out either. Meaning that the pitch is in an optimum state all year around.
CONS: Unlike 4G there are limits on usability. Probably ten hours heavy use a week in winter, but more like thirty hours plus in summer. iT IS ALSO not maintenance free.
FWIW, I have a theory, and it really is just a theory, as to why we went with Hybrid, even though on the face of it 4G offers more revenue.
The latest 4G pitches are not recognised by the FA or the RFL for that matter, not yet anyway. Even then most clubs of any stature still prefer grass. I believe that this time next year a football team will be tenants at BV. I also believe they will be paying far more in rent than we would ever get from renting out a 4G pitch. They will be based in Wakefield so will fit the community criteria. We could also rent out to Premiership clubs who wish to play Reserve games. at BV, as Leeds used to.They will also allow us to access FA grants with a bit of luck. I also believe that we may also attract other sports in summer, perhaps an American football team?
Whatever, I think long term, staying 98% natural will pay greater dividends, we shall see.
) to remove them and possibly level off that surface. Seem a shame if when having the car park done etc we can’t just get that area cleaned up and flags removed.
