The UK’s first ever Fibrelastic pitch
confident of the final levels achieved. Once this operation is complete, it is a case of overseeding the pitch. Again, Carl has formulated a specific method for seeding and ensures the right amount of grass seed is applied per square metre. 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 is 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. In total, over 350 tonnes of new
Mowing the training pitches
fibrelastic sand material was used to construct the new pitch, as well as 350 tonnes of rootzone to renovate two soil based pitches, with all the work completed in fourteen days. Carl will continue to call in and see Michael to keep an eye on the new pitch, and will be back again in June with his dedicated team to undertake the refurbishment of the stadium pitch. Premier Pitches have recently been
asked to renovate a number of pitches in Europe, and Carl sees this as a great opportunity to build up new contacts and showcase the skills he and his staff have accumulated over the past ten years. Carl is quick to state that you are only as good as your last job, reputations can
soon be lost in the contracting world. He and his staff have worked hard to perfect their techniques and are one of the most experienced contractors specialising in constructing high spec football pitches, particularly the fibrelastic and fibresand pitch reinforcement systems. It is not surprising that we in the UK have some of the best sportsturf contractors around who are respected for their endeavours, and long may it continue. However, a word of warning, these services do come at a price and, with the cost of materials and transport currently on the rise, it is important we continue to pay the going rate to support these dedicated practitioners.
Michael Curran
germination. Whilst the grass is growing, it is fed weekly for 3-4 weeks with a 12:0:9 NPK mix. The pitch is watered daily - Mick adopts a ‘little but often’ approach. First cut is usually after three weeks at second tiller stage. For the following three weeks, only a rotary mower, set at 30mm, is used, while coverage is still sparse. After four weeks a 36” Ransomes Mastif cylinder mower is used. Fertiliser is cut back to once every 3 weeks. Once the training pitches are used in earnest, Mick moves the position of the pitches by 24 feet to ensure grass depletion does not occur in the usual trouble spots of the goalmouths and centre. At St James’ Park, the pitch is re-
cultivated every year for optimal conditions and to add new gases into the soil. Because the stadium is 271ft high on on two sides, and the other two sides are 190ft, the stadium truly has its own micro- climate, with light and airflow being the principal aspects affected. Between
Andy Tulley
October and February, the pitch gets only 5% natural light.
Premier Pitches has been Newcastle’s pitch contractors for the past four seasons and was involved in the selection of the fibrelastic pitch. General Manager, Jonathan Woolfall, comments, “We were astonished to find that the drop tests for fibrelastic were the same, whether their was grass coverage or not; no other ‘natural’ turf playing surface can offer that. In areas where there is sparse grass coverage, the soil tends to suffer from compaction, baking and water-logging. A fibrelastic surface is unaffected so, even if the pitch looks unsightly, the play is exactly the same and the ball even runs true. Of course, in these days of hi-def and 3D TV coverage, a pitch’s appearance can be subject to a lot of media focus.” Of course, the pitch at St James' Park and the training pitches at Longbenton underwent their harshest test yet over the winter. The undersoil heating had to
Jonathan Woolfall
remain on constantly at the stadium between late November and February and, even then, the soil temperature never rose above 5O
stadium dropped to minus 14O
C. The temperature within the C on a
number of occasions and there were still ice crystals on the leaf. The pitch had to have the snow scraped off regularly which obviously takes its toll on grass coverage. Prior to one match, stewards and cleaners were called in early to assist the groundstaff. Fifty staff were scraping the pitch at one stage. Andy recalls, “I had to buy every ice scraper I could lay my hands on. We now have 150 instead of our usual complement of 50.” Despite these challenging conditions, not one fixture was lost and not one complaint was made by the players or management, which is testament to the hard work of Newcastle’s grounds team and to all those involved in taking the decision to invest in the fibrelastic rootzone system.
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