Winter Sports - Football
bottom, an economic issue rather than a legal one. The Women’s World Cup is loss- making. It requires a hefty cross- subsidy from the men’s event to take place at all.”
So, is it a case of economics? With many of the synthetic pitch installations taking place, in Scotland for example, it seems that it is. The allure of generating extra income from the rental of synthetic pitches for community uses explains why so many teams have gone artificial. Of course in Scotland, the weather conditions are less than perfect and, as Celtic manager Ronny Deila moans; “The pitches in Scotland are terrible. It’s much better to play on an artificial surface than to play on a natural turf surface.” But it must not be assumed that this is the sole reason for the switch, as many clubs feel that they will add to their revenue with synthetic surface rental fees, whilst also reducing cost in the maintenance of their pitches.
The increase in a club’s revenue is definitely something that
the synthetic pitch
manufacturers promote, and it is interesting to see the breakdown of the revenue that certain contractors, such as McArdle Sport-Tec Ltd, predict.
McArdle predict £87,120 revenue per football season for their FIFA 1 star pitches. That figure is based on 42 hours play per week, 36 weeks of the year. The
installation of one of their pitches will set you back £365,500, with a
maintenance cost per annum of £109,620
based on a 5-year finance
agreement.
Of course, the FIFA 2 star pitches required for international play will cost more, at around the £700,000 mark for
installation. But then, for some teams, this is a mere drop in the ocean compared to how much they pay their players. When we talk about community level and grassroots football, on the other hand, the capital needed for the installation, as well as the replacement costs and maintenance costs will add up. So, now we have looked at the different arguments involved with the installation of synthetic pitches over natural turf, I will leave you all to make up your own minds. I have become slightly biased after doing the research for this article, but I acknowledge that synthetic turf has its uses and its place. What I would like to see, in the not too distant future, is another, more environmentally- friendly, health-friendly and play-friendly synthetic turf, with a move away from rubber crumb.
American company, Limonta Sports are pioneering a move away from rubber crumb with their coconut fibre and cork infill,
GeoTurf, which they claim to be 100% environmentally friendly and, I assume, non-carcinogenic! So, let’s hope we will have a good balance of safe, synthetic turf and natural turf in the coming years, as well as an equality between male and female players in their pitch surface preference.
About the author: Before joining Pitchcare this year, Alice Northrop had previously been living a very different life in London, working for the Telegraph and Vogue amongst other publications. She has always enjoyed writing, but it was only a couple of years ago, when she was shortlisted for the Vogue Talent Contest for writers that she realised she could make a go of it in the journalism industry.
After completing her schooling in Spain, she headed back to England to study Sports and Exercise Science at the
University of Exeter. A keen team player, but perhaps not always as skilled at sport as she would like to be, she was once told she “had the perfect attitude to be on the volleyball team, but not the skill.”
MANUFACTURED IN THE UK
SCORE WITH
We manufacture and supply a huge range of goals including 9v9, Mini Soccer, 5-A-Side, Futsal and full size goals. We are proud to say that our goals can’t be beaten on quality. Our detailed manufacturing process ensures our goals last longer than our competitors’.
CALL US ON 01502 710039 OR VISIT
MARKHARROD.COM SPORT PRODUCTS FROM THE SPORT EXPERTS
Ecosol Turfcare
Sports pitch renovation and construction specialists
We are professional turfcare consultants and contractors providing solutions to pitchcare problems, including drainage schemes, pitch rebuilds, end-of-season renovation and in-season maintenance. Ecosol Turfcare can help you get the best out of your pitch.
Koro Terraplane Laser grading Sand slitting Sand banding Sand spreading Overseeding
Tel: 01666 861250 Email:
info@ecosolve.co.uk
www.ecosolve.co.uk Ecosolve Ltd, Armyn Cross, Malmesbury, Wilts SN16 9RJ PC AUGUST/SEPTEMBER 2015 I 83
Page 1 |
Page 2 |
Page 3 |
Page 4 |
Page 5 |
Page 6 |
Page 7 |
Page 8 |
Page 9 |
Page 10 |
Page 11 |
Page 12 |
Page 13 |
Page 14 |
Page 15 |
Page 16 |
Page 17 |
Page 18 |
Page 19 |
Page 20 |
Page 21 |
Page 22 |
Page 23 |
Page 24 |
Page 25 |
Page 26 |
Page 27 |
Page 28 |
Page 29 |
Page 30 |
Page 31 |
Page 32 |
Page 33 |
Page 34 |
Page 35 |
Page 36 |
Page 37 |
Page 38 |
Page 39 |
Page 40 |
Page 41 |
Page 42 |
Page 43 |
Page 44 |
Page 45 |
Page 46 |
Page 47 |
Page 48 |
Page 49 |
Page 50 |
Page 51 |
Page 52 |
Page 53 |
Page 54 |
Page 55 |
Page 56 |
Page 57 |
Page 58 |
Page 59 |
Page 60 |
Page 61 |
Page 62 |
Page 63 |
Page 64 |
Page 65 |
Page 66 |
Page 67 |
Page 68 |
Page 69 |
Page 70 |
Page 71 |
Page 72 |
Page 73 |
Page 74 |
Page 75 |
Page 76 |
Page 77 |
Page 78 |
Page 79 |
Page 80 |
Page 81 |
Page 82 |
Page 83 |
Page 84 |
Page 85 |
Page 86 |
Page 87 |
Page 88 |
Page 89 |
Page 90 |
Page 91 |
Page 92 |
Page 93 |
Page 94 |
Page 95 |
Page 96 |
Page 97 |
Page 98 |
Page 99 |
Page 100 |
Page 101 |
Page 102 |
Page 103 |
Page 104 |
Page 105 |
Page 106 |
Page 107 |
Page 108 |
Page 109 |
Page 110 |
Page 111 |
Page 112 |
Page 113 |
Page 114 |
Page 115 |
Page 116 |
Page 117 |
Page 118 |
Page 119 |
Page 120 |
Page 121 |
Page 122 |
Page 123 |
Page 124 |
Page 125 |
Page 126 |
Page 127 |
Page 128 |
Page 129 |
Page 130 |
Page 131 |
Page 132 |
Page 133 |
Page 134 |
Page 135 |
Page 136 |
Page 137 |
Page 138 |
Page 139 |
Page 140 |
Page 141 |
Page 142 |
Page 143 |
Page 144 |
Page 145 |
Page 146 |
Page 147 |
Page 148 |
Page 149 |
Page 150 |
Page 151 |
Page 152 |
Page 153 |
Page 154 |
Page 155 |
Page 156 |
Page 157 |
Page 158 |
Page 159 |
Page 160 |
Page 161 |
Page 162 |
Page 163 |
Page 164