Winter Sports - Football


four LU440 lighting rigs eighteen months ago.


These are powered from the corners of the grounds, and Andy said they can cover most of the pitch over the course of a typical week, although not usually all of it. They emphasise the turf underneath the South Stand, however, because the famous stand (the one with the triangular outcrop featuring a clock) was built in an era when protecting the fans from rain took priority over allowing light onto the pitch. This stand provides shade even in the summer. In fact, when visited by a representative of a company selling amenity products, The Wednesday were told they had “the darkest pitch in the Football League”.


Andy said: “We also AerCore a lot and put a lot of sand profile down on that far side. We also brush for water often; try to limit the amount of surface water. And, finally,


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we try to thin that area out more by verti‐ cutting, to try to get airflow around it.” “As always, you have to avoid taking measures too far. That can result in a problem on matchdays if that side gets too dry.”


In terms of lighting for spectator benefit, the ground lacks floodlight pylons, and the rooftop lights are almost exactly on the light level requirements for the use of Hawkeye tracking technology.


The investment in new infrastructure also extended to new heating pipes just before the Desso was built. Now, the club hopes to also replace the linked boiler, which is ageing, having been installed even before the Fibresand training pitch, in 1991. The Desso also received new drainage when the Fibresand did. Andy said: “Before, a little bit of rain would result in a lot of surface water. Now, we water it even after it’s rained sometimes.”


“I think the way they’ve built the Dessos has changed over the years. I worked with one at Rovers, and it was a lot harder than this one.”


“It’s better softer, because we can tell it’ll probably last longer. The trade‐off is that we have more divots, which can have a negative result on grass coverage.”


“Looking at Rovers’ pitch now, under the same conditions etc., they get scars, whereas we get divots ‐ and they can be big. Obviously, that’s more work too.” One of the club’s chief concerns is during periods of extreme rain, as the stadium is built on the banks of the River Don. That is: beneath the western edge of the concourse, there are supports instead of foundations, because the drop to the river is immediately underneath the stand. This means that, if the river ever overflows, that floodwater heads straight into the stadium. Before Andy’s arrival, the water level once


It’s better softer, because we can tell it’ll probably last longer. The trade-off is that we have more divots, which can have a negative result on grass coverage


50 I PC FEBRUARY/MARCH 2018


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