TALKING POINT Andy Gray, Grounds Manager, Southampton FC
People don’t realise that damage from warm-ups is sometimes massive and the impact of that means the pitch can end up looking battered in places before kick-off, which doesn’t look good on televised games
A lot of the problems with any type of pitch usage comes down to education. None more so than warm-ups. Due to the localised intensity of most of the drills they do, it is often the case that more damage is done in the warm up than the actual game itself. I have found over the years that, if you speak to the coaches before they set up, you can (mostly) get them to go where you want. There is no point talking to them when they are in the middle of their warm up as they will not change what they are doing at that point. Most of them now know before you even say anything what you are going to ask - fast feet off the pitch, possession boxes on the wings, shooting in the practice goal etc. and so, agree to it all and say that’s what they would do anyway. Pre-match shooting in has changed a
little with the new way of ‘team shape’ and needing the whole width of the pitch, thus the need to do it in the main goal. However, I have found this not to be that bad as it is only a few actual shots at the keeper rather than lining up like a firing squad and firing balls at two keepers for 5-10 minutes and destroying where that goal is.
I have worked in all top three
divisions; all at Southampton and, for the main part, it is actually the PL teams who are the best/easiest to deal with. Often in League 1, it was the away teams ‘cup final’ and all they wanted to do was shoot balls at the main goal both before the game and at half time. I chased many a goalie and subs out of the penalty box in the FL. We do have guidelines and rules for warm-ups and warm downs in the PL, which are on the wall in both changing rooms. However, unfortunately these are not worth the paper they are written on. You can report misuse of the pitch to the delegate but only after the match, long after the damage has been done and the culprits are twenty-five miles up the motorway or at the airport! The fines then handed out are so minimal it is mere pence to the club. As I started, I think it comes down to education. This can start at your own club by building a good relationship with your own S&C department. Explaining why you are asking to go here, why you don’t want them to do that there etc. These then look after your own training pitches and, in turn, will respect the pitch when they play away. We have a good relationship with the S&C department here at Southampton, from 1st team all the way through the academy and I hope they take into consideration the pitch when they play away. Of course, it can come down to personal character and attitude with some people; unfortunately something that you cannot do much about sometimes!
It is commonplace to see players who have not even taken part in the game - and in some cases have not even been named on the team sheet - take to the pitch and start sprinting up and down. This is unacceptable
14 PC February/March 2019
“
“
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
