The state of football pitches

[stedders]

Due to the poor state of grass pitches, Saturday morning's game with
Internet Royals was called off.

There is a real problem with grass pitches in the area due to amount of rain
we've had since the Autumn. Hounslow and Richmond councils have stopped, for
the foreseeable future, any "casual" users of their pitches. It's the same
situation at Heathlands School. There is a possibility that this will
continue until May, then many of the pitches will be reseeded during the
summer period.

Warren Farm is unusual in that they do keep their goalposts up during the
summer. There must be a realistic prospect, however, that they will not do
this during this summer in order to allow the pitch to rest.

The lack of available grass pitches is causing consequent pressure on Astro
pitches in the area, which means that these pitches need to be booked well
in advance.

Another disadvantage with astro pitches (apart from the obvious fact that
people don't like playing on them) is that time slots booked tend to be a
lot more rigid than on grass pitches, there is no way that we could be
allowed to over-run our game or delay kick-off to allow for late arrivals,
people getting lost; which we often have to.

Astro pitches are also a lot more expensive: a 90-minute game with a 10/15
minute half time break would cost approx £110 + the cost of a ref (approx
£20) which would probably be more than most internet teams would probably
want to pay.

My experience of such all-weather pitches, however, is only based on my
experiences at Feltham and Cranford, if anyone else knows of any all-weather
pitches (prefereably within a 5-mile radius of Griffin Park) will they
please let me know.

The game against Gillingham is booked for Warren Farm (hopefully) on SUNDAY
25 February.
I'll have to discuss with Crystal Palace what arrangements they wish to make
about our proposed game on 10 March.
(i) Take a chance at Warren Farm; (ii) book an astro pitch; (iii) cancel the
game until more stable weather in the spring/summer.

I'd appreciate any feedback

Paul Stedman

[Mr Tree]

stedders, i'm only speaking from personal experience here, i don't know how useful this'll be to you... there's a few lads here who play casual games on a sunday, and i've played with them twice... once on a grass-pitch, where everyone had a great laugh, got covered in mud, klinsmann style dives for goal celebrations, sliding tackles, diving keepers... and once on an astro-turf pitch, where everyone got really bored cos u couldn't slide around without taking half your frigging leg off... all i'm saying is that at the level at which we play at (which i assume is about your level too!), the lads are more interested in having a laugh than playing a proper game, and astroturf would probably become quite unpopular... not to mention the extra cost...

anyway, that's just my thoughts, interesting to see what the rest of the lads think....

[stedders]

you're absolutely right about our level of footie. I think the majority hate playing on Astro.
There is, however, a serious problem with the state of pitches all over West London (and probably wider, too, for all I know).
From my Sunday morning ref-ing duties I know of some teams that haven't had a game since early December.

[Mr Tree]

i really am astonished, i think we'll have to rename London "Manchester", cos it's always frigging raining http://gpgrapevine.co.uk/ubb/biggrin.gif it's not that bad at all up here, it's actually really sunny (tho still only just above zero degrees!), i can't believe it's that bad daaaaahhhhn saaaahhhhhth.... maybe i'm the opposite of that crowded house song, y'know, "everywhere i go, i DON'T always take the weather with me" http://gpgrapevine.co.uk/ubb/biggrin.gif

[saffrey]

<font face="Verdana, Arial" size="2">Originally posted by Dan the Bee:
i really am astonished, i think we'll have to rename London "Manchester", cos it's always frigging raining http://gpgrapevine.co.uk/ubb/biggrin.gif it's not that bad at all up here, it's actually really sunny (tho still only just above zero degrees!), i can't believe it's that bad daaaaahhhhn saaaahhhhhth.... maybe i'm the opposite of that crowded house song, y'know, "everywhere i go, i DON'T always take the weather with me" http://gpgrapevine.co.uk/ubb/biggrin.gif</font>
Why not, then all those cockneys would not have any hangups about supporting ManUnited

[stedders]

The irony is that today has been a very pleasant early Spring day. Certainly where I am in Sarf East London, anyway.

It would appear the pitches are, generally, in such poor condition that just a little bit of rain causes them to start cutting and become unplayable.

[Gaz_Thomas]

Try Matthew Arnold School In Ashford.
They have I think 3 pitches that looked in reasonable tare.

[Mr Tree]

hey, matthew arnold's in Staines!!! i live right near it!!!!

[Gaz_Thomas]

No its not it's on the road going towards Staines but i would class it as being in Ashford ( The other End )

[Mr Tree]

oi, gaz, nooooooooooooooooo!!! http://gpgrapevine.co.uk/ubb/mad.gif

it is DEFINITELY in Staines, it is on the Kingston Road, which as you say leads from Staines to Ashford, but as i say http://gpgrapevine.co.uk/ubb/smile.gif i live right by it and i live in frigging staines!!!!! ashford for me doesn't start until the fordbridge roundabout, or about halfway up woodthorpe road, depending on which way you go from staines into ashford....

so there http://gpgrapevine.co.uk/ubb/tongue.gif

[Garibaldi Bee]

My Sunday League team trained on the Astro at Matthew Arnold on Sunday, saw a couple of grass pitches that were in pretty good condition but were out of use to anyone because of all the rain. I get the impression that they will almost always be booked up, the astro pitch is quite nice though.

[Gaz_Thomas]

Garibaldi Bee where would you say it was - Ashford or Staines ??

I would class Staines from Staines bridge to the row of shops pass Knowle Green !

[Garibaldi Bee]

Well, I described it to my lot as Ashford, we used to drink in the Dog and Partridge after football and that was always considered to be Ashford. Sorry Dan, i'm with Gaz on this. We now play our home matches at Lammas Park, I would class that as Staines.

[newbury bee]

Stedders, whats happening with regards to this weeks game vs Gillingham, whats the latest word as I am available and am planning a weekend down in London so if you can let me know one way or the other I would be grateful, cheers.

[stedders]

Gillingham game; we've not changed the date, that I know of anyway, it's always been scheduled for Sunday 25 February.

There must be some doubt about this game though, for same boring reason.

To Rhys: As commented before I asked Matt Dolman to play, as it was a Sunday I assumed that was more convenient for you.



[This message has been edited by stedders (edited 12 February 2001).]

[newbury bee]

Paul, as I've explained Im no longer committed to a team currently, while I aint Id like to play. Especially as Im available, in London and I didn't get a game last week and havn't played in a month. I would really appreciate a game.

[Mr Tree]

you know the little road bridge by the dog and partridge?? i'd say that is where ashford starts (i'd forgot about the D&P, that is ashford as you say...) I'm really struggling to see your argument, seeing as I live in Staines and I live right by Matthew Arnold!!!!!!!!

AND Lammas Park is in Wraysbury!!!!

[Garibaldi Bee]

Dan, I think all this northern air is getting to you, Matthew Arnold is in ASHFORD, end of story. I was always told the Lammas is classed as Staines, but you might be right on that one.

[Mr Tree]

you're gonna get such an ass-kicking when i next see ya Gari!!!!! http://gpgrapevine.co.uk/ubb/biggrin.gif

i am gonna ring my sister up and ask her, she's a student there (part-time in her eyes!!) and has had many correspendence from the school in her time http://gpgrapevine.co.uk/ubb/rolleyes.gif if the address they give says ashford i'll give in, but i stand by what i say, i literally live across the road from the main entrance and i live in frigging staines, so http://gpgrapevine.co.uk/ubb/tongue.gif

oh, i was only messing about with lammas, that's just about in staines, tho wraysbury starts just a bit further up the road...

[This message has been edited by Dan the Bee (edited 13 February 2001).]

[kempy]

I went to Matthew Arnold School and the address is Kingston Road, Staines, Middlesex. However seeing as you say it is in Staines Dan, I'm going to disagree and say it is in Ashford.