That pitch. : Sat Feb 06, 2016 8:27 am  

That pitch last night was an absolute disgrace to professional sport. Whilst I understand we have a dual sport stadium and whilst there is nothing we can do about the continuous rains we seem to get all year long these days yet again we have to make do with a pitch that is by far the worst in the league.

One major gripe from me was the decision to allow Latics u18's play on it midweek (think it was Tuesday night). Who the hell authorised that? Even more ridiculous when you think the policy of annual away matches only for Wigan RLFC pre-season friendlies.

Re: That pitch. : Sat Feb 06, 2016 8:42 am  

I recall in the 70's, i think it was Leicester City who had a HUGE inflatable sheet that covered the playing surface, and players could actually train under it..

But is it not the high water-table thats a problem at Wigan?

Re: That pitch. : Sat Feb 06, 2016 8:55 am  

Agreed, absolutely apalling and a complete embarrassment

Re: That pitch. : Sat Feb 06, 2016 8:58 am  

Latics relegations have hurt the pitch because the cash isn't there anymore to just put down a new pitch everytime it cuts up.

The area which the stadium in doesn't help and means we'll always fight these battles as its so boggy. Having the Latics youth team game on it is crazy to be fair but they call the shots ultimately.

The myth of the rugby 'ruining' it will always go round but it's exactly that. It was a disgrace last week against Port Vale and no rugby had been played on it for nearly three months.

Re: That pitch. : Sat Feb 06, 2016 9:32 am  

Wigan Peer wrote:

I recall in the 70's, i think it was Leicester City who had a HUGE inflatable sheet that covered the playing surface, and players could actually train under it..

But is it not the high water-table thats a problem at Wigan?

I think this is the irreversible problem. They can relay the pitch all they want, but until someone drains the Douglas basin it's going to keep turning into a marsh each winter.

Re: That pitch. : Sat Feb 06, 2016 11:01 am  

And Langtree Park looking like a bowling green in comparison on TV...

Re: That pitch. : Sat Feb 06, 2016 12:29 pm  

NickyKiss wrote:

Latics relegations have hurt the pitch because the cash isn't there anymore to just put down a new pitch everytime it cuts up.

The area which the stadium in doesn't help and means we'll always fight these battles as its so boggy. Having the Latics youth team game on it is crazy to be fair but they call the shots ultimately.

The myth of the rugby 'ruining' it will always go round but it's exactly that. It was a disgrace last week against Port Vale and no rugby had been played on it for nearly three months.

That myth is firmly out of the window now,it was a disgrace before any rugby team got on to it,the football is ruining it,you can see the areas around where the goals would be and around the middle of the pitch are well worn.

Re: That pitch. : Sat Feb 06, 2016 1:00 pm  

NickyKiss wrote: Latics relegations have hurt the pitch because the cash isn't there anymore to just put down a new pitch everytime it cuts up. The area which the stadium in doesn't help and means we'll always fight these battles as its so boggy. Having the Latics youth team game on it is crazy to be fair but they call the shots ultimately. The myth of the rugby 'ruining' it will always go round but it's exactly that. It was a disgrace last week against Port Vale and no rugby had been played on it for nearly three months. Below is an interesting observation from a Dutchman on the Latics Forum, he goes on the say later in the thread in answer to the question, why does he know so much about drainage ,? because it is his job installing systems in sports stadiums. "The only thing to blame I'm afraid is poor workmanship and cost cutting. The lateral drains are at 10m centres at the dw, they should be at least 6m centres. Although they are working to remove the water from the pitch the outfall over near the players car park was installed too low so when the river raises there is no where for the water to leave the pitch. I know all this first hand I also know what's needed to fix this from happening but the men with the money listen to the wrong people, is all I can really say. Any pitch installation would be a waste of time until the underlying problem is solved, a stadium we have done in Holland actually uses the water from drainage for the stadium and its not even that expensive compared to relaying the pitch year on year. Once a good pitch is down we can guarantee it for 8 years.... " Read more: http://www.wigan.vitalfootball.co.uk/fo ... z3zOM52GTH

NickyKiss wrote: Latics relegations have hurt the pitch because the cash isn't there anymore to just put down a new pitch everytime it cuts up. The area which the stadium in doesn't help and means we'll always fight these battles as its so boggy. Having the Latics youth team game on it is crazy to be fair but they call the shots ultimately. The myth of the rugby 'ruining' it will always go round but it's exactly that. It was a disgrace last week against Port Vale and no rugby had been played on it for nearly three months. Below is an interesting observation from a Dutchman on the Latics Forum, he goes on the say later in the thread in answer to the question, why does he know so much about drainage ,? because it is his job installing systems in sports stadiums. "The only thing to blame I'm afraid is poor workmanship and cost cutting. The lateral drains are at 10m centres at the dw, they should be at least 6m centres. Although they are working to remove the water from the pitch the outfall over near the players car park was installed too low so when the river raises there is no where for the water to leave the pitch. I know all this first hand I also know what's needed to fix this from happening but the men with the money listen to the wrong people, is all I can really say. Any pitch installation would be a waste of time until the underlying problem is solved, a stadium we have done in Holland actually uses the water from drainage for the stadium and its not even that expensive compared to relaying the pitch year on year. Once a good pitch is down we can guarantee it for 8 years.... " Read more: http://www.wigan.vitalfootball.co.uk/fo ... z3zOM52GTH

Re: That pitch. : Sat Feb 06, 2016 1:52 pm  

Interesting.

I shall be so disappointed if we end up playing the Broncos on a mud-bath (and it looks like we probably will).

Re: That pitch. : Sat Feb 06, 2016 1:56 pm  

stillinthepast wrote:

"The only thing to blame I'm afraid is poor workmanship and cost cutting. The lateral drains are at 10m centres at the dw, they should be at least 6m centres.

Wow. Only 10m centres for the laterals. Says it all...