Early Renovations

April 19'

Early Renovation

Renovations have started early this year, taking our first pitch out of play on the 1st of April, we are now a month in and in full swing.

Our usual process is renovating one pitch per week, lasting for about ten weeks. This year, we have a concert in June, so the Stadium Pitch will be delayed until mid June. This will leave us about 6-7 weeks until football is played on Portman Rd after the renovation. A little tight, but one that we have achieved before. Typically, I would choose to have 8-10 weeks for a "grow in", but in reality, the pitch is still developing into the early autumn. 

The weather has been on our side this season with very little rainfall around the games. This makes a big difference to how the Stadium Pitch performs during the games and what damage it takes. Due to the amount of fine sands within the profile of the pitch, which directly relates to the drainage rate, it will determine damage and grass coverage, especially during and coming out of the winter. 

We are the only pitch in the top two leagues without a pitch reconstruction and have no artificial fibers giving stability to the rootzone. Next season, I won't be able to say this any more, although there are more grounds with a reconstruction than not in League 1.

The renovation to the lawn at the training ground has been successful. I have wanted to do this for some time, but this year has been the year. It was no more than a rough area which was maintained by mowing once a week but that was about it. We have now removed the surface and the weeds and sown a dwarf rye grass which has germinated nicely and we have now started to cut it. We will see it thicken over the next few weeks and we will move on from cutting it with a rotary mower to a cylinder mower.

After renovation

Before renovation

   Training ground renovations are coming along nicely and we are on our 3rd and 4th pitch this week. We were delayed by six days due to a breakdown, but well within time to be on target for the players return at the end of June. we have now moved over to the academy side to do a full size pitch and a goalkeeping area whilst the 1st team finish off the season on their side and will continue their renovations next week.  

Pitch 2 and 3 have been completed and pitch 1 will start next week. for the first time, we will be renovating the external areas of the pitch, not just inside the touchlines. There will also be a new goalkeeping training area on the main 1st team plateau.  

During the renovation process, the sand is worked down the holes, as seen in the photo above. This will help with the drainage and a route down for the grass roots once it has been sown. 

 Once the holes have been filled in, it leaves a clean finish ready for the seed to be drilled.

Germination on pitch 3 after ten days  after drilling. It is usually another week before in is cut by hand.

Pitch 3 received its first cut on the 30th April. 

We have been working on improvements around the first team training area with the removal of the old stop netting. The holes are being filled in and it will be leveled off and seeded. 

 

Although there is still a league game to play, it won't be long before the training pitches are back in play for pre-season.