London Irish. WHY???

[Rex]

Wasn't this a nemotode issue and what was called 'second season' for the pitch where it would go through a natural bad phase before coming good in the second year of being laid.

The rugby issue is an aside and surely the groundmen can remedy the issues of the pitch being cut up.

[Hoop Blah]

On Sky last night I thought SSC and Murts were as clear as they diplomatically could be that the pitch was a negative factor.

As I said before though, they're looking for every excuse they can to avoid admitting that the team has just been poor. It's great for them to point the finger at something else or to give a reason outside of their control for the bad form.

Just because they say it doesn't make it true.

Then why not eliminate that excuse, eliminate the debate, the controversy, the finger pointing, the "reason beyond their control"? Wouldn't that allow us concentrate on playing good football on a good surface without the continual side issue about the pitch? Surely we would then be better able to identify and rectify any shortcomings in the team as well??

You don't think they've tried to get the pitch in the best possible state then?

[Muskrat]

Of course they would have. I'm not blaming the groundstaff for the state of the pitch am I?

[Hoop Blah]

So how can they eliminate it as an excuse then?

The pitch is bad because of a terrible run of weather at a time when we had more games than the pitch could handle in those conditions.

It's not the rugby's fault as the pitch has been very good at times over the years when we've had the talentless oafs trudging around on it.

[Deathy]

So how can they eliminate it as an excuse then?

The pitch is bad because of a terrible run of weather at a time when we had more games than the pitch could handle in those conditions.

It's not the rugby's fault as the pitch has been very good at times over the years when we've had the talentless oafs trudging around on it.

How much do get for letting these lumps use our pitch every season? Someone once mentioned £250,000, others £500,000.

The cost of a new pitch every 2-3 seasons really doesn't mean we make much from it if that's the case.

[West Stand Man]

So how can they eliminate it as an excuse then?

The pitch is bad because of a terrible run of weather at a time when we had more games than the pitch could handle in those conditions.

It's not the rugby's fault as the pitch has been very good at times over the years when we've had the talentless oafs trudging around on it.

How much do get for letting these lumps use our pitch every season? Someone once mentioned £250,000, others £500,000.

The cost of a new pitch every 2-3 seasons really doesn't mean we make much from it if that's the case.

They also pay half the costs of relaying the pitch.

[Hoop Blah]

I'm sure we make a decent % on all the match day takings and the merchandise sold in the shop.

I wouldn't be surprised if we've acquired a load of new fans as a knock effect too.

The pitch has been fine in previous years whilst we've had the rugby on it. They obviously won't have helped the situation this time round but it's been quite freak circumstances that have conspired to ruin the surface early this year.

For once I don't see the club are really at fault here.

[Whistle]

I wouldn't be surprised if we've acquired a load of new fans as a knock effect too.

We might also have lost a few. I know one family that's chosen rugby over family for this season. It's not a big issue right now but if and when we hit the 3rd tier again and rugby is still in their virtually relegation proof Prem, RFC could be the ones to suffer. Cuckoos nest and all that.

[Wycombe Royal]

If ever you want proof tht rugby and football can be played on the same pitch then here it is:

http://www.swanseacity.net/page/Latest/0,,10354~1644447,00.html

Swansea City's perfect pitch at the Liberty Stadium has been voted the best in the Championship with our very own Dan Duffy crowned 'Groundsman of the Year 2008-09'.

Dan, the stadium's hard-working groundsman, travelled to Stoke City on Thursday to attend a special Football League dinner where the announcement was made.

Southampton and Preston were also short-listed, but it was Dan who walked away with the prestigious award and trophy.

It's the first time the club has won the award since moving to the Liberty Stadium and the first time a dual-use pitch has been crowned top of the pile.

"I'm delighted,'' declared Dan, "especially when you consider we have dual codes using the pitch.

"I think the panel were impressed with the fact that despite hosting two codes we still managed to maintain a surface conducive to the way Roberto Martinez wants the game played.

"In fairness to Roberto and assistant Graeme Jones they really respect what we are trying to achieve for the pitch. I do appreciate the fact that they are helping me help them.''

All visiting managers and referees mark the pitch out of five for each game. At the end of February those marks are averaged out and the top three receive a close inspection by Dr Stephen Baker, Head of Spoil and Sports Surface Science at the Sports Turf Research Institute.

Swansea's pitch was described as "superb" by the Football League, while Arsenal won the title in the Premiership; MK Dons won the League One award and Grimsby League Two.

"It's not just about me,'' added Dan. "I had a lot of help in the first three years from Dean Gilasbey, while Anthony Harry and Alby Hobson have helped carry on the good work.''

The Liberty pitch really is Dan's pride and joy and regular visitors to the stadium know better than to take even the most tentative of steps onto the hallowed green turf. For no matter where he is in the stadium, the Aussie with eyes in the back of his head will spot you and send you jumping like a kangaroo back to the safety of the stand.

It's been his turf, his love and his life for the last four seasons as the plaudits have rained down from managers, fans and players alike.

It's hard, practically impossible, to think of an occasion where the condition of the pitch hampered a Swansea City performance. So it's not surprising then that Roberto Martinez classes Dan as part of his team - that's Dan, the Groundsman of the Year.

[Hoop Blah]

I wouldn't be surprised if we've acquired a load of new fans as a knock effect too.

We might also have lost a few. I know one family that's chosen rugby over family for this season. It's not a big issue right now but if and when we hit the 3rd tier again and rugby is still in their virtually relegation proof Prem, RFC could be the ones to suffer. Cuckoos nest and all that.

Very true.

We've attracted a competitor for those who want to watch top level professional sport. I hadn't really looked at it from that angle before, but I'm sure there are a number of fans who would now be willing to switch allegiance from the beautiful game to watching that dross if it comes to a decisions between the two.

[Thaumagurist*]

If ever you want proof tht rugby and football can be played on the same pitch then here it is:

http://www.swanseacity.net/page/Latest/0,,10354~1644447,00.html

blah blah

Isn't the Liberty Stadium only two years old?

[Wycombe Royal]

If ever you want proof tht rugby and football can be played on the same pitch then here it is:

http://www.swanseacity.net/page/Latest/0,,10354~1644447,00.html

blah blah

Isn't the Liberty Stadium only two years old?

What has that got to do with the pitch?

[Thaumagurist*]

Isn't the Liberty Stadium only two years old?

What has that got to do with the pitch?

How many games have been played on the pitch in that duration?

[Wycombe Royal]

Isn't the Liberty Stadium only two years old?

What has that got to do with the pitch?

How many games have been played on the pitch in that duration?

Our pitch has been relayed - last summer wasn't it?

Only the number of matches played during a season can have any relevance here......

[Sun Tzu]

How much do get for letting these lumps use our pitch every season? Someone once mentioned £250,000, others £500,000.

The cost of a new pitch every 2-3 seasons really doesn't mean we make much from it if that's the case.

Bearing in mind it's not technically 'our' pitch....

I seem to recall a figure of £70k a game being quoted by Ian Taylor at one time.

Obviously it's a per game amount as the number of games in a season is unknown at the start of the season.

What that then covers I don't know - do LI then pay for staffing, electricity, insurance etc etc on top making the 'rent' pretty much pure profit or are they hiring a fully operational stadium for that amount. Again I recall a figure of £25k being mentioned somewhere for the cost of putting on a game at the stadium.

Pitch costs are irrelevant as has been discussed many times....

[West Stand Man]

So, all those who blame the rugby for the 'state' of the ptich -- how do you explain its remarkable recovery once the weather improved, the club got a set of UV lights and they were able to do some maintenance on it?

Seems to me like the solution to the problem is not as simple as 'blame the rugby'?

[Thaumagurist*]

So, all those who blame the rugby for the 'state' of the ptich -- how do you explain its remarkable recovery once the weather improved, the club got a set of UV lights and they were able to do some maintenance on it?

Seems to me like the solution to the problem is not as simple as 'blame the rugby'?

It still wasn't great. The area on the left-hand side of the goal in front of the South Stand had a large patch of mud, very obviously from rugby.

[The Cube]

What I couldn't explain was that on Sunday the pitch seemed OK at the start of the game but deteriorated rapidly. (Obviously it looked great from higher up in the stand, but that doesn't prove anything.) There's clearly only one way forward though - kick the squatters out for a couple of years and see what happens to it. If it's better than this season, tell them to get lost for ever.

[Muskrat]

So, all those who blame the rugby for the 'state' of the ptich -- how do you explain its remarkable recovery once the weather improved, the club got a set of UV lights and they were able to do some maintenance on it?

Seems to me like the solution to the problem is not as simple as 'blame the rugby'?

There's been no rugby played on the pitch since the 9th April - 24 days prior to Sunday's game. HTH.

Surely all those still in denial about the the affect that rugby has on the pitch can make that connection?

[Sun Tzu]

So, all those who blame the rugby for the 'state' of the ptich -- how do you explain its remarkable recovery once the weather improved, the club got a set of UV lights and they were able to do some maintenance on it?

Seems to me like the solution to the problem is not as simple as 'blame the rugby'?

It still wasn't great. The area on the left-hand side of the goal in front of the South Stand had a large patch of mud, very obviously from rugby.

You mean where they have the warm up goal for the football ?

Fancy the rugby players concentrating their game right where our keepers spend 30 minutes every game diving around !!

Bizarrely there is an identical patch in front of the North Stand !!