Are all weather pitches under-utilised?

[Bruegel the Elder]

Weather and coronavirus have between them caused an enormous number of postponements this year. So why aren’t we seeing games being played seven nights per week (and a couple of afternoons) on the few available C.F.A. approved artificial pitches? 
Presumably the teams want to play, and some (particularly at the sharp end of the peninsular!) could afford it (even without spectators in some cases), so why don’t we have seven night a week football (a bit like in the Premiership). I know the cost of upkeep and replacement, but the Schools, Collages and Clubs that own them could be making enough money for an upgrade next time ‘round!

[Richard Rundle]

Presumably some of the pitches already have regular bookings?

[Richard Chown]

££££££

Cost of Hire plus match official fees you are looking at £100 for a match. 

[Mark Leah]

And the rest Rich. Cornwall College is £110 for a match hire (effectively 2 hours) then plus the match official, kit wash.

I see the potential and reasons why of this topic as we get games, league's, cups completed but i would say the outgoings outweigh this. What would the home players need to pay? If you have a squad of 15, say perhaps £10 each? Would you get the away side to chip in also to reduce this? Many players moan at £3-£4.

And what some don't realise is that if you get the rubber crumb staines in a shirt, they take a lot of soaking and washing to get out. So it may not just be the cost of 1 kit wash it maybe several unless you have a good kit lady/man.

 

Being a groundsman myself, football should be played on grass  not plastic, although it kills me when teams wreck the pitch at St Day 😂😂😂

[Bruegel the Elder]

Thanks guys, but I was thinking of those a little further up the triangle; Peninsular league. There the players wouldn’t have to put their hands in their pockets. They could have a game of football instead of a brown envelope!

[Ieuan Gregory]

I believe there is another side to 3G usage at NLS level very few 3G pitches locally can accomodate spectators to NLS standards ,hence probably the lack of useage above regional feeder level

[Tommy Matthews]

They’re all fully booked in the evenings so you wouldn’t get on them. There are still sides in the upper levels using them and that includes some of the Scottish league clubs, but such is their popularity for training and six-a-side leagues, you wouldn’t get a booking. 

[Mandy K Aggiemaid]

We played our St Piran fixture at Truro College last Saturday great facility and marvellous to get a game on!

However at £49.50 per hour (total £99) and a referee that cost £50 with no facility to host spectators or collect/run raffles to generate any income it couldn't be a financially viable regular option. 

For teams in higher leagues needing Bar income as well as gate/raffle I imagine they would struggle with the outlay v income.

We need more available grass pitches and we absolutely need access to more all weather facilities and also some way for these to be more affordable and accessible to all of us. 

 

[TheolderIgetthebetterIwas]

If games are to be played on these pitches to alleviate fixture congestion then the cost should be shared by both clubs.

End of for me.

[Bruegel the Elder]

6 hours ago, TheolderIgetthebetterIwas said:

If games are to be played on these pitches to alleviate fixture congestion then the cost should be shared by both clubs.

End of for me.

Or payed for by the Groundsmen - the price of half a week with your feet up‼️