The Pitch

[midfield diamond]

Not in good condition again is it? Has seemed very lumpy and uneven in the last few games. Not conducive to passing the ball.
Ok the weather has been appalling but the rugby makes matters a lot worse.
I wonder how much the Club has spent on the pitch in the last few years and how much income has been received from London Irish. In other words would we be better off financially without them?

[Schards#2]

Thought the pitch was shocking on Saturday, all the more so as there hasn't been a rugby game on it for weeks though it looked like one had just finished.

[Tony Le Mesmer]

From my experience crap pitches favour the home side.

They get used to playing on it.

Should help Reading if anything, even if its not good to watch at times.

[rfcjoe]

The pitch is shite because we let some fat people run around on it chasing an egg, and wrestling with eachother.

[loyalroyaldaz]

I dont think it is such a big problem these days, we are more "direct" than we were a couple of years ago.

[rabidbee]

Thought the pitch was shocking on Saturday, all the more so as there hasn't been a rugby game on it for weeks though it looked like one had just finished.

Lack of direct sunlight plus lots of frost?

[ZacNaloen]

^ The only reason the pitches and Arsenal and the like look so great is because they can afford those UV lights that stimulate growth 24 hours a day. Most pitches in the championship look like ours. Going by football league show anyway.

[Stranded]

The pitch is shite because we let some fat people run around on it chasing an egg, and wrestling with eachother.

Strange how the pitch has deteriated throughout January when Irish hadn't played a home game (up to yesterday) since the 27th Dec.

[loyalroyaldaz]

I thought i read that if the undersoil heating is overused or too hot then it can "cook" the roots. Some of the grass looked dead or dying to me, maybe this is why.

[Zammo]

From my experience crap pitches favours crap sides.

Good news all round then.

[The Real Sandhurst Royal]

No sun on the pitch during the winter months does not help the recovery process.

[rfcjoe]

The pitch is shite because we let some fat people run around on it chasing an egg, and wrestling with eachother.

Strange how the pitch has deteriated throughout January when Irish hadn't played a home game (up to yesterday) since the 27th Dec.

But it doesn't help that they have played on it. There would be more grass coverage if their fat bodies didn't leave huge dents in the surface, and wipe out the grass.

[Comfortably Numb]

we don't need a good pitch this season. we need something no one fancies playing on

[rfcjoe]

Alright Jay, calm down, calm down.

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

this thread should be stickied, as it comes along so often, the rugby is not the problem, the conditions and circumstances are.

[Jackson Corner]

It's the worst I have seen it at this stage of the season since we have been at the Mad Stad. A combination of egg chasers and terrible weather. It needs re laying in the summer but that can cost up to £250,000 Can you see the club doing that?

[Harpers So Solid Crew]

It's the worst I have seen it at this stage of the season since we have been at the Mad Stad. A combination of egg chasers and terrible weather. It needs re laying in the summer but that can cost up to £250,000 Can you see the club doing that?

Yep, as it will be in the LI contract that the pitch is in playable condition. Perhaps the answer would be to extend the Stadium, then they could get more light into the grassed area.

[Maguire]

I agree the pitch was terrible but luckily the air quality was still moderate, which is where most of the football gets played.

[rfcjoe]

Well when Jimmy K gets back in the team, we need to make sure the South and North Stands are playable.















(for his crosses...)

[Stranded]

The pitch is shite because we let some fat people run around on it chasing an egg, and wrestling with eachother.

Strange how the pitch has deteriated throughout January when Irish hadn't played a home game (up to yesterday) since the 27th Dec.

But it doesn't help that they have played on it. There would be more grass coverage if their fat bodies didn't leave huge dents in the surface, and wipe out the grass.

Seriously, the rugby has little effect on the quality of the surface. It looked decent enough pre Xmas - the rugby team haven't played - pitch gets worse, so blame rugby. Really can't see that arguement.