Entertaining as the Albs have been recently, I am seriously considering not going to the Woodley game because it will be played on an artificial surface. In my opinion these make a mockery of the game and are undoubtedly a considerable advantage to the home side.
What do others think? Should plastic pitches be allowed for league games?
i for one dont like plastic pitches.Friction burns +maybe worse injuries to players,unnatural bounce of the ball,as the name says artifical,and thats what you get an artifical advantage,to any team that plays on them regularly.Dig them up and lay a proper pitch with real turf,and make it an even game.
Plastic pitches are a no,no.They fine for hockey but football no.There is no give and are likely to increase hamstring problems not forgetting the dreaded cruciate twangs.
Artificial surfaces are not allowed at Blue Square level, so why should they be allowed at this level.
It is because of their artificial pitch that Durham are now at this level, because when they applied to join the Blue Square North last season, whilst in the Unibond Premier, Blue Square told them that they would not be allowed in their league with a plastic pitch. Subsequently, their wealthy backers left the club, and when the players were told that they would have to play for free they all left. Durham ended up bottom, and it all started because of their plastic pitch.
I believe that plastic pitches have come a very long way since their original introduction, and I think there was an International played on one recently.
I agree with the sentiments of above but 20 years ago. I think the quality of artificial turf should be re-analised with what is available today. (how long ago was Woodleys pitch put down?)
A funny one this. Russia have been permitted to play home games on artificial pitches, but our own FA will not let clubs play home games on artificial surfaces in our premier cup competition.
There needs to be a definitive stance one way or the other, from our level and lower right up to the international game. If you can play international games on plastic pitches, then surely you should be able to play non-league games on them?
Personally i feel that they shouldn’t be allowed. But for a club like Woodley i know their pitch has been a valuable source of income from league sides using it for training purposes.
Plastic pitches?
Sod them!
QPR had one and the touchlines sloped away to aid the drainage - the ball was forever out of play !
They have improved and am not against them at non-league level !
Hyde United had one that was truly abysmal, every game I saw on it was turned into a farce. I was not at all impressed by the one at Woodley in the cup game about three years ago.
[quote=“eligorton” post=36035]
They have improved and am not against them at non-league level ![/quote]
The one at Woodley has not improved, it’s football but not as we know it!
The only person to benefit is the groundsman!
Utd played CSKA Moscow last year on plastic.What i noticed about the pitch was that when the ball hit the surface from any height the speed and roll of the ball was instantly killed.The exact opposite of Loftus Road and the Ewen Fields.
My conclusion is that we have not made any progress because the ball does not run true.
I agree with Robbo,either yes or no.
After watching tonights game…BAN THEM!!!
I’ve changed my vote.
plastic pitches for plastic football, but not for proper football. ban them through out the football world.
Football,priceless.
For everything else there is plastic. 
Rabbit - Did I say Woodley’s pitch had improved - NO !
The reason for not being against them at non-league level is that they are not only cheap to maintain but they can be used by the community for all differant kinds of sports and events.
Some Witton fans were criticising Mossley’s pitch earlier in the season - if you can play football you can play on any surface ( just like Brazil ) !
Eli - Did I say that you had said that Woodley’s pitch had improved - NO!
I simply pointed out that their pitch had not improved.
I guess you had to be there to see what a farce it made out of the game, there was no lack of effort on the part of either side but the first 45 minutes was absolutely dreadful. You would think the home side would be used to it, but no evidence of that being the case. In theory it provides an unfair advantage to the team that plays on it every fortnight (and trains on it), therefore they are neither fair or conducive to decent football.
The commercial arguments regards extended use are valid, however I think that an all weather pitch can only be an addition to a grass pitch. The counter argument commercially is that if only 100 turn up to watch the home team (in part due to the pitch) then the other revenue is cancelled out.
Seem to remember the great JV team playing well at Woodley in a Cup game ! Maybe he can do the same for Woodley ?