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General Category => Altrincham FC First Team => Topic started by: Hale Alty on January 28, 2021, 08:49:13 AM

Title: Pitch
Post by: Hale Alty on January 28, 2021, 08:49:13 AM
I read that one of the first priorities of the ground improvement plans is laying a new pitch regardless of expense.

How about a scheme where fans or companies can sponsor a square yard or two?
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: Alty Dave on January 28, 2021, 09:03:35 AM
I read that one of the first priorities of the ground improvement plans is laying a new pitch regardless of expense.

How about a scheme where fans or companies can sponsor a square yard or two?

Excellent idea
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: cheshire cat on January 28, 2021, 09:07:25 AM
I wonder how much it cost Harrogate to get rid of their synthetic pitch. I bet with our underlying drainage issues you can multiply the figure fourfold.

It has to be done at some point though unless we're going to fit a roof  :)
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: CRT Butty on January 28, 2021, 10:01:54 AM
I wonder how much it cost Harrogate to get rid of their synthetic pitch. I bet with our underlying drainage issues you can multiply the figure fourfold.

It has to be done at some point though unless we're going to fit a roof  :)

J Davidson SuperDome.
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: Hale Alty on January 28, 2021, 10:54:40 AM
I read that one of the first priorities of the ground improvement plans is laying a new pitch regardless of expense.

How about a scheme where fans or companies can sponsor a square yard or two?

Excellent idea

Alty pitch is 110 x 74 yards. £10 a square yard would raise £81,400.
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: CRT Butty on January 28, 2021, 10:58:01 AM
For a tenner, even in these bloody hard times I am in.
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: One Foot in the Grave on January 28, 2021, 11:20:08 AM
Double it for me - £20 per square yard would raise over £162,000. £20 is less than the cost of admission to one game, plus a program and a pie.
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: Hale Alty on January 28, 2021, 11:28:29 AM
anyone blobbing up for ten squares or more could get a signed bucket of mud from the golf road end.
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: MadFrankie on January 28, 2021, 11:31:39 AM
Variable costs per square would work. £10 for a mundane bit of midfield, £50 for a penalty spot, £100 for the spot where Clive Freeman hit his shot vs Chester etc.
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: Hale Alty on January 28, 2021, 11:39:04 AM
an added incentive would be being entered into a draw with the winner kicking off at the first pre-season game after the new pitch is installed. a bit like they used to do with celebrities at charity games.
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: Timperley The Best on January 28, 2021, 11:42:56 AM
I wonder how much it cost Harrogate to get rid of their synthetic pitch. I bet with our underlying drainage issues you can multiply the figure fourfold.

It has to be done at some point though unless we're going to fit a roof  :)

A quick google states £ 200k for Harrogate to put down a new pitch , times four if it is that much takes it up to £800k .

https://www.harrogateadvertiser.co.uk/sport/football/revealed-what-it-will-cost-newly-promoted-harrogate-town-replace-their-synthetic-pitch-grass-surface-2933185
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: Hale Alty on January 28, 2021, 11:45:15 AM
the job at alty isnt just laying  a new pitch. it is putting in an adequate drainage system to prevent the build up of ground water that bedevils us whenever there is prolonged rain in the area.
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: HashtagAlty on January 28, 2021, 12:00:43 PM
I think we could go a little higher, maybe start at £10 gets you a Moss Lane Turf "print"

Donate £50 and get something like this that allows you to display it:
(https://www.grassclippings.co.uk/.a/6a00d83536153e69e2010536ed5a59970c-800wi)

Donate £1000 as a business, and get a 60 minute X1 a side friendly against another local business - with a custom Alty kit with your sponsor on the front (16 x shirts £20 is £320). - 20 companies or 10 matches would be close to 15k (or 20k without the custom shirts).

The campaign could be called "Pitch in".

Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: HashtagAlty on January 28, 2021, 12:06:26 PM
the job at alty isnt just laying  a new pitch. it is putting in an adequate drainage system to prevent the build up of ground water that bedevils us whenever there is prolonged rain in the area.

Sadly drainage isn't sexy; but the grass element is. So by commercializing the grass element, it would raise funds to create a better surface.
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: Hale Alty on January 28, 2021, 12:07:30 PM
the job at alty isnt just laying  a new pitch. it is putting in an adequate drainage system to prevent the build up of ground water that bedevils us whenever there is prolonged rain in the area.

Sadly drainage isn't sexy; but the grass element is. So by commercializing the grass element, it would raise funds to create a better surface.

Agreed.
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: andrewflynn on January 28, 2021, 02:46:08 PM
the job at alty isnt just laying  a new pitch. it is putting in an adequate drainage system to prevent the build up of ground water that bedevils us whenever there is prolonged rain in the area.

Sadly drainage isn't sexy; but the grass element is. So by commercializing the grass element, it would raise funds to create a better surface.

Agreed.

& agreed here. Thanks Hale Alty, it is a cracking idea in my view and one that I have forwarded on. I'll see what we can do to make it happen should the club find it workable.
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: Silent but Ledley on January 28, 2021, 03:41:55 PM
Bbrilliant innovative idea. I'm in. SBL
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: Leon on January 28, 2021, 03:47:49 PM
Variable costs per square would work. £10 for a mundane bit of midfield, £50 for a penalty spot, £100 for the spot where Clive Freeman hit his shot vs Chester etc.

Didn't we do a pitch sponsorship scheme some years ago which featured a special Freeman Square?
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: Amsterdam Alty on January 28, 2021, 05:02:12 PM
I thought this sounded familiar www.altrinchamfc.co.uk/social.htm
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: Hale Alty on January 28, 2021, 05:06:28 PM
i had completely forgotten about that. i wonder how successful it was?  maybe this time applying could be done on a grid on a webpage where you click on the square or squares you want and it takes you to a payment page.
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: SW on January 28, 2021, 06:58:16 PM
Unfortunately I believe any drainage measures carried out will just provide nominal improvement, water finds its level, the ground and pitch are low lying especially in conjunction with the brook to the rear of the pop side. The only real solution is to raise the playing area and camber it to get above the water table and allow run off at the perimeter. Even a 200mm raise would make a difference with a decent grade provided below, small as that seems, but it is tonnes of material.
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: CRT Butty on January 28, 2021, 07:18:04 PM
Unfortunately I believe any drainage measures carried out will just provide nominal improvement, water finds its level, the ground and pitch are low lying especially in conjunction with the brook to the rear of the pop side. The only real solution is to raise the playing area and camber it to get above the water table and allow run off at the perimeter. Even a 200mm raise would make a difference with a decent grade provided below, small as that seems, but it is tonnes of material.

Not if we have a slope, a la the old Huish. Raised at the pop / golf road sloping down.

That's the job cut in half!🤔
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: Toff Apple on January 29, 2021, 08:43:07 AM
we should adopt a colne dynamoes style slope where the top of the goal posts are level with the half way line. 
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: cheshire cat on January 29, 2021, 09:36:00 AM
Unfortunately I believe any drainage measures carried out will just provide nominal improvement, water finds its level, the ground and pitch are low lying especially in conjunction with the brook to the rear of the pop side. The only real solution is to raise the playing area and camber it to get above the water table and allow run off at the perimeter. Even a 200mm raise would make a difference with a decent grade provided below, small as that seems, but it is tonnes of material.

I'm in agreement. An elevated pitch and possibly drainage into a covered ditch/sump that could be pumped out whenever necessary. Not cheap. It's clear that the pop side is affected the worst so there must be natural drainage towards the stream that borders the allotments. Perhaps the concrete foundations of the popside form a barrier that prevents it from draining further?
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: MarpleAlty on January 29, 2021, 12:21:56 PM
Unfortunately I believe any drainage measures carried out will just provide nominal improvement, water finds its level, the ground and pitch are low lying especially in conjunction with the brook to the rear of the pop side. The only real solution is to raise the playing area and camber it to get above the water table and allow run off at the perimeter. Even a 200mm raise would make a difference with a decent grade provided below, small as that seems, but it is tonnes of material.

I'm in agreement. An elevated pitch and possibly drainage into a covered ditch/sump that could be pumped out whenever necessary. Not cheap. It's clear that the pop side is affected the worst so there must be natural drainage towards the stream that borders the allotments. Perhaps the concrete foundations of the popside form a barrier that prevents it from draining further?

That does make sense, given it stands in the way of the pitch and its most obvious draining point.

It might sound too simplistic, however wouldn't an investment in bloody good covers, for the entire pitch, in the short term be cheaper?
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: Alty Dave on January 29, 2021, 12:30:31 PM
Unfortunately I believe any drainage measures carried out will just provide nominal improvement, water finds its level, the ground and pitch are low lying especially in conjunction with the brook to the rear of the pop side. The only real solution is to raise the playing area and camber it to get above the water table and allow run off at the perimeter. Even a 200mm raise would make a difference with a decent grade provided below, small as that seems, but it is tonnes of material.

I'm in agreement. An elevated pitch and possibly drainage into a covered ditch/sump that could be pumped out whenever necessary. Not cheap. It's clear that the pop side is affected the worst so there must be natural drainage towards the stream that borders the allotments. Perhaps the concrete foundations of the popside form a barrier that prevents it from draining further?

That does make sense, given it stands in the way of the pitch and its most obvious draining point.

It might sound too simplistic, however wouldn't an investment in bloody good covers, for the entire pitch, in the short term be cheaper?
Big issue is where the flow of water of the covers goes too, at present it drains back into ground raising the water table. It needs to drain away from the ground.
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: Hale Alty on January 29, 2021, 01:25:25 PM
i think a cheap trial would be to dig a hole close to the golf road/pop side corner, fill it with soakaway crates, and rent a pump of Stuart Coburn. Let it fill up then pump the water out and see what effect it has on the pitch.
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: oneedham on January 29, 2021, 01:34:54 PM
i think a cheap trial would be to dig a hole close to the golf road/pop side corner, fill it with soakaway crates, and rent a pump of Stuart Coburn. Let it fill up then pump the water out and see what effect it has on the pitch.

I think a load of soak away crates are the way forward but like you said it would need to be linked up so that they can be pumped empty but I think it would be the best option. Or have crates with drainage pipes under ground out of the ground and connect the into the street drainage.
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: Bonzo on January 29, 2021, 02:59:37 PM
The pitch does drain into the beck behind the Popular Side stand, but has the beck been dredged or the drains rodded out ?

 Some problems may be self inflicted . I seem to remember the pitch used to have a slope to it, being highest at the centre spot, ie like an upturned saucer, and it was flattened a  number of years ago, and the club had to try and get rid of the top soil. Plus the pitch then had a lip of about 4 - 6 inch all the way round, which it does'nt today.

The big issue might be the water table with all the new houses on the Chequers end and Wellman House car park having an  detrimental effect on underground water movement.

There will be a solution, no doubt expensive, but with some retention tanks as being suggested could that lead to a saving on the water bill for when the pitch needs watering. i'm sure the board will be on with this and searching out grants to give the team the desired surface.

Failing all this, do a Cambridge and grow the grass long along the touchline to stop the ball skidding off !!
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: andrewflynn on January 29, 2021, 03:15:16 PM
Brian Flynn chats with Bill and Lawrence about the pitch amongst other ground improvements in tomorrow's interview, that will be broadcast as a YouTube Premiere at 3pm.

The interview will be uploaded separately afterwards for those who cannot tune in.
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: distancetraveller on January 29, 2021, 03:32:25 PM
It will be nice to hear the plans for the pitch. IMO the main project affecting the club.
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: cheshire cat on January 29, 2021, 04:36:37 PM
Amazing. We used to be football experts but now we've suddenly become drainage experts.  ;D
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: Hale Alty on January 29, 2021, 05:20:08 PM
The current state of the pitch is nothing compared to that of the Unibond winning season (1998/99 i think), and that was long before the houses were built on the car park, which remember had a building and a hard surface already , so no real change. A slope isn't going to make a difference to the build up of ground water that most likely comes from the the hill up towards Hale Road.
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: PukkaPieman on January 29, 2021, 07:41:07 PM
i think a cheap trial would be to dig a hole close to the golf road/pop side corner, fill it with soakaway crates, and rent a pump of Stuart Coburn. Let it fill up then pump the water out and see what effect it has on the pitch.

I think a load of soak away crates are the way forward but like you said it would need to be linked up so that they can be pumped empty but I think it would be the best option. Or have crates with drainage pipes under ground out of the ground and connect the into the street drainage.

I am sure the club will update everyone soon but some of the theories on here are becoming comical  ::)
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: ManagementGuru on January 29, 2021, 07:46:38 PM
We will update you on our latest thinking in the Lawrence and Bill broadcast tomorrow,  Plus a bunch of other stuff too
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: rorysgrandad on January 29, 2021, 10:07:47 PM
We will update you on our latest thinking in the Lawrence and Bill broadcast tomorrow,  Plus a bunch of other stuff too
Bill restores sanity.
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: cheshire cat on January 30, 2021, 01:37:22 PM
We will update you on our latest thinking in the Lawrence and Bill broadcast tomorrow,  Plus a bunch of other stuff too
Bill restores sanity.

He might be suffering from cabin fever as much as the rest of us
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: Hale Alty on January 31, 2021, 08:53:20 AM
i heard that we need a new pitch. i didn't hear anything about how the inherent drainage problem might be resolved.
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: rorysgrandad on January 31, 2021, 09:00:30 AM
i heard that we need a new pitch. i didn't hear anything about how the inherent drainage problem might be resolved.
I thought that too. Surely 400K has got to incorporate a drainage solution. It’d be pointless getting a new pitch that would continue to sit underwater in the rainy season (which is anytime).
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: Alty TV on January 31, 2021, 10:12:12 AM
i heard that we need a new pitch. i didn't hear anything about how the inherent drainage problem might be resolved.
I think by the term 'pitch' they meant the whole system including drainage and not just the playing surface.
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: Macsporran on January 31, 2021, 10:17:37 AM
i heard that we need a new pitch. i didn't hear anything about how the inherent drainage problem might be resolved.
I thought that too. Surely 400K has got to incorporate a drainage solution. It’d be pointless getting a new pitch that would continue to sit underwater in the rainy season (which is anytime).

I understand that the ‘new pitch’ incorporates new drainage, sprinklers ....the lot. The turf is only the pretty bit that sits on the top, the vast majority of the cost is what goes on underneath with the drains and soils etc. The playing surface would continue to be changed every close season, as is done at the moment, albeit it wasn’t done the past summer because of Covid restrictions and timescales.
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: Toff Apple on January 31, 2021, 11:19:37 AM
Its a lot but i'd assume its some sort of grass / artifical mix as most premier league ones are, sounds like a fortune so we'd need FA and Man Utd to chip in I would have thought
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: Alty Dave on January 31, 2021, 01:05:17 PM
Its a lot but i'd assume its some sort of grass / artifical mix as most premier league ones are, sounds like a fortune so we'd need FA and Man Utd to chip in I would have thought
Think  hybrid pitch would be £1m +, like the one mentioned at Borehamwood. Think we would see a high quality well drained grass surface with a 25 year planned lifespan. Club are well on with this, and in close season will see some temporary 1 season remedial action.

Maybe MU will pitch in and assist if they want to use the venue more.
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: ManagementGuru on February 01, 2021, 01:42:46 PM
Just to clarify - by a new pitch we do mean including a relaying of everything, including new drainage, sprinklers and the lot.  The alternative is a full refurbishment, including drains, and to give an idea of the magnitude of that task the cost is greater than the last five (and more) years expenditure on the pitch combined.

We are determined to have a pitch at The J. Davidson Stadium that allows us to consistently play football in the style to which you have all become accustomed.
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: Toff Apple on February 01, 2021, 03:02:51 PM
Might be cheaper to leave it as it is and appoint Liam Watson or Tim Flowers (Not a serious comment before anyone thinks)
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: HashtagAlty on February 01, 2021, 03:16:31 PM
Might be cheaper to leave it as it is and appoint Liam Watson or Tim Flowers (Not a serious comment before anyone thinks)

Might be cheaper to sell Moss Lane for housing and move to our spiritual home of Broadheath.
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: distancetraveller on February 01, 2021, 03:35:28 PM
Just to clarify - by a new pitch we do mean including a relaying of everything, including new drainage, sprinklers and the lot.  The alternative is a full refurbishment, including drains, and to give an idea of the magnitude of that task the cost is greater than the last five (and more) years expenditure on the pitch combined.

We are determined to have a pitch at The J. Davidson Stadium that allows us to consistently play football in the style to which you have all become accustomed

Music to my ears. Excellent news.
Title: Re: Pitch
Post by: andrewflynn on February 03, 2021, 02:56:44 PM
I'm sure the club won't mind me mentioning that there are upcoming fundraising meetings on this, and I'll be reading back through the thread to collate ideas and see what we can make happen. Thanks again to all. Exciting times.