Lots has been written about the use of 3g and 4g pitches in English football with The Football Association now looking set to allow their use in all competitions from next season.
The best local example The Cold End can give at how beneficial they are is from White Hart Lane in the London Borough of Haringey. Coles Park (the home of Haringey Borough who also ground share with Greenhouse London) has had numerous matches called off over the past few months following the wet weather and water logging problems on their pitch. There 'home' match yesterday was switched to opponent's Ilford's ground. If you walk just a few minutes up the road to The New River Sports Centre you will see the 3g pitch here is use every day and night of the week by various local football clubs and teams.
The surfaces have been used North of the border in Scotland for a number of years. In order to get an idea of how they have been received The Cold End spoke with Lee Smith who is a Forfar Athletic fan and write the blog Ramblings of A Loon which is well worth a read.
When did Forfar install their 3g pitch and why?
We installed it in the summer of 2012, and I think it was a combination of the potential income and the fact our grass would constantly be ruined by the harsh weather, especially in recent years, we didn't play at home at all between the start of November 2010 and the start of February 2011.
What are the positives?
It brings in more income for the club as we have several teams train on it from youth clubs to women's teams and I believe a fellow SPFL club as well as involving the club more with the community. It also encourages great football, which we have seen a lot since the pitch was put down.
Are there any drawbacks? Do any games get called off anymore?
I don't believe here are any drawbacks, at least not that I know of. We've had one game called off since we've had a 3G pitch but that was due to us progressing further in the Scottish Cup. Station Park has actually hosted another sides' games for a short period, our rivals Brechin City were having major problems with their pitch (it was basically a field of mud) so they were allowed to play two games at our ground while their pitch recovered.
Is it a different game of football you see on the 3g surface?
We have played some of the best football I have ever seen in my sixteen years as a Forfar fan, whether that is down to the type of players we have had or the pitch is debatable but we have out played Rangers in our three games we have played against them at home this season, losing 1-0 and 2-0 in the league as well as beating them 2-1 in the League Cup, arguably our greatest ever result.
Do you think they should be allowed in the English football league and Conference divisions?
I believe they should. Looking at Newport's pitch on the Football League Show at the weekend and seeing that Crawley until this weekend past hadn't played at home since the start of the year further reinforces my belief, artificial surfaces are the future of the game and I'm surprised English football hasn't allowed them before now. It is quite unfair on Maidstone not allowing them to be promoted due to their pitch.
How have the Forfar fans reacted?
I think there's was a lot of negative reaction to the news we were laying the pitch but now I don't think there is anyone that is against a 3G surface, once we had seen how great it was everyone pretty much changed their mind on it. I'll admit I was one of those that was against it but now I believe you would be mad to say that it isn't brilliant.
What do away fans think?
I have only seen two clubs that have played on it say it isn't good, and that is Rangers fans and Arbroath. Arbroath had a player injured after turning awkwardly on the surface so I can see why they are up in arms about it but Rangers fans just hate it because we beat them, plain and simple, they have no legitimate reasons for why they hate it when asked about it, it's extremely petty from them.
I think twelve clubs out of the forty-two senior clubs play on artificial pitches now, us, Alloa Athletic, Falkirk, Hamilton Academical, Queen of the South, Airdrieonians, Stenhousemuir, Annan Athletic, Queen's Park, Clyde, East Stirlingshire and Montrose although Queen's Park play at Airdrieonians' Excelsior Stadium due to Hampden being revamped for the Commonwealth Games later this year and East Stirling play at Stenhousemuir's Ochilview, their old ground shut about five years ago. East Fife are making plans to install a pitch this summer I believe, so the amount of clubs playing on artificial pitches here is increasing every season.
If your club could go back to grass would you prefer it?
As much as I do miss seeing Forfar play on grass at Station Park, I wouldn't go back to it.
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