Has the new Wembley turf got a problem already?

Watching the warm up to the first FA Cup at the new Wembley stadium I could not help but notice that the turf has been infiltrated with patches of a rogue species of grass?

Steve Welch, the ex Nottingham Forest groundsman and 2002 Groundsman of the year took the job of Head Groundsman at Wembley after beating 50 other applicants for the the job.

Steve has been working with the Sports Turf Research Institute to produce a fine surface but it looks to me as though they have been battling to meet the deadline.

Clearly there seems to be a problem with the surface. Maybe it has received too much traffic recently but the grass, after only half an hour was showing massive wear and tear.

Water was applied copiously before the post match ceremonies. The root zone is not deep and one would assume not mature enough to cope with the rigours of professional scrutiny and maybe needs more time? One for the forum. If there are any Groundsman who would like to air their views then please pop in.

Comments

[Richard Boyd]

You beat me to it Phil!

The condition of the grass really hampered the game, very slow play and an even slower ground. Badly destroyed by the end of the game.

[Craig McGinty, the Sky Blue]

I don't think the players helped, but the pitch did cut up very quickly. The ball also seemed to be moving very slowly across the grass, not helping either team really.
I wonder if that led to one of the worst cup finals in living memory???
But I am biased ;-)
Craig

[Philip Voice]

Hi Craig & Richard

It will be interesting to see what happens with the pitch. Will it be re-laid soon?

The old Wembley Pitch was renowned as the best in the world although it had a reputation for creating cramp.

Given the long growing in time that the STRI and Steve Welch had this was, from a professional grass care and football fan perspective. a disaster really.

The football was equally disappointing with more attention seemingly thrown at the presentation of the event than the crowd pleasing spectacle of the football.

I suppose it is the sign of my age (growing up in the 70's when the FA Cup tie was a mud bath and the passion a joy to behold) but we are not in the same entertainment league any more are we?

Phil

[steven loftus]

i have just read that the growing medium for the pitch was 95% sand to help drainage,they say it will drain 50,000 gallons in 1 hour.
i think the sand content is too high,with nothing to bind the surface together its bound to break up,it also has millions of fibres in it to help bind the grass together,that work well!!!!NOT

[Philip Voice]

Hi Steve

Yes I saw that! 95% sand!!
We all know, with regular water to keep up field capacity, mowing, aeration and feeding grass will thrive and look wonderful.

Add to the mix a constant playing of matches and brass bands etc walking over it then the grass just cannot cope.

I think there was another match being played the day after the FA Cup final.

[Duncan]

I've got a question about the pitch at Wembley.

During the NFL game at Wembley on Sunday 28th Oct'07, the pitch cut up terribly, not helped by the players changing to 1 inch studs to try to get a grip. In the Daily Telegraph, a spokesman said that "the ground is not seeded and so whenever there is rain, the top two inches of turf hold the water like a sponge."

What I want to know is what is a seeded surface and why would it behave differently?

I saw that you / the site commented on the pitch at Wembley after the FA Cup Final so I thought you might be able to help.

Incidentally, I've also found the FA boasting that the way they laid the pitch with a high sand content and binding fibres meant that it could drain 50000 gallons per something and would be resistant to breaking up! Methinks someone is talking rot.

Hope you can help before I die of curiosity.

[Adam]

Laying turf as apposed to establishing a sward from seed will mean the turf just sitting on top of the sand. It wont root as well as a seeded sward. It may drain well but it'll get chewed up in a 90min game.

If it was a lower sand content it would still drain well, but the turf will hold together alot more. We have 70%/30% sand/silt rootzone on course sand and gravel banding. That works, and we're looking after a training pitch which is used at least three times a week for 3 hours a time.