Fl Clubs Show Artificial Pitch Interest
A number of Football League clubs, including Wycombe Wanderers and Accrington Stanley, have shown interest in reintroducing artificial pitches into the competition – in a bid to cut costs and increase revenue.
Artificial pitches in the Football League were banned in 1988 because of injury concerns and claims that the quality of football played on them was poor.
Luton Town, Oldham Athletic, Preston North End and Queen’s Park Rangers all possessed artificial pitches until they were outlawed by the Football Association, although Preston continued to use theirs until the end of the 1993-94 season.
Since they were banned technology has advanced significantly and a number of top-flight clubs in Italy, France, the Netherlands, Switzerland and Russia now play on artificial pitches – as well as several lower-division sides in Scotland.
The FA also permits their use in such competitions as the FA Trophy, FA Vase and Women’s Premier League, and Uefa allows Champions League ties to be played on artificial surfaces.
The interest comes from clubs at the lower end of the Football League, where the potential revenue boost combined with benefits to community schemes could have a significant impact.
