The Press and Journal (Aberdeen and Aberdeenshire)
Highland League clubs ready to pitch in for artificial surface switch
Bairns in bloom after bold decision to go Dutch reaped long-standing reward
Championship club Falkirk’s technical director Alex Smith believes it is an easy decision for Highland League clubs to make the change to artificial pitches. The artificial pitch at Falkirk Stadium was put in at the start of the 2013-14 season and is widely regarded as the best in the SPFL. Press and Journal columnist Smith believes there are major advantages for clubs who opt to make the change and said: “They are brilliant for community clubs. “I know people worry about injuries on artificial pitches but, at this stage of the season, grass pitches are actually much more dangerous unless they are in pristine condition. “It is an absolute nobrainer as far as I am concerned. “At Falkirk we are able to train and play on a quality surface and the public are also able to use it at other times. “That revenue is very important for a club like ourselves and our pitch is always busy. “I must admit I was a bit sceptical when I heard we were going to make the change, but it has been a massive asset to our football club.” Smith believes Falkirk benefited from former head coach Gary Holt’s decision to go Dutch when making the change in 2013. He said: “Gary had just taken over and he went to Holland to inspect the turf that we were looking to buy. “He went to the Dutch Premier League teams Heracles Almelo and Zwolle who were using a similar surface. “He thought it was fantastic. The difference between this surface and the artificial surfaces produced by other manufacturers is the strands are longer with a higher density and resilience which means the ball rolls properly and bounces to a true height. “We have found it very beneficial.”